ASC2020 - 16-19 Feb, Melbourne

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Bringing Science into the Home

InquiBox designs and delivers science and maths activity boxes for children aged 7-12 years old so that they learn through play. Every box includes 4-6 activities, and we use a combination of DIY projects, experiments and games, and explore a different STEAM topic every month. We deliver the boxes directly to the home and create a tactile learning environment away from screens.

 

Presenter

Sarah Bradley, Science Communicator, InquiBox

 

When: Tuesday 18th February, 2:00pm-3:30pm
Where: Room G01, Learning and Teaching Building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton
Hashtag: TBC

 

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Social implications of knee-jerk prescribing practices in response to opioid science communications in Australian and the USA

The phrase “opioid epidemic” has become commonplace in recent years. In Australia and the USA, one-sided science communication addressed to medical practitioners about public health statistics has resulted in unintended social implications for chronic pain sufferers.

This communication has since been recanted by the authors in both countries, but has led to unintended and avoidable knee-jerk responses by both doctors and policy-makers, including doctors abandoning their patients, patients enduring rapid opioid withdrawal (which has significantly higher risk of death than opioid overdose), state legislation, and even suicides. This case study explores how this happened, and what we can learn for the future.

Presenter

S. Jade Barclay, Medical Writer, PhD Candidate, The University of Sydney

 

When: Wednesday 19th February, 2:40pm-3:25pm
Where: Room G01, Learning and Teaching Building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton
Hashtag: TBC

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Zantac headlines are a greater health risk than Zantac tablets

Zantac (Ranitidine) has recently been recalled due to a probable carcinogen found in slightly higher than expected levels in a batch of the product. This recall is a voluntary act of social responsibility by the company, however the mainstream media and social media representations have incited panic with sensationalised headlines like “FDA says heartburn drug Zantac could cause cancer.”

The literature shows that patients don’t discern risk well when it comes to comparing medical treatments and evaluating healthcare options. Patients are meant to give informed consent about the treatments they receive, but they are at the mercy of their providing physicians and the media to get science information about the risks and benefits of their proposed treatments. These kinds of communication tactics and incomplete representation of science information in the media contribute to medical distrust, confusion, and panic that prevent good healthcare decision-making.

 

Presenter

S. Jade Barclay

 

When: Wednesday 19th February, 2:40pm-3:25pm
Where: Room G01, Learning and Teaching Building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton
Hashtag: TBC

 

 

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Towards Citizen Art/Science – How Unique Partnerships Can Increase Scientific Engagement

Would you be brave enough to track your exposure to air pollution and become part of an artwork? Or would you want to experience the air quality of global cities within a single exhibition space? Science Gallery Melbourne and Environment Protection Authority Victoria established a partnership to address these questions as part of Science Gallery’s season DISPOSABLE.

The experience from our partnership revealed a promising opportunity for ‘citizen art/science projects’ that enable members of the public to participate in scientific practice by engaging with artistic exhibits. Is this the new model to help answer urgent, wicked problems?

In this presentation we discuss the motivations behind our partnership, the projects we collaborated on, and we illustrate the impact of joining forces with government agencies, academia and the cultural sector. Driven by a collective goal to increase scientific literacy, we have identified how these partnerships also benefit civic engagement, academic practice, cultural exposure and policy-making.

 

What will participants gain from attending your session?

Participants will gain first-hand knowledge of the exciting partnership between EPA, SGM and The University of Melbourne. Our talk will be light and accessible, and will unpack how we established our partnership, its driving forces, and the significant opportunities that we believe exist for citizen art/science projects as society participates in seeking answers to urgent, wicked problems.

Presenters

Niels Wouter, Head of Research and Emerging Practice, Research Fellow, Science Gallery Melbourne

Laura Boland, Program Coordinator – Applied Science, Environment Protection Authority Victoria

Geraldine Davis, Program Coordinator – Citizen Science, Environment Protection Authority Victoria

 

When: Wednesday 19th February, 12:05pm-12:50pm
Where: Room G21, Learning and Teaching Building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton
Hashtag: TBC

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The Trees Speak, and people listen

Boorna Waanginy: The Trees Speak was the opening event for Perth Festival 2019. A free, immersive light and sound installation, the show was updated and remounted following a successful season in 2017. Using cutting edge technology and a collaborative team of artists, scientists and Indigenous Elders, Boorna Waanginy tells the story of south-western WA’s unique biodiversity and explores the parallels between Indigenous knowledge and western science.

In 2019, the show involved thousands of school children, included a practical component to help people take on-ground action to help biodiversity, doubled its audience to over 200,000 and had rave reviews around the world.

Can art change the conversation around conservation and how do we convert the conversation into action?

 

Presenter

Mandy Bamford, Ecologist and Science Communicator, Bamford Consulting Ecologists

 

When: Monday 17th February, 2:00-3:30
Where: Room G03, Learning and Teaching Building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton
Hashtag: TBC

 

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