ASC2018 - 11-15 Nov, Sydney

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How to Write Concisely

When: Thursday 15th November, 8:00am – 12:45pm (including lunch)
Where: Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris St, Ultimo
Room: Board Room and Theatrette

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

Register now!

For science to be understood, assimilated and further developed, it needs to be accessible through clear and concise writing. The half-day How to Write Concisely workshop shows you how to remove clutter, repetition and excess detail from your writing without sacrificing your message. The workshop includes practical exercises that allow you to work on your own project(s).
Learn how to
– Edit and critique writing to improve clarity and meaning
– Decide what detail is necessary to express an idea or topic
– Identify and fix writing that is ambiguous, unclear, repetitive and long-winded

Workshop presenter

Dr Marina Hurley, Lecturer & Consultant, Writing Clear Science

More about this workshop (PDF)

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

Register now!

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

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The making of AMOSS – a living science style resource

When: Tuesday 13th November, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Where: Theatrette, Level 2 behind the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #T9

‘Sulfur’ versus ‘sulphur’, ‘prevalence’ versus ‘incidence’ – before the Australian manual of scientific style (AMOSS) came along, science and technical writing was a Wild West of duelling styles and lone rangers…

This presentation takes you behind the scenes of Biotext’s quest to bring together scientific conventions from a wide range of disciplines and aspects of science communication in one style manual. Its team’s considerable experience with the limited science-specific content in other Australian style resources helped Biotext see the huge potential benefit of an interactive, online style manual for an Australian audience.

Learn about the 3-year journey undertaken by Biotext’s experienced writers, editors and designers to develop AMOSS, and its publication as an online resource, in partnership with Macquarie University. Explore the structure and main features of AMOSS, and its accessibility as an online resource. This presentation is ideal for the same groups identified as potential users of AMOSS: academics, researchers, students, government employees, science communicators, editors and journalists.

Session

Case studies: Lessons from the experts

Presenter

Dr Julie Irish, Principal Health Writer and Editor, Biotext

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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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Taking your presentation skills to the next level

When: Tuesday 13th November, 11:45am – 12:45pm
Where: Theatre, Level 2 down the stairs to the right of the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #T6

The key to the art of presentation is knowing it’s a dictatorship, and you are in control.

Dr Karl will take you on a fun guided tour through how to deliver a Powerpoint/Keynote presentation. There will be tips and tools to help you engage your audience, from simple microphone technique to how to blend content and segues to generate humour.

Learn the skills to take your audience on a science journey to remember from one of the country’s most experienced presenters.

Session Producer/Chair

Dr Phil Dooley, ASC National Co-Vice-President, Phil Up On Science

Workshop Facilitator/Presenter/Performer

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Julius Sumner Miller Fellow for Sci Comm, University of Sydney

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Forget Fake News – Is PR Hype the Big Problem in Science and Could a Media Release Labelling System Help?

When: Wednesday 14th November, 2:40pm – 3:40pm
Where: Theatre, Level 2 down the stairs to the right of the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #W15

Science and health stories are often criticised for containing conflicting, exaggerated or misleading claims, and while journalists may play a role, a 2014 study showed that exaggeration in news is strongly associated with exaggeration in media releases.

In just the last 12 months there have been a myriad of media releases using the word ‘breakthrough’, or describing the outcome of mouse studies as if they had been done in humans. Is it media teams or scientists themselves who are spinning the research?

In the era of fake news, do those of us communicating science research need to lift our game? A voluntary labelling system for media releases may be part of the answer. Our colleagues at the Science Media Centre in the UK created a simple labelling system to help journalists get their heads around medical research media releases and what they really mean.

The system has already been adopted by several major journal publishers including Cell Press and the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

This session will discuss hype in science media releases, its impacts, origins and what can be done to address it.

Session Producer/Session Chair/Presenter

Lyndal Byford, Director of News and Partnerships, Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC)

Presenters

Jason Whittaker, Story Editor, Media Watch, ABC TV

Kellia Chiu, PhD candidate, The University of Sydney

Dr Meredith Ross, Marketing & Communications Officer, Garvan Institute of Medical Research

 

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In conversation: why does science need style?

When: Monday 12th November, 10:25am – 11:25am
Where: Theatre, Level 2 down the stairs to the right of the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #M3

Consistent and inconsistent style has had fascinating impacts in many fields of communication. Arguably, some of the highest stakes exist in science communication, where complexity meets diverse audiences, and matters of health, innovation and safety depend on technical texts being understood down to the letter. Join our panel in conversation, as we delve into the applications and implications of style in technical writing. Journey back as we look at some of the historic styles in science communication, and the way linguistics has influenced the often highly emotional attachment we have to certain style conventions. We’ll unpack style preconceptions, how we determine what’s ‘right’ and what’s ‘wrong’ in matters of science style, and go through some interesting examples of the good, the bad and the ugly. Add a dash of technology as we learn about Macquarie University’s research into what eye tracking technology can tell us about the ways we digest information. We’ll also touch on the science style resources available to science communicators.

This 45 minute session includes 15 minutes of Q&A at the end. We look forward to sharing a thoroughly engaging science style conversation with you!

Join panellists Dr Janet Salisbury, founder and Director of Biotext; Emeritus Professor Pam Peters, Macquarie University Department of Linguistics, Gab Lhuede, National Publications Manager for St John Ambulance; and panel Chair, Toss Gascoigne, a founding member of Australian Science Communicators, and a veteran science communicator.

Session Producer, Presenter

Dr Janet Salisbury, Founder and Director, Biotext

Session Chair

Toss Gascoigne, Visiting Fellow, Australian National University

Presenter

Emeritus Professor Pam Peters, Emeritus Professor, Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University

Gabrielle Lhuede, National Publications Manager, St John Ambulance Australia

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Podcasting. Behind the microphone.

When: Thursday 15th November, 12:00pm – 4:45pm (including lunch)
Where: Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris St, Ultimo
Room: L2, 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!

Love to listen? Enjoy your podcasts? Thinking about/starting one of your own? This practical workshop by audio producer Lea Redfern (formerly of ABC RN, currently University of Sydney) is an opportunity to go to the next level in audio production.

Tailored to the participants, Lea will take you through the elements of audio from interviewing to music, to why and how you should edit, and how to plan, produce and distribute a podcast with an audience in mind.

Format
This session will be a combination of listening, discussion, practical exercises and planning/feedback.
Listening.
Discussion
Pitching
Practical exercises
Planning to podcast

Audience
Confirmed participants will be contacted to gauge experience with audio, interviewing and podcasting and areas of interest.

The class will be tailored according to participants’ experience.

Participants will gain practical experience in scripting and presenting, interviewing, handling recording equipment, knowledge of hosting options and an outline/pitch for their podcast.

Workshop Facilitator

Lea Redfern, Audio educator and podcasting consultant, The University of Sydney

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

Register now!

**Numbers strictly limited. Register to save your seat!**

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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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Writing Poetry Scientifically or Science Poetically

When: Wednesday 14th November, 11:55am – 1:25pm
Where: L2, Level 2 to the left of the registration/foyer area, down the hallway and through the doors on the right
Hashtag: #W13

Can poetry be used as a tool to communicate science? There is a science to poetry: poetic forms have strict formulas and measurement systems. Conversely, science is full of poetry – it is creative, imaginative, and inquisitive. This interactive workshop aims to decompartmentalise “poetry” and “science”, with a view to discussing the availability of poetry as a tool for communicating science to a wide range of audiences. Poetry will be deconstructed and various poetic forms analysed, giving you the techniques to debate and create your own science-inspired poetry. When scientific concepts are expressed in verse, perhaps the aesthetics, intuition, emotion, and poetic devices that characterise poetry will enrich the inductive reasoning, logic, pragmatism, and precise terminology that characterise science. Perhaps there are many ways in which the humanistic nature of poetry can be shaped for scientific purposes and messages. In turn, maybe the creative and descriptive nature of science will influence new poetic themes. Bring along your favourite poem or discover some new ones (perhaps even of your own making) as we explore science poetry and its future. Two examples, composed by the workshop’s facilitates, are here to get you thinking!

“This hemisphere leans
Sunward as winter breeds spring.
Hibernators rise.”

“The shy Higgs Boson’s strange decay
Happens, it seems, almost right away.
And it’s a loop of Tops
From which the shy Higgs pops,
Into a dual Photon array.”

Session Producers/Workshop Facilitators/Presenters

Dr Michael Leach, Adjunct Research Associate, School of Rural Health, Monash University

Rachel Rayner, Science Communicator, Australian Volunteers Program

The facilitators are currently working on a science communication paper around the topic of poetry as a communication tool. Elements of the results and discussion from this workshop may be incorporated into the paper.

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The power of podcast

When: Sunday 11th November, 10:30am – 2:30pm
Where: Ultimo Community Centre, 40 William Henry Street (Corner Bulwara Road), Ultimo
Room: Seminar Room 1, Level 1, enter off Bulwara Road.
Up the stairs, the library is on the right and the seminar room is down the corridor on the left.
Hashtag: #S1

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

Register now!

Using lots of hands-on exercises we explore the power of podcasting. What is podcasting? Why is the spoken word so effective? Who can podcast? (clue – anyone!)
We look at genres and formats, planning your podcast, working with talent, the art of the interview, scripting/presenting, how to handle audio equipment, and an understanding of the ‘back end’ – editing choices, hosting and social media.

Format
This session will alternate instruction in the elements of podcasting you need to consider and a number of practical exercises to help you come away with a plan for your first (second or third) ideal podcast.

Audience
The class will be tailored according to participants’ experience.
We will contact confirmed participants to ask you to indicate your experience level with audio interviewing/podcasting and what you’d like to get from the course.
Participants will come away with hands on experience in interviewing, handling recording equipment and working with talent, scripting and presenting, knowledge of hosting options and a plan for their ideal podcast.

Workshop Facilitator

Gretchen Miller, Podcast producer, lecturer and media consultant with 20 years experience at ABC RN, Gretchen Miller Media

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

Register now!

**Numbers strictly limited. Register to save your seat!**

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

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