Author Archives: Jesse Shore

About Jesse Shore

Jesse Shore is passionate about engaging the community with science and in looking for ways to weave together the arts and sciences. He has been developing science based exhibitions and events since 1984, and was President of the Australian Science Communicators from 2010-2012. His business, Prismatic Sciences, produced five travelling exhibitions for the Royal Australian Chemical Institute for the 2011 International Year of Chemistry and he manages the ongoing national tour. He previously worked at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney as an exhibition project leader and Senior Curator of sciences. While at the museum he was one of the founders of the Ultimo Science Festival, a major National Science Week activity. He is currently collaborating with an artist to create artworks which have a science slant.

Promoting prizes related to communication of science

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Recently I asked the ASC-list, “How can we work with science prize schemes to get added value for those of us who communicate science? Ideally we want a means which will also be beneficial to the prize schemes by attracting more attention, more nominations or some other desirable outcome.”

Several of you responded in a burst of discussion. I haven’t had time to digest all the views but I some useful things are likely to occur.

There are a number of worthy prize programs. In my post I hadn’t mentioned another major scheme, the Young Tall Poppy Awards, as I hadn’t seen an announcement about nominations. The ASC is looking forward to working closer with the various science prize schemes and there is lots of opportunity for interaction at the branch as well as national level.

Jesse Shore
National President

Why is science communication important?

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During Anna Salleh’s interview for her ABC Science on-line article, “Australia’s science budget ‘uninspiring’”, (see http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/05/11/3213833.htm) she asked me to give her a one-liner about why science communication is important.

I’m not usually short of a word but I stumbled over this. I started to regret that I gave up trying to craft a killer quote the night before the interview. Anna deflected my first answer that ‘science communicators make science accessible to various audiences’. That’s what we do, in broad terms, but not why we do it.

I then struggled through a clunky response which she reported as “If the government wants an informed public, an engaged public in science and technology issues that affect us all then we need a mechanism for the public to be informed and one of those mechanisms is effective science communication.”

Hours later I came up with a different take accompanied by a reality check in a second paragraph.

“Effective communication of science gives people accurate information upon which to base decisions. By making science accessible, science communicators help counter the misinformation and misconceptions which clutter public debate.”

“But few people base their decision making on just being presented with good science. The communicator’s message must have meaning, be useful and acknowledge the needs, aspirations and concerns of each intended audience.”

I put the question to you. Can you state in a short and memorable way ‘why science communication is important’?

Jesse Shore
National President

ASC national conference 2012 – plans are progressing

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Rod Lamberts, the chair of our national conference organising committee, has been working feverishly to get the nuts and bolts in place before the fun planning begins in earnest. He has received quotes from professional conference organisers and we will make a selection soon on who we’ll appoint. Then after the PCO’s tasks are spelled out the organising committee will map out what we expect will be an exciting and innovative program.

Rod has already discussed a range of roles with the members of his committee and they seem eager to get underway. Rod and/or I will keep you informed of progress.

Jesse Shore
National President

Call for curators for International Association for Public Participation conference

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The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) promotes the values and leading practices associated with involving the public in decisions that impact their lives. Some of IAP2’s values and themes are compatible with those of the ASC. Last year ASC and IAP2 collaborated with the Sydney Environmental Educators Network to deliver three professional development workshops in Sydney.

IAP2 has an upcoming conference in October 2011 in Sydney. They have put out a call for organisations and individuals to help develop their conference program. Interested volunteer session curators should focus on the conference themes, skills building or practice reflections – they are not simply looking for case studies.

If you are interested in getting involved see http://www.iap2.org.au/sitebuilder/conference/knowledge/asset/files/41/calloutforcurators-approved.pdf and email them your proposal by 30 June.

More information on the conference and early bird registration details can be found at http://www.iap2.org.au/practicedevelopment/conferences/2011-iap2-australasia-conference

Jesse Shore
National President

National Science Communication Officers’ Forum – Liquid Learning’s second annual event

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ASC is supporting Liquid Learning’s second annual National Science Communication Officers’ Forum postponed from 23-24 August 2011 in Sydney, Citigate Central to 22-24 November 2011 (note that these are tentative dates).

This is a well structured professional development event with networking opportunities and has an impressive range of speakers including several ASC members.

A selection of the key topics covered: Social media, Inspiring Australia, Partnerships, Bridging the gap between high-level science and communicating to a broader public, Evaluating.

Liquid Learning offers a 10% discount off standard registration fee to all current ASC members.

Jesse Shore
National President

Commonwealth budget and funding for Inspiring Australia

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I was pleased to see that the Inspiring Australia program was funded to the full amount promised in Labor’s policy announcement before the election. Minister Carr’s media release, http://minister.innovation.gov.au/Carr/MediaReleases/Pages/INSPIRINGAUSTRALIATOLEADTHEWORLDINSCIENCE.aspx, mentions three aspects to the program: National Science Week and other high profile events; science prizes; and a new national hub for science and technology communications.

The first two programs are essentially continuations of the previous Science Connections Program (SCOPE) which now will be branded as part of IA. The science week and events funding was increased slightly from previous years and I hope this will enable additional events throughout the year.

The third aspect, the new national hub, is specific to IA. Some of its funding will enable the state and territory IA project officers to be employed past their original short-term appointments. They will be involved in implementing the national framework-local action concept. It is still sketchy what this will entail but they would make a contribution by communicating with all science event presenters in their region to coordinate delivery of services. We need coordination, greater networking and more partnerships rather than duplication of activities.

I’ll keep you informed of news from my chats with the IA team as the program develops.

Anna Salleh in her ABC Science on-line article, “Australia’s science budget ‘uninspiring’”, quoted some of my comments about the IA funding (see http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/05/11/3213833.htm). I reflected later on how I answered her question about why is science communication important. See my thoughts in a separate Scope note.

Jesse Shore

National President

Sydney workshop: Community Engagement Tips, Tools and Techniques

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20 May 2011
8:30 amto5:00 pm

Science communicators and especially scienctists who communicate controversial subjects may benefit from skills in community engagement.

IAP2 NSW is running an impressive looking one day workshop on Community Engagement Tips, Tools and Techniques.

This one day workshop is suitable for emerging engagement specialists who are keen to learn from leading practitioners in NSW, or for more experienced specialists looking for a fresh burst of ideas and inspiration.

Read more at http://www.iap2.org.au/events/event/tips-tools-techniques-workshop.

Jesse Shore, National president

Inspiring Australia conference, Melbourne 28-29 March 2011

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I’m working my way through the possible outcomes of the recent Inspiring Australia conference. The main matter for me was the closing plenary. We were asked to vote on a number of poorly worded questions. I took issue with two points in particular. One was about whether the attendees supported Questacon overseeing the allocation of funding for projects related to IA initiatives or whether an independent committee should be established for this task. The point hadn’t been fully explored by the entire assembly and we were rushed to a vote based on minimal discussion. Let’s say that I had a brief but lively disagreement with the view that Questacon should have oversight. I think the result may lead to an advisory panel with Questacon providing the secretariat which I feel will be acceptable and time and cost efficient.

The other sore point was about a new website funded by DIISR which listed science communication events and profiles of the communicators who were the event organisers. I have no issue with the event listing but I think the listing of profiles partially duplicates what ASC has trying to do to promote the skills of its members. At this time the matter is under discussion and yet to be resolved.

Inspiring Australia should be about coordinating science communication activities in Australia and not duplicating functions of others. IA initiatives will be most effective and efficient when done in consultation with existing organisations. It seems the process needs some refinement.

I will report again when matters are made clearer.

Jesse Shore
National President

Australian Science Festival closes

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You will have read the sad news that the  Canberra based Australian Science Festival will not happen this year and it’s future seems bleak.I am loath to speak in the past tense about the ASF and I hope that its book has not closed for good. ASF has been very influential on the science communication event scene in Australia. The ASF team has been a creative spark and I wish Mary-Anne and her team all the best for the immediate future. I’m hoping we still get to read a new chapter from them before long.

Jesse Shore
National President

From the President, February 2011: Big year ahead

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I sense a growing awareness of the importance of science communication. The Inspiring Australia report has played a part in this and I note that others are talking up the cause. Chemists involved in organising the International Year of Chemistry 2011 see this as an opportunity to get their messages across to the public. They know that to do so they need to communicate more effectively and will need skills to make it happen.

Since the election the Inspiring Australia has worked to get election promises of funding into the reality of the 2011 budget. This won’t be easy in the face of cut-backs to government programs to reallocate funds to rebuild flood and cyclone damaged infrastructure.

Still it should be a big year ahead for science communication and the ASC. What follows is only the briefest of reports but it has a few nuggets.

Inspiring Australia conference 2011: The Inspiring Australia team has raced to set in train a national conference called ‘Inspiring Science, Inspiring Australia: Telling Australia’s Brilliant Stories’. It’s on 28-29 March 2011 at the Arrow on Swanston, Melbourne. More information and registrations at http://iaconference.com.au/. It sounds like an important start to the IA program of activities for this year.

2012 National conference planning committee: Rod Lamberts, of ANU’s CPAS in Canberra, has agreed to chair the planning committee for our 2012 National conference. He returns from overseas soon and will convene the committee to start its planning task. Rod will report directly to the Executive committee about progress.

Science communication training programs: Last November I posted a message that the ASC has received a few requests to provide training in science communication related skills. I asked you to nominate Science communication training programs that either ASC members offered or knew of in Australia. I now have a list of courses which I can refer on to relevant enquirers.

Eureka Awards open for nominations: I note that the Eureka Awards are now accepting nominations of their various prize categories. Nominations close 6 May 2011.

Jesse Shore

National President