Author Archives: Lisa Bailey

About Lisa Bailey

ASC President 2019

Science blogging – tips and tricks from some Adelaide science bloggers

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Tonight (Monday 18 Jan) we’re hosting an ASC event at the Science Exchange, Adelaide on science blogging (http://ascscienceblogging.eventbrite.com/).

I asked some of our guest bloggers for some tips and tricks of the trade, and I’d like to make it available to all the ASC members. Big thanks to Sarah (http://www.aschoonerofscience.com/) for putting this together…..

Blog it
If tonight has given you an inkling to try out this blogging business yourself, here’s some tips from our panellists to get you started….

How to set up a free blog
You can do it with blogger.com or wordpress.com. They are very easy to use, and you can set your account up in minutes. You’ll get your own website address such as you.blogspot.com or you.wordpress.com. If you go with WordPress, you can switch to a custom address later if you like (at a cost.)

Adelaide-based science blogs
A Schooner of Science http://aschoonerofscience.com
Astroblog http://astroblogger.blogspot.com/
Brave New Climate http://bravenewclimate.com/
Bridge8 http://bridge8.wordpress.com/
Conservation Bytes http://conservationbytes.com/
Disease of the week http://diseaseoftheweek.wordpress.com/

Suggested reading
The who’s who of science blogging
Carl Zimmer at The Loom http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/
Ed Yong at Not Exactly Rocket Science http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/
Ben Goldacre at Bad Science http://badscience.net
Neurotopia http://scienceblogs.com/neurotopia/

Other great writers
Deep Sea News (biology) http://deepseanews.com/
ERV (biochemistry) http://scienceblogs.com/erv/
Lab Rat (bacteria) http://madlabrat.blogspot.com/
Science Geek Girl (Sci Comm) http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com
Carbon-Based Curiosities (Chem) http://coronene.com/blog
Not So Humble Pie (Science Cookies) http://notsohumblepie.blogspot.com
PZ Myers’ Pharyngula (Dev Biol) http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/
BadAstronomy (Astronomy Scepticism) http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy
Respectful Insolence (Medicine) http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/
Australia’s Deltoid is a good complement to Barry Brooks blog http://scienceblogs.com/deltoid/

The ScienceOnline 2010 blog, with lots of good science blogging tips will help with lots of issues on Science Blogging. http://scienceblogs.com/scienceonline/

How to attract readers
• Comment on other blogs (and put your website in your profile.)
• Add blogs to your blogroll and ask to be added on theirs.
• Put your blog on lists such as blogcatalog.com, delicious.com and stumbleupon.com.
• Start a Twitter account and set it to automatically tweet your blog posts (install the Tweetable plugin on WordPress.)
• Post links to your Facebook, MySpace, Bebo and LinkedIn, if you have them.
• Write catchy titles, use eye-catching pictures and write in small paragraphs. Internet users have a VERY short attention span – grab their attention quickly.
• Increase your Google hits by writing longer titles, and using tags and categories. Google does not search your whole post for key words, just those three places and any images.
• Label images correctly so they appear in a Google Images search – this will boost your hit rate, and improve your rating in Google searches.
• Use Google Analytics for blogger or the WordPress stats to check where you’re readers are coming from. Learn what works and what doesn’t.
• Use surveys, polls, quizzes and video to get people involved.
• Install widgets to send your posts automatically to aggregator sites.
• Lastly, don’t be overzealous! People will find your blog eventually and you will build up a solid readership over time. Excessively marketing your blog at every opportunity will often do more harm than good.

Managing comments
• Install a spam filter such as Akismet on WordPress, or enable word verification on Blogger.
• Check comments regularly and delete any spam.
• Respond to people who write negative comments, but don’t be rude.
• Don’t delete comments just because you don’t like them, it makes you seem untrustworthy.
• Reply to comments that ask questions, be helpful whenever you can.
• Blogger also has a “require confirmation on posts over two weeks old” feature, which catches a lot of spam. WordPress has a “hold comments for moderation” feature which also works well.

More Questions?

E-mail Captain Skellett at aschoonerofscience@hotmail.com

sharing evaluation outcomes…

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Very interesting following on from discussions here in SA and around the place on sharing best practise evaluation of engagement projects.

>From the British Science Association- a ‘Collective Memory’ repository of evaluation reports: http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/ScienceinSociety/CollectiveMemory/CollectiveMemory.htm

Lisa Bailey Ph: (08) 7120 8605 | mobile: 0427 490088| Fax: (08) 8221 6563 | lbailey@riaus.org.au | www.riaus.org.au

_______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=115

Evaluating Effectiveness ASCSA event Adelaide July 19 2010

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19 July 2010
6:30 pmto8:30 pm

On Monday 19 July we held an event at the Science Exchange on evaluating science communication activities.

A key challenge of science engagement activity is showing your effectiveness and measuring success.  How do we know that our programs and activities are making a difference?  Do we have the impact we desire?  Are we engaging with the right audiences? How do we evaluate what we’re doing?  At the July ASCSA meeting we’re inviting several people from community engagement/education programs, including science shows, museums and science events, to share their experiences of how they go about evaluating their programs.  This event will be relevant to anyone involved in community engagement/education programs, and we’d especially love to see you if you’re involved in planning a National Science Week event for August this year.

A podcast of the evening is now available at http://www.riaus.org.au/science/whats_on/past_events/audio_recordings.jsp

Some references on evaluation:

RCUK:  http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/per/bestprac.htm
Beacons for public engagement: http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/sites/default/files/EvaluatingPublicEngagement.pdf
National STEM Centre: http://www.nationalstemcentre.org.uk/res/documents/page/STEM_Does_it_work_revised_Oct_09.pdf

Podcast from ASCSA event on evaluation

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Hi ASCers,

While I’ve tried posting this to the ASC site I can’t see it there yet. I think I’m still trying to figure out how this list and the website work together. I know you can search mailing list posts on the ASC site, but they don’t get categorised like we’d want them to (eg all appears in ‘mailing list’ caterogy, but none of our posts appear under the ‘SA’ category). Am I supposed to submit events via this email list or on the ASC site? Do I have to do both? Advice appreciated.

The point of this email:

On Monday 19 July ASC SA branch held an event at the Science Exchange on evaluating science communication activities.

A podcast of the evening is now available at http://www.riaus.org.au/science/whats_on/past_events/audio_recordings.jsp

Along with some references on evaluation:

RCUK: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/per/bestprac.htm Beacons for public engagement: http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/sites/default/files/EvaluatingPublicEngagement.pdf National STEM Centre: http://www.nationalstemcentre.org.uk/res/documents/page/STEM_Does_it_work_revised_Oct_09.pdf Best wishes

Lisa

Evaluating effectiveness

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ASCSA monthly – Evaluating effectiveness

Monday 19 July, The Science Exchange (www.tinyurl.com/scienceexchange), 6.30pm-8.30pm

Cost: Free for ASCSA and RiAus members/ $10 adult / $5 student/concession

A key challenge of science engagement activity is showing your effectiveness and measuring success. How do we know that our programs and activities are making a difference? Do we have the impact we desire? Are we engaging with the right audiences? How do we evaluate what we’re doing? At the July ASCSA meeting we’re inviting several people from community engagement/education programs, including science shows, museums and science events, to share their experiences of how they go about evaluating their programs. This event will be relevant to anyone involved in community engagement/education programs, and we’d especially love to see you if you’re involved in planning a National Science Week event for August this year.

We’ll also be running a small scale evaluation survey on our ASC program so far this year, your chance to let us know what you’ve thought and what you’d like to see more of.

Please book online at http://ascsaevaluation.eventbrite.com/ and then cash payment can be made on the door at the event.

_______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=115

ASCSA – Job opportunity at RiAus in Adelaide

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Strategic Communications Manager

* Competitive salary package * Creativity and vision * Challenging and diverse role The Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) is rapidly establishing itself as a dynamic, contemporary and accessible national home for science – a place for people to listen, talk, blog, download and think about science in all its shapes and forms. Reporting to the Director and liaising regularly with the COO, you will work with a number of internal stakeholders, providing strategic advice on the development of their communication requirements. You will be responsible for setting the direction of the organisation’s communication strategy, establishing frameworks, and creating integrated programs to optimise and enhance RiAus? brand, reputation and public profile. This is a hands-on role requiring initiative and self-reliance. You will be empowered to build on your track record to establish, implement, develop and manage a communications plan from a greenfield start. Degree qualified in Marketing or Marketing Communications, you are currently employed in a senior communications role with a minimum of 8+ year?s experience. You have a track record of implementing and developing forward-looking and creative communication strategies that deliver world-class results, and will have operated at senior management level. Confidential enquiries to: Giuseppe Nasca at Mps People Solutions on (08) 8210 8585 or email operations@mpsgroup.com.au Quote Ref No. 1686

_______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=115

Adelaide event Mon 19 April

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ASCSA Monthly: Inspiring Australia – communicating science to the nation Monday 19 April, 6.30-8.30pm, The Science Exchange. Book at http://ascainspiring.eventbrite.com/ In February, The Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator The Hon, Kim Carr, launched Inspiring Australia; A national strategy for engagement with the sciences. This long-awaited report sets out a plan for science communication in Australia, arguing that ‘To fully realise the social, economic and environmental benefits of our significant investment in science and research, we must communicate and engage the wider community in science.’

What does the report mean for scientists and those involved in the many different forms of science communication? How might we influence its implementation? What do bodies such as the Australian Science Communicators make of the report’s many recommendations?

A panel of science communicators will provide some brief observations on different aspects of the report before the topic is opened for general discussion on science communication in Australia and South Australia.

Cost:

Free for ASC or RiAus members

$5 students

$10 non-members.

Book now online and cash payment can be made on the evening at reception.

http://ascainspiring.eventbrite.com/

_______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=115

Event in Adelaide- William Laurance

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Forwarding this information from the Environment Institute,

Keys to having a Prolific Scientific Career 30 March 2010,6:00 – 8:00 pm The University of Adelaide Napier G03 Map

http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&ll=-34.920255,138.605651&spn=0.000569,0.001206&t=k&z=20RSVP

William Laurance is a Distinguished Research Professor at James Cook University and also works with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. His prolific research career includes the publication of five books and over 300 scientific and popular articles.

His research focuses on the impacts of intensive land-uses, such as habitat fragmentation, logging, and wildfires, on tropical ecosystems, and on global-change phenomena and conservation policy. He firmly believes that scientists must engage policy makers and the general public, as well as other scientists.

Join us to learn the keys to having a prolific scientific career.

Seminar Topics:

1. How to be more prolific: strategies for writing and publishing scientific papers

2. Further ways to maximise your scientific impact – interacting with the popular media and how to promote yourself

Each topic will run for 50 minutes and will include 10 minutes for audience questions. A tea and coffee break will be held between sessions.

_______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=115

A reminder of science blogging event in Adelaide

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A quick reminder…….

ASC-SA Event Monday 18 January, The Science Exchange (www.tinyurl.com/scienceexchange)

Science Blogging – who and why?

“Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.” A. J. Liebling of the New Yorker. In the age of blogging, anyone can make themselves heard. Science blogs can communicate science in a way that few other media can. You can read about the latest research that you may not have access to without a journal subscription, or hear the daily gripes and grumbles of lab life, or follow detailed analysis of policy development or breaking news stories. The best part is blogging is open to anyone to give it a try and join the discussion. At this event we’ll hear from several Adelaide-based science bloggers about why they do what they do, and where blogging fits in the spectrum of science communication.

Cost:

free ASC or RiAus members

$5 students

$10 non-members.

Book now online at http://ascscienceblogging.eventbrite.com/ and cash payment can be made on the evening at reception.

Lisa Bailey Ph: (08) 7120 8605 | mobile: 0427 490088| Fax: (08) 8221 6563 | lbailey@riaus.org.au | www.riaus.org.au

_______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=115

The South Australian Branch of Australian Science Communicators (ASC SA) is about to reform.

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The South Australian Branch of Australian Science Communicators (ASC SA) is about to reform.

If you work in science as a teacher, student, lecturer, journalist, writer, film-maker, educator, editor, interpretation officer, researcher, administrator, PR representative, media officer, hold any other job in science, technology, engineering or maths, or if you simply have an interest in science, this is for you.

The Australian Science Communicators has recently undergone a revival – have a look at the new website at http://www.asc.asn.au/

ASC is involved in running conferences (a big one in February 2010), developing the new National Science Communication Strategy, accreditation for science communication courses, planning new benefits for members, and much more. At present, SA is the only state without an active branch, so that science communicators here are missing out on the benefits that ASC offers.

In South Australia, the launch of the RiAus in October has provided South Australian Science Communicators with a splendid new meeting place (with a bar), unrivalled networking opportunities, fresh programs and many additional activities and benefits.

We have a small steering committee preparing the way for a relaunch of ASC SA. We are restructuring the ASC SA executive so that nobody is expected to take on too much (one of the problems in maintaining the branch in the past), and we already have a draft program developed for the next 12 months.

Because the Australian Science Media Centre and RiAus are based in Adelaide, and South Australians are very active in National Science Week, we have a strong nucleus of people already interested and involved, but we want as many as possible, reflecting every aspect of

science communication.

So…….what is happening? Two events for your 2009 diary, both free of charge.

_________________________________________________________________________

November 19, 2009, 6pm-8pm

RiAus, The Science Exchange, 55 Exchange Place

Adelaide 5000 (Google maps: *http://tinyurl.com/scienceexchange)*

* Bar open – buy your own drinks

*”Taming the Raspberry,”

30 minute presentation on The Science of Wind Instruments (Rob Morrison)

* Hear about our plans for ASC SA

* Tour of new RiAus building

* Discussion and Questions

Book at http://www.riaus.org.au/events/2009/november/australian_science_communicators_monthly.jsp

ACCOMPANIED CHILDREN ARE WELCOME. “Taming the Raspberry” is suitable for

all ages.

___________________________________________________________________________

December 14th, 2009, 6pm

RiAus, The Science Exchange, 55 Exchange Place

Adelaide 5000 (Google maps: *http://tinyurl.com/scienceexchange)*

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING TO REFORM ASC SA

* Christmas drinks

* Joining up ASC SA members

* Election of Committee

* Program for 2010

* Get-together and Networking Book at http://www.riaus.org.au/events/2009/december/asc_december_meeting.jsp

Lisa Bailey Ph: (08) 7120 8605 | mobile: 0427 490088| Fax: (08) 8221 6563 | lbailey@riaus.org.au | www.riaus.org.au

_______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=115