ASC2018 - 11-15 Nov, Sydney

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Case studies: Visualising science

When: Wednesday 14th November, 2:40pm – 3:40pm
Where: L2, Level 2 to the left of the registration/foyer area, down the hallway and through the doors on the right
Hashtag: #W17

How we “see” science is very important in how we communicate it. The attention span of people in this day and age is a lot shorter than it used to be so grabbing someone’s attention with a great visual is invaluable.

Hear from the speakers about how they are bringing the sight of science to the masses.

The session is structured into three 15-minute talks and will wrap-up with a 15-minute Q&A for delegates questions and comments.

The session will include the following talks:

Session Producer

 

Session Chair

 

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Case studies: Cultural Institutions and Festivals

When: Tuesday 13th November, 9:15am – 11:15am
Where: Theatrette, Level 2 behind the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #T3

Cultural Institutions and Festivals play a major role in communicating science. They have access to large numbers of students and the public and have great influence over what is presented. Find out what the speakers are doing in this space.

The session is structured into 85-minutes of talks and will wrap-up with a 35-minute Q&A for delegates questions and comments.

The session will include the following talks:

Session Producer

 

Session Chair

 

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Engaging Regional Communities with Science – the Power of the People

When: Monday 12th November, 11:55am – 12:55pm
Where: Theatre, Level 2 down the stairs to the right of the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #M7

How can we bring science to where people go? Find out how Inspiring Australia fosters lasting collaborations with regional communities to take science to new audiences. Learn how to grow science engagement activity and infrastructure through working with established networks. Discover what works and what doesn’t, the importance of working in partnership with local communities and understanding stakeholder needs.

Science engagement from the ground up – the NSW experience
Building STEM capacity in a rapidly evolving, global innovation system requires national effort on many levels – particularly at the grass roots. Inspiring Australia’s NSW Regional Science Hub network offers a low-cost response to this challenge. With modest funding support that is matched by partner investment, Science Hubs involve hundreds of organisations that come together at a local level to share skills and explore scientific issues. This capacity building approach helps increase scientific literacy through the delivery of creative and engaging public programs led by local communities. Discover how Science Hubs take the lead to create, collaborate and connect scientists with a diverse public, through festivals, events and programs that provide rich and memorable experiences for people of all ages. 

Finding our way through discovery and creativity – the SA experience
Inspiring South Australia has experimented with a number of regional engagement strategies and has found a few to be especially effective in engaging communities with science. Its regional Science and Arts Working Together program is designed to tell the stories of science through the arts, bringing together science and arts organisations, groups and practitioners to create fascinating projects that feature local stories and discoveries while engaging the community in the development and in the telling. Another effective regional program is a partnership between Libraries SA, the Children’s Discovery Museum and Inspiring SA that equips librarians to deliver science programs to 3-5 year olds. Covering a range of concepts, Little Bang Discovery Club empowers both children and their accompanying adults as co-learners and collaborators in the investigative process.

Session Producer, Session Chair, Presenter

Jackie Randles, Manager Inspiring Australia NSW, Inspiring Australia

Presenter

Sheryn Pitman, Programme Manager Inspiring South Australia, South Australian Museum

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Community Perceptions of Coastal Hazards in New South Wales

When: Tuesday 13th November, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Where: Theatre, Level 2 down the stairs to the right of the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #T8

Much is known about the physical nature of coastal hazards in New South Wales (NSW) and management interventions available to mitigate their impacts. However, much less is known about social dimensions of communities and coastal users who are, or may be, affected by these hazards. This project aims to assess existing understanding and perceptions of coastal hazards by the NSW ‘coastal community’, specifically relating to inundation and erosion caused by coastal storms and sea level rise, by analysing sources of information and the level of trust regarding these sources.

A multi-tiered survey instrument was disseminated between November 2017 and April 2018 in order to gain information on a cross-section of the NSW coastal community. A total of 1065 survey responses were obtained from teachers (n=355); surf life saving club members (n=307), coastal accommodation visitors (n=237) and managers (n=61), indigenous communities (n=22), ‘frontline’ coastal residents (n=23), and coastal management professionals (n=60).

Results show that most NSW coastal users have a good understanding of coastal erosion and inundation, their associated consequences, and the various hard and soft solutions available to manage their impacts. However, some confusion exists regarding the future rate and impacts of sea level rise on the NSW coast and a significant number of respondents indicated they would still buy, and live in, a house at risk of coastal erosion and inundation.

This study highlights several important differences in perceptions and opinions of coastal hazards between coastal users and coastal management professionals in relation to different coastal environments and the best methods to communicate and educate the coastal community. The results from this study will be freely available through an online resource pack of information targeting various types of end users.

This project is funded by the NSW Department of Justice and supported by the Sydney Coastal Councils Group, Office of Environment and Heritage and Surf Life Saving New South Wales.

Session

Evidence-based scicom: Research exploring knowledge, beliefs and perceptions

Presenter

Anna Attard, Research Assistant and Masters Student, University of New South Wales

Co-Author
Robert Brander

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Captivating Presentations

When: Thursday 15th November, 12:00pm – 4:45pm (including lunch)
Where: Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris St, Ultimo
Room: L1, Level 2 to the left of the registration/foyer area, down the hallway and through the doors on the right

Purchase separately or free for conference+workshop delegates (RSVP during registration).

Register now!

We’ve all seen presenters that just knock ‘em dead. Even on quite boring subjects the audience just seem to be in the palm of their hand. This workshop gives you the tools to wow the crowd and leave a lasting positive impression.

Working through practical exercises you will learn to create captivating visuals and avoid death by PowerPoint. You’ll learn to develop stage presence, add drama to your story and use your voice and body to connect with the audience.

At the end of this session you will have created a mini-talk on your own research/material – bring a paper or some background material that you want to tell the world about.

We’ll cover:
– Developing a clear message and delivering it in a way that sticks.
– Tips and tricks for making classy PowerPoint presentations.
– Warm ups and techniques to relax your body and conquer nerves
– Unlocking the power of your voice.
– Timing pitfalls to avoid at all cost.
– Connecting with your audience and keeping them on side.
– Adding that little extra magic

Workshop Facilitator

Dr Phil Dooley, Galactic Commander, Phil Up On Science and ASC National co-vice-president

Purchase separately or free for conference+workshop delegates (RSVP during registration).

Register now!

**This is a public event. Register to save your seat!**

Share on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1049576325220833/

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Case studies: Education

When: Wednesday 14th November, 8:45am – 9:45am
Where: L3, Level 2 to the left of the registration/foyer area, down the hallway and through the doors on the right
Hashtag: #W5

Science education in schools and of the public is so important in this day and age so how do we effectively educate our children and the general public. Hear from our speakers who are working on ways to get science to the people.

The session is structured into four 10-minute talks and will wrap-up with a 20-minute Q&A for delegates questions and comments.

The session will include the following talks:

Session Producer

 

Session Chair

 

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Disruptive Sci Comm; How the Arts can help Scientists Escape Deficit-Model Communication

When: Monday 12th November, 10:25am – 11:25am
Where: L1, Level 2 to the left of the registration/foyer area, down the hallway and through the doors on the right
Hashtag: #M5

The deficit model is deficient. Facts are dead. Feeling is the new thinking.

Meet the science communicators that are harnessing the arts to connect with their audience in a non-educational way. Although many scientists see the way the arts appeals to the emotional side of their audience as anathema, these are examples of science pitched straight at the heart and soul. But does it succeed? And what is success anyway?

Come prepared to take part, heckle and debate with:

Dr Phil Dooley, musician and storyteller for Phil Up On Science. He wants to know what Schrodinger’s cat thinks about still being a box 100 years later.

Craig Cormick, fiction writer and immersive science communicator.

Heather Catchpole, co-founder Refraction Media, who poetry to encapsulate ideas using minimum words and maximum effect. With poetry, humour and music she hopes to create empathy towards science.

Michael Mills, stage performer and alter ego to the singing palaeontologist Professor Flint who has been connecting local communities to their prehistory through music and storytelling.

Dr Michael Leach and Rachel Rayner who will challenge us to debate and create our own science-inspired visual poetry. If the right energy is supplied – swing dancing – Rachel may also undergo a phase transition from solid to liquid to gas.

David Harris, science communicator and artist. It’s an uneasy truce…

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Including Scientists in SciComm

When: Tuesday 13th November, 9:15am – 11:15am
Where: Theatrette, Level 2 behind the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #T3

This session will explore the range of different ways Questacon engages and collaborates with scientists and STEM professionals. It will highlight how this collaboration can create richer and more genuine engagement opportunities for students and the general public, connecting them to relevant STEM ideas and challenges. It will also show how this collaboration can create a learning experience for the involved scientist/STEM professional.
Examples include:

  • Questacon’s Regional Invention Conventions using STEM professionals to pose design and innovation challenges to students, giving them a problem to solve with real world connection
  • Boutique Botanical Teacher PD, developed alongside the 2017 ACT Scientist of the Year to bring plant science into the classroom.
  • Mind in Residence program, using local academics to develop new content within Questacon in the form of shows and demonstrations, helping bring cutting edge science to the public
  • Enterprising Australians web portal, using STEM professionals to tell stories of innovation, becoming inspiration for the next generation of innovators

Session

Case studies: Cultural Institutions and Festivals

Presenters

Broderick Matthews, A/g National Programs Manager, Questacon

Amelia Coman, Special Activities and External Liaison Officer, Questacon

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Sci Comm Cabaret: Creative Science Communication in the Pub

When: Sunday 11th November, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Where: 3 Wise Monkeys Pub (upstairs), 555 George Street, Sydney
Hashtag: #s3

Free for conference delegates (RSVP during registration) or purchase separately.

Register now!

Science Communicators from around the country show off their creative approaches to communication in an informal setting, to start the conference off with a bang.

Expect Stand Up, Stories, Songs, Poetry and more from all walks of science in this no-holds-barred night celebrating innovation in sci comm, and a love of science delivered with truly entertaining style.

A great chance to make new connections, catch up with old colleagues and get inspired for the conference.

Lineup

Dr Phil Dooley (Phil Up On Science) wants to know what Schrodinger’s cat thinks about still being in a box 100 years later.

Heather Catchpole‘s poetry will make you smile, frown and dance like Gloria Gaynor.

Michael Mills‘ alter-ego Professor Flint frequently causes dinosaur stampedes.

Petr Lebedev doesn’t bother doing science communication, he gets artificial intelligence to do it -Imagine Carl Sagan and William Shakespeare in a blender.

JT Yeung is going to tell us the story of the Indian frog prince who could fight viruses.

Dr Michael Leach’s science poems are pub-tested with a collective called “The Write Stuff” and in the 2018 Bendigo Writers Festival.

When energy is supplied in the form of Swing Dancing music, Rachel Rayner undergoes Lindy Hop phase transition from solid to liquid to gas.

Wildlife monitoring student Shannon Panuska has some koala-ty StandUp to share.

Ecological hip hop artist Dave Wong likes chatting with endangered goannas.

Presenter slots still available, contact philuponscience@gmail.com to get involved.

Keep tabs on the conversation and express your interest on the Facebook event here.

Purchase separately ($10 or $5 for members) or free for conference delegates (RSVP during registration).

Register now!

**This is a public event. Register to save your seat!**

Share on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/848630658859692/

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The missing link for STEM diversity

When: Tuesday 13th November, 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Where: L1, Level 2 to the left of the registration/foyer area, down the hallway and through the doors on the right
Hashtag: #T14

A diverse science, technology, engineering and mathematics skilled workforce is critical for innovation, entrepreneurism and a competitive national economy. Not everyone from multifarious backgrounds who have passion for STEM and scientific research remain in the workforce. They also don’t consider STEM research and occupations as an employment choice. In a substantial number of cases one of the many reasons for this trend is the ability to communicate their concepts and also the ability to understand scientific concepts. The wider research community in the STEM sector has emphasised that the reasons for ‘brain drain’ need to be better understood. But more importantly, we need to bring back the tide of highly specialised, highly trained individuals leaving research by providing them with some valuable tools, mentoring and networking opportunities in the wider successful STEM network base.

The line-up of successful researchers from well represented multicultural and diverse backgrounds in this session will talk about the strength of diversity and discuss how to fill the missing links.

Session Producer, MC

Dr Astha Singh, Vice President | ASC NSW, ASC

Presenter

Associate Professor Devanshi Seth, Principal Scientist, RPA Hospital and Clinical Associate Professor, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney

Dr Noushin Nasiri, Lecturer at School of Engineering, Macquarie University

Alfonso Ballestas-Barrientos, PhD Candidate, Laboratory of Advanced Catalysis for Sustainability, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney

Australian Science Communicators

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Questions? Please contact Kali on asc2018@asc.asn.au.

Acknowledgements

© 2018 Australian Science Communicators

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