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Issue 46 Contents |
The National Science Forum -- Science Now!
Melbourne Exhibition Centre, 7-10 May 1998
(same time and venue as the Great Australian Science Show)
Science Now! will showcase the best and latest Australian science and technology, especially involving younger scientists, in a forum where issues of the day can be debated. Many sessions will be aimed at maximising media coverage. One of our main aims is to identify interesting papers presented at specialist meetings and have them aired before a much broader audience.
Science Now! will have four main elements:
- Breaking new ground - fresh Australian science. Scientists starting to make their mark in the world of science will be encouraged to present their work to the media and the public.
- Science in society - point and counterpoint. Debates and forums involving leading researchers and the general public both in the auditorium and via the media.
- Workshops. Professional development opportunities for business, journalists, scientists and science communicators.
- Youth program. Aimed at secondary students with science activities and presentations on subject choices, choosing a university, scholarships and developing a career in science.
The public, through the Great Australian Science Show and radio, will also be involved.
Who is behind it?
The seeds for Science Now! were sown in late 1996 by the then executive of the Australian Science Communicators (ASC), who early last year proposed a national science forum to several of the main organisations involved with science in Australia.
In September a committee was formed in Melbourne to secure funding for an inaugural event to be staged as part of National Science Week. The committee, with a nucleus of ASC and Victorian ANZAAS members, consists of the following people:
- Ian Anderson (chairman), Australian Editor of New Scientist
- Niall Byrne, former Communication Manager, CSIRO Animal Health
- Bienna Chow (treasurer), organiser of Youth ANZAAS, Secretary of ANZAAS Victorian Division, member of Young Scientists of Victoria
- Cyril Curtain, former Chief Scientist CSIRO Division of Biomolecular Engineering, Emeritus Fellow Biomolecular Research Institute, past-Chairman ANZAAS Victorian Division
- Julie Egan, Science Communications Consultant, Lecturer in Science Writing
- Alana Mitchell, ABC Science Media Fellow, former research scientist at the Baker Institute
- Mike Pickford (Secretary), Director Australian Science Network, Event Manager for the Great Australian Science Show and Contracted Event Manager for the National Science Forum.
- Ian Rae (Deputy Chairman and Science Spokesman), former Dean of Science Monash University and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Victorian University of Technology
- Roger Short, Research Fellow Perinatal Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital
- Tim Thwaites, Science Writer and Editor
- Basil Walby, Chairman ANZAAS Victorian Division, former Head of CSIRO Publications.
Funding
In December, the committee secured a two-year $200 000 commitment from Mark Birrell, the Victorian Minister for Science Industry and Technology. In January, a two-year $60,000 commitment was made by the Commonwealth Science and Technology Awareness Program. Funds from private sources are also being sought.
For more information
The organising committee is keen to hear from anyone who would like to help with Science Now! and wants to collaborate with organisers of other National Science Week events around the country.
For further information about plans, the program and how to submit papers for consideration by the scientific committee, please contact:
Niall Byrne, the Program Coordinator, on 03 5253 1391, mob. 0417 131 977 or email: niall@aahl.dah.csiro.au
Mike Pickford, the Event Manager, mp@asnevents.net.au
Ian Anderson, the Chairman, at Ian.Anderson@ReedBusiness.com.au
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Issue 46 Contents |