ASC2020 - 16-19 Feb, Melbourne

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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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Naminma Nanga mi – Reveal the Dream

When: Monday 12th November, 9:35am – 10:20am
Where: Theatre, Level 2 down the stairs to the right of the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #M2

The sophisticated Indigenous knowledge systems of Australia’s first peoples are both ancient and unique to this continent and I attest are a vital part of Australia’s knowledge capital.

Unlike their Western knowledge system counterparts, if they are not maintained, practised and developed in Australia as vibrant living knowledge systems they will not exist anywhere else in the world.

We need to recognise and value the enormous contribution that Aboriginal peoples have and continue to make to our understanding of the world. After all we have survived in this fragile land scape for millennia, we have knowledge to share. Are you ready to elevate, engage and collaborate with First Nations people’s to maintain our indigenous knowledge systems for this is an issue of national significance for all Australians.

Invited Speaker

Joanne Selfe, Project Officer, MAAS Indigenous Engagement & Strategy

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Designing methodologies with impact

When: Wednesday 14th November, 2:40pm – 3:40pm

Different approaches and processes can be implemented as part of a research project – but the best approach is the one that will get you the most accurate assessment! This workshop will address best practice approaches to designing research programs that combine scientific rigour with practical efficiency. We will look at the philosophy underpinning different approaches and how and when different techniques should be used.

Presenter

Clifford Lewis, Lecturer, Charles Sturt University

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Sydney Nanoscience Hub Tour

When: Thursday 15th November, 9:30am
Where: University of Sydney Nano Institute, Physics Road, Camperdown

The Sydney Nanoscience Hub is the flagship building of the University of Sydney Nano Institute. The $150m world-class research facility includes some of the best controlled research environments in the world to pursue and harness knowledge at the nanoscale.

ASC members are invited for a 45-minute tour of the building and its facilities, meeting some of the researchers (depending on availability) working on diverse topics. These include DNA origami and nanorobotic systems for surgery, quantum computing research, investigation of nanomaterials to extract water from the atmosphere, nanoscale-designed batteries to safely store solar energy, investigation into organic solar cells, biomedical engineering of human skeletal regrowth.

The building is home to the Sydney Microsoft Quantum Laboratory, the Sydney Quantum Control Laboratory, the University’s nanophotonic laboratories and is the HQ of Q-CTRL, Australia’s first venture-capital backed quantum technology company. The Microsoft Quantum Laboratory represents the largest single investment in quantum technology in Australia. The tour will include a look at world-class cleanrooms and nanoscale semiconductor foundry and the new transmission electron microscope with resolution of less than 0.06 nanometres, the best in the country.

The tour will be hosted by Marcus Strom and will feature Professor David Reilly from the Microsoft Quantum Lab.

Numbers are limited to 15 per group.

Travel Methods
1) 12min walk from Redfern Train Station
2) From Powerhouse Museum – 10min walk and 10min bus ride
3) 10min Taxi ride

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Solving your tricky problems: the power of crowds

When: Monday 12th November, 3:55pm – 4:40pm
Where: Theatre, Level 2 down the stairs to the right of the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #M14

This session will be a participatory crowd sourcing event in which conference attendees will nominate a problem, and the conference will crowd source a solution, using the combined knowledge and experience of participants.

Workshop Presenter

Craig Cormick, Science Communicator and writer

Australian Science Communicators

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

Acknowledgements

© 2020 Australian Science Communicators

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