ASC2018 - 11-15 Nov, Sydney

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The Poet’s Guide to Science – A Sceptic Think Tank

Poet's Guide to ScienceWhen: Wednesday 14th November, 1:40pm – 3:40pm
Where: Theatrette, Level 2 behind the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #W14

A cutting edge approach to science communication blending fiction and fact to address today’s scientific dilemmas. A hilarious and thought provoking piece featuring cameos from working scientists, answering real questions.

Cy is facing a major crisis in his life. He’s thinking twice about genetic modification, immunisation and that old chestnut, how crazy the weather is these days. Who can he turn to? His family doctor? His local poet? He visits both but remains sceptical, and draws them into a quest to resolve the questions they can’t answer.

On their journey, they run headlong into scientific controversies of many kinds and encounter real live scientists who cast light on age-old questions of facts and data, truths and untruths, and the difference between uncertainty and doubt. Even the audience get a chance to discuss questions with geneticist Miguel Hernandez, immunologist (TBA) and climate scientist Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick as they try to help Cy, his doctor and his poet find the answers they’re looking for.

A show born of a surprising collaboration between dastardly director Michele Conyngham, concerned communicator, Phil “PhD” Dooley, and thelf-thentred thespian Patrick Davies Trumper, The Poet’s Guide to Science is a truly original, thought-provoking and entertaining piece of communication.

Session Producer/Performer

Dr Phil Dooley, Galactic Commander, Phil Up On Science

Performer/Director

Michele Conyngham, Director/Writer, Wordplay Drama

Performer

Patrick Davies Trumper, Actor/Teacher, Wordplay Drama

Guest Scientists

Miguel Hernandez,  Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, University of Sydney

Sarah Perkins Kirkpatrick, Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, UNSW

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Citizen Storytelling – How the Small Stories can Combat the Global Warming Hyperobject

When: Monday 12th November, 10:25am – 11:25am
Where: Theatrette, Level 2 behind the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #M4

The stories around us regarding climate change are shocking and both the concerned public and scientists are exhausted. Every day there is a new petition to sign, a plea for a donation for campaigning and another set of terrible statistics. Talk to lay people and their eyes glaze over, talk to friends within environmental communications they can finish the story for you. So how can we re-engage ourselves and those around us? Does art and storytelling have a further role to play in reconnecting a fatigued public who want to act but can’t bear the tidal wave of bad news? This discussion with science and activist communicators will look at how new formats might help us include and engage those who are running out of steam. We’ll discuss new digital and social trends including podcasting and citizen storytelling and how broadcasting is remaking itself, alongside the use of performance and installation arts to help us colour in shades of grey and provoke emotive responses. And we will consider how to break through the exhaustion to positively engage others and encourage actions both large and small.

Robyn Williams AM has presented and produced the science show on ABC RN every week for over 40 years and knows just how to find a new angle.

Paul Brown is an academic professor in environment studies at UNSW, was campaign manager for Greenpeace and is also a verbatim playwright.

Gretchen Miller is a former radio documentary maker from ABC RN currently doing a PhD in her specialist arena of citizen storytelling, podcasting and environmental communications.

James Link manages the corporate partnerships program at Landcare Australia and is accustomed to telling great stories of the work of everyday Australians to attract new funding.

Tessa Fluence is public narrative coordinator leading the Changing the Story work at the Australian Conservation Foundation.

Session Chair

Gretchen Miller, Podcast producer, lecturer and media consultant, Gretchen Miller Media

Presenters

Robyn Williams AM, Presenter, The Science Show, ABC RN

Paul Brown, Associate Professor Environment Studies, UNSW Faculty Arts and Social Sciences

James Link, Head of Corporate Partnerships, Landcare Australia

Tessa Fluence, Public Narrative Coordinator, Australian Conservation Foundation

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What’s Design Got to Do With It? Designerly Approaches to Science Communication

When: Wednesday 14th November, 8:45am – 11:20am
Where: Theatre, Level 2 down the stairs to the right of the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #W1

Design is not about prettifying information. Design is not a final step in production after the “real work” is done. But what is design, especially in the context of scicomm?

Designer Horst Rittel introduced and defined the term “wicked problems” to denote problems that are resistant to resolution, especially due to issues of social complexity. He contrasted these to the “tame” problems that science has effectively developed techniques to deal with. Many scicomm scenarios are wicked problems (they all deal with people in social contexts) and experienced designers can bring a different set of perspectives and skills to these problems.

Although design perspectives are relevant to all branches of scicomm, they have particular resonance in countries like Australia and New Zealand where scicomm projects regularly intersect with indigenous communities. Commonly employed scientific frameworks and methodologies, from which much scicomm derives, are ill-equipped to deal with the needs of such communities.

In this session, design professionals who engage with scicomm will provide case studies, advice, processes, and frameworks for thinking that offer alternatives to the techniques often employed by those who come to scicomm from science. They will demonstrate how designers can successfully play a significant role in scicomm conception, development, and implementation using their unique skills and approaches.

Session Producer/Session Chair/Presenter

David Harris, Lecturer (sessional), Queensland College of Art, Griffith University

Presenters

Jo Bailey, Lecturer, Massey University

Tristam Sparks, Senior Lecturer, Massey University

Jacqueline Gothe, Associate Professor, University of Technology Sydney

 

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

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© 2018 Australian Science Communicators

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