ASC2020 - 16-19 Feb, Melbourne

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SciCom Trivia: World’s greatest science communication quiz show with (smallish) prizes

Join your colleagues at the opening night of ASC2020 and reminisce about Australian science communication events and people – great and small. Celebrate our 25-year history as an organisation. Dig even further back into our Indigenous and colonial past.

Who have been our famous science communicators? When did it all start? What science communication events have shaped our country today?

Come along to Dooley’s Irish Bar on Sunday February 16 at 6.30pm. Form a team of 4-5 people. Give your team a name, and test your knowledge of Australia’s dark science communication past.

Ringmasters

Jenni Metcalfe, Director, Econnect Communication
Toss Gascoigne, Consultant
Michelle Riedlinger, Associate Professor / Consultant, University of Fraser Valley/Econnect

When: Sunday 16th February, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Where: Dooley’s Irish Bar, 2077 Dandenong Rd, Clayton VIC 3168
Cost: Free for delegates – RSVPs essential, $25 for public.
Hashtag: TBC

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Delving deeper with design thinking

This workshop will introduce participants to design thinking and, through hands-on activities, demonstrate its different stages and how they can be used for many purposes, including to help science communicators develop more relevant content and for engaging audiences more effectively.

Using the Whittlesea Tech School as a case study, which is part of the new Victorian government initiative intending to transform secondary school education, we will illustrate how we use design thinking to empower young people to take on global and local challenges.

This session aims to demonstrate the widespread applications of design thinking and how it can be used by science communicators for both developing content and delivering content with more effective audience engagement. Participants will gain hands-on experience with the design thinking methodology and learn ways in which they could implement design thinking into their own work context through reflective discussion.

This session will be structured with a brief presentation on design thinking and how the Whittlesea Tech School uses design thinking to empower young people and build their science literacy and communication skills. In the form of short hands-on activities, participants will then be guided through the different stages of design thinking to solve a global issue. They will work in groups and the workshop will conclude with a pitching session.

Workshop Facilitator

Vhairi Mackintosh, STEM Communication Officer, Whittlesea Tech School

Michael Wilson, STEM Communication Officer, Whittlesea Tech School

 

When: Wednesday 19th February, 11:00am–12:50pm

Where: Room G03, Learning and Teaching Building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton

Hashtag: TBC

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We are not experts: Co-creating content with audiences

Science Gallery Melbourne (SGM) is an art/science laboratory for young people to spark big ideas. This workshop will take participants behind the curtain into our process engaging young people, experts, and communities to develop exhibition themes, artworks, and public programs.

Drawing on case studies from the science gallery global network, this session will take participants through the co-creation process to workshop future SGM programs.

What type of session will this be?

Demonstrations: presenting innovative science communication practices with a commentary on their application and effectiveness., Workshop: allowing participants to actively engage in exploring a project or concept in science communication.

How will this session be structured?

0-10 minutes: introduction of presenters and Science Gallery as a global network and Melbourne node including overview of co-creation in regards to programming,
10-45 minutes: Case studies from SGM and Science Gallery nodes around the world of the behind the scenes ways that we co-design and co-develop exhibitions/programs.
45 – 90 minutes: Participants will take part in a co-creation, co-development workshop led by SGM staff.

Session Producer, Workshop facilitator

Claire Farrugia – Education & Outreach Manager, Science Gallery Melbourne

 

Workshop facilitator

Tilly Boleyn – Curator, Science Gallery Melbourne

 

Presenters

Anastaszia Ward-Davies, Visual art teacher (Williamstown High School) Research assistant (University of Melbourne – MGSE & Department of Medicine/Department of Physiotherapy)

Jett Janetzki The University of Melbourne/MPavilion

 

When: Wednesday 19th February, 13:50pm-15:25pm

Where: Room G03, Learning and Teaching Building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton

Hashtag: TBC

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Participatory science communication for creating needed social change

Session will look at:
* What participatory science communication is, and why it has the power to create change
* Case studies of participatory science communication – long term and short term – to see what works or not (including at least one citizen science example)
* Barriers for participatory science communication, especially institutional will and resources, and opportunities to overcome these
* Roles for science communicators, scientists and other publics

 

Presenters

Jenni Metcalfe, Director, Econnect Communication

Jennifer Manyweathers, Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Biosecurity, Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University and NSW Department of Primary Industry

Michelle Riedlinger, University of Fraser Valley, Canada

Rod Kennett, Senior Manager for STEM Content, Questacon

Anne Leitch, Adjunct researcher / casual senior editor, Griffith University / NatureResearch

When: Tuesday 18th February, 2:00pm-3:30pm

Where: Room G02, Learning and Teaching Building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton
Hashtag: TBC

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Are we making progress as Australian Science Communicators?

Have we made progress in the last eight years? Updating findings of the 2012 participatory evaluation of the ASC conference.

A participatory evaluation session was run at the 2012 ASC conference, you can see some of the key outcomes on the picture to the right:  these were framed as a vision for the future in which scicom had been effective.

Have we made progress on some of these themes? Are other themes now more important? What aspects are within science communicators’ control and which aren’t? How do these align with other priorities?

 

What will participants gain from attending your session?

– understanding of purposes of science communication, clarifying own perspectives & comparing with others

– developing shared understanding of indicators for tracking progress in science communication, potentially for people to then use in their own work

– evaluation of the conference in a participatory format while people are gathered, more engaging than survey.

 

Presenters

Cobi Calyx, UNSW Centre for Social Impact

Lisa Bailey, ASC President

Jenni Metcalfe, Director, Econnect Communication

 

When: Wednesday 19th February, 13:50pm-15:25pm

Where: Room G31, Learning and Teaching Building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton
Hashtag: TBC

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Communicating research for impact: making a difference in northern Australia

An efficient way for research to make an impact is when it is communicated effectively to those in positions to effect change.

An integrated research program in northern Australia under the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program is informing policy and supporting better management decisions by undertaking world-class research and delivering it with targeted and purposeful science communication.

With the research program in its final year, the engagement with research users – federal and state government departments, Traditional Owners and land managers – has shifted towards synthesising knowledge and delivering research results, in ways and at times that are most relevant to the user.

Communication products and activities include story maps, videos, factsheets, forums, workshops, presentations and targeted meetings.

The impact of research results is underpinned by early and ongoing engagement with research users to scope what projects were needed and identify possible integration with existing management and policy timelines that identified clear purposes for the research.

This presentation will highlight how our science communication approach is leading to specific cases of impact for environmental management in northern Australia.

 

How will your session be structured?
20-minute presentation with 10 minutes for questions.

 

What type of session will this be?
Practice insights: speakers describe, demonstrate and/or evaluate specific science communication practices., Demonstrations: presenting innovative science communication practices with a commentary on their application and effectiveness.

 

What will participants gain from attending your session?
This presentation will show how engagement with research users and targeted science communication is increasing impact of research in northern Australia. Attendees will gain insight into innovative communication methods and how we address challenges of access and scale in northern Australia to deliver effective communication.

 

Presenter

Patch Clapp, Communications Officer, NESP Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub

 

Co-authors

Jane Thomas, Science Communicator, NESP Northern Australia Hub

 

When: Monday 17th February, 12:30pm-1:00pm
Where: Room G01, Learning and Teaching Building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton
Hashtag: TBC

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Breaking down the wall of science communication.

This presentation will explain a unique opportunity to participate in a global hub of science communicators.
Engage is a program run by the Falling Walls Foundation in Berlin. It culminates in an annual competition but the program is much more about collaboration and sharing methods to communicate science.
The Australian Academy of Science will be establishing a regional hub for Engage in 2020. This session will describe details of the hub and invite ASC members to participate.
Participants will also learn about the Academy’s innovative program for science communication.

Presenters

Dr Paul Richards, Director of Communications and Outreach, Australian Academy of Science

 

When: Monday 17th February, 2:00pm-3:30pm

Where: Room G01, Learning and Teaching Building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton
Hashtag: TBC

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How the Australian Academy of Science measures and applies Diversity and Inclusion

Women are still underrepresented across STEM fields. When it comes to diversity and inclusion, visibility matters. Join the Australian Academy of Science for a conversation around how scientific organisations can better incorporate diversity into their activities, how to track and measure your diversity and inclusion goals, and what barriers may be encountered along the way.

Hear about how the Academy is driving diversity and inclusion in science through policy initiatives such as the Women in STEM Decadal Plan and communications and outreach strategies that normalise diversity. But there’s still plenty of work to do. Bring your experience to the table and come ready to workshop ideas for how all of us can improve and do better.

How will your session be structured?
A brief presentation with an overview of the Academy’s Diversity and Inclusion projects as well as communication strategies to record and track diversity and inclusion.
Then facilitation of an open discussion to workshop various scenarios to create a conversation about the issue.

What will participants gain from attending your session?

Participants will gain a better understanding of ways to track diversity and inclusion in their own projects, plus a better understanding of what diversity and inclusion means in science communication

Presenters

Dr Tom Carruthers, Digital Strategist, Australian Academy of Science
Emma Berthold, Science Editor, Australian Academy of Science

 

When: Monday 17th February, 12:00pm-1:00pm

Where: Room G31, Learning and Teaching Building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton
Hashtag: TBC

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Stories of how scientists achieve social impact

In this recorded session, a panel of researchers will discuss how they’ve managed to achieve social impact, both within their research and beyond it. We will discuss motivations and enablers for achieving social impacts as researchers, considering as well how the experiences and backgrounds of researchers shape their social impact efforts.

The first half an hour will be curated discussion, followed by equal time for facilitated Q&A discussion.

The recording will be used in the new UNSW Masters course ‘Leading Science for Impact’; please bear this in mind if you contribute in discussion time.

 

What will participants gain from attending your session?

  • Understanding of types of social impact that researchers can achieve
  • Insights into how individual researchers experience their role in science communication and motivations/incentives/outcomes of their participation

MC/Session Chair

Cobi Calyx, Research Fellow in Science Communication, Centre for Social Impact, UNSW Sydney

Presenter

Summer Finlay, Lecturer and researcher, University of Wollongong, University of Canberra

Sandersan Onie, Postdoctoral Fellow, Black Dog Institute

 

When: Tuesday 19th February, 9:45am-10:45am
Where: Room G21, Learning and Teaching Building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton
Hashtag: TBC

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Questions? Please contact Kali on asc2020@asc.asn.au.

Acknowledgements

© 2020 Australian Science Communicators

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