The upcoming AGM (in December) and the update from DIISR about actions related to Inspiring Australia prompted me to ask members for input once again.
In the recent Scope I posted an article titled ‘Observations on the Inspiring Australia report and its relevance to the ASC’ with a link to Rob Morrison’s analysis of Inspiring Australia (see http://www.asc.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Summary-of-Rob-Ms-comments- re-IA-with-Exec-summary-3-10-10.pdf). I grouped Rob’s suggestions for strategic actions under each recommendation and added more than a few of my own.
This is only a start. Several of the strategic actions need to be further developed.
I ask you to send me your suggestions for:
1. key actions we may have overlooked
2. methods (including possible resources) to achieve an action
3. ASC members willing to help make specific actions happen (i.e. nominate yourself).
You won’t need to be on a branch or national committee to put your hand up but if you are willing to get involved it will be an advantage to work through the committee structures. The enlightened self-interest spin is ‘with branch AGMs coming up now is a good time to think how you can get something out of IA while putting something into ASC’.
The recommendations from IA and our suggested actions from Rob’s report are repeated below.
Key Principles and Recommendations
Recommendation 1
That DIISR’s terminating Science Connections Program (SCOPE) be replaced with a broader national initiative designed to increase the level of public engagement in the sciences. Such an initiative would provide ongoing support for existing, successful activities while developing innovative approaches to effectively engage a wider audience.
ASC strategic actions:
1. Seek involvement in planning for new initiative.
2. Seek greater understanding of how to engage the public and of the diversity of means of engagement.
Recommendation 2
That the Australian Government strongly articulate the goal of a scientifically engaged Australia and support development of strategic national priorities for communicating science and its benefits.
ASC strategic actions:
1. Seek to contribute to developing innovative and effective means of communicating science and its benefits.
2. Seek to be involved in national priorities once they are in place.
3. Seek recognition by universities and science research agencies that effectiveness in science communication is a measure of professional and academic achievement.
Recommendation 3
That leadership for this national initiative be provided by Questacon within DIISR, with input from a broadly constituted national advisory group to guide implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting.
ASC strategic actions: we have made representations for ASC to be involved in advisory groups.
Recommendation 4
That a science communication summit be convened to secure buy‐in from the diverse range of organisations and individuals in the science communication sector and to identify strategic priorities and the optimal roles for different agencies and institutions.
ASC strategic actions: we have made representations for ASC to be involved in the summit.
Recommendation 5
That the national initiative include continued funding for the highly regarded Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, with an enhanced promotional strategy targeting the wider Australian community and international audiences.
ASC strategic actions: we encourage ASC members to nominate people for national and local science prizes especially for the science communication related Eureka Prizes and the Young Tall Poppy Science Awards.
Recommendation 6
That the national initiative support promotional and awareness‐raising activities, including travelling exhibitions showcasing Australia’s capability in the sciences and promotional materials for scientists, science policy makers, overseas counsellors and other potential Australian science ‘ambassadors’ to use abroad.
ASC strategic actions: seek to enhance skills in science communication of our science ‘ambassadors’.
Recommendation 7
That a national Science and Society forum be held annually to focus on the priorities for community engagement in science and key issues where science can serve the needs of society.
ASC strategic actions: we have discussed with DIISR how ASC may assist in developing and presenting an annual Science and Society forum, perhaps coincident with future ASC national conferences.
Recommendation 8
That the national initiative provide continue funding to extend the successful community-based activities of National Science Week, stimulating and leveraging further contributions by organisations across Australia and targeting new and under-served audiences.
ASC strategic actions: we will support and encourage members to become increasingly involved in National Science Week activities. ASC Executive, council and society members in various states already play very prominent roles in organising local National Science Week events through their particular state committees.ASC members were judges for the national science blogging competition for this year and the activity was promoted to members via our email list and website.
Recommendation 9
That the national initiative include collaborative projects that stimulate science organisations and networks across Australia to work together to promote information sharing, including holding ‘Hot Science’ briefings for elected members and policy officers of Federal, state and local governments, and leaders in the legal and business sectors.
ASC strategic actions: we are forming partnerships with like-minded science education, communication and research professional associations and bodies to collaborate in delivering professional development workshops. The intention is to develop a wider range of collaborative projects.
Recommendation 10
That the national initiative support science communication and media training for scientists and that a short‐term working group be established to review mechanisms for further developing Australian science media content.
ASC strategic actions:
1. Develop a sustainable accreditation program for media training programs and other sci-com short courses.
2. Support Australian Science Media Centre’s plans to provide on-line media training for scientists and will seek to contribute to the development of this and related training programs.
3. Survey and document qualifications and experience of its members who have or are active in media training. From this information ASC can develop standards for media training for scientists.
4. Survey ASC members regarding their involvement in science broadcasting through commercial (and community) electronic media to contribute to an evidence base for this recommendation.
5. Develop a tool kit for various audiences to understand “What is and isn’t science” and seek means to have the scientific process and peer review presented simply and clearly in various media.
6. Revise, update and repost on the ASC website the Guidelines and Protocol for communicating science and distributing media releases through the electronic media which have now been on the website for some years
Recommendation 11
That a key focus of the national initiative should be raising awareness among young people of opportunities in science and research. The Australian Government’s investment in schools, higher education and research should be harnessed to achieve this.
ASC strategic actions: no strategy identified at present beyond various activities being undertaken by individual ASC branches
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Recommendation 12
That the national initiative support science communication exhibitions and programs that target under‐served groups, such as those living in outer metropolitan, regional and remote areas; Indigenous communities; people for whom English is a second language; and people who are disabled or have limited mobility.
ASC strategic actions: we are exploring web-based live-streaming of professional development workshops to involve regional and remotely located science communicators.
Recommendation 13
That a ‘national framework-local action’ approach be adopted, lead by a national hub collaborating with federal and state jurisdictions, business and the community. Such an approach should aim to increase cooperation among organizations involved in science communication down to the regional level, and drive partnerships and complementary activities.
ASC strategic actions:
1. ASC is forming partnerships with local, state based and national like-minded science education, communication and research professional associations and bodies to collaborate in delivering professional development workshops. The intention is to develop a wider range of collaborative projects.
2. ASC will consider tendering for suitable activities related to this and other recommendations of the report.
Recommendation 14
That the national initiative include development of a national Web presence to increase the visibility of Australian science to national and international audiences, and to promote links to other relevant science‐ related sites.
ASC strategic actions: we are investing in ASC’s website to improve and increase its capabilities and appeal. We have made representations to DIISR about ASC’s willingness to contribute to the web presence mentioned in this recommendation.
Recommendation 15
That the national initiative support a program of research in science engagement-such as baseline and longitudinal attitudinal and behavioural studies, activity audits, program evaluations and impact assessments-to inform future investment decisions by government and its partners.
ASC strategic actions: we have discussed ASC members’ interest in research into evaluation and other evidence measures. Several ASC members have participated in expert panels and on the National Steering Committee held to discuss developing evidence based measures of sci-com activities.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Cheers, Jesse
Jesse Shore
President, Australian Science Communicators, 2010
http://www.asc.asn.au/ http://www.asc.asn.au/
Jesse Shore PhD Science Communicator http://www.prismaticsciences.com/picts/email_img.jpg P: (02) 9810 2328 M: 0415 841 276 E: jesse@prismaticsciences.com W: http://www.prismaticsciences.com/ www.prismaticsciences.com
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