tag:theconversation.com,2011:/ca/topics/national-science-week-3613/articlesNational Science Week – The Conversation2015-08-24T05:22:10Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/463852015-08-24T05:22:10Z2015-08-24T05:22:10ZLab coats and leggings: when science and dance connect it’s quite a show<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/92669/original/image-20150821-8381-z964ao.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">What can leggings and leotards teach us about about physics and neuroscience?</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-148152353/stock-photo-ballet-dancers-in-repetition-monochrome.html?src=pp-same_artist-148152341-3&ws=1">www.shuttershock.com</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Dancing is an activity most people associate with after-hours exploits: parties, weddings, the lounge rooms of friends with great vinyl collections, a night out at the ballet – or television shows such as So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With The Stars or Got To Dance. </p>
<p>But what about dancing in the classroom to teach biology to high-school students about mitosis and mitochondria? And what could leotards and leggings possibly have to do with neuroscience and physics? </p>
<p>For a growing number of artists, academics, researchers and scientists, dance represents a promising new frontier of exploration. Placing this intriguing nexus between dance and science in the spotlight is <a href="http://www.danscience.com.au/">Queensland University of Technology’s DANscienCE Festival</a>, which was held on the weekend as part of <a href="http://www.scienceweek.net.au/">National Science Week</a>. It showcased the work, research and practice of academics and dancers from around the world in fields as diverse as the environment, physics, robotics, gamification and health. </p>
<p>Initiated in 2013 by Liz Lea and Cris Kennedy at CSIRO in Canberra, the DANscienCE Festival provides a platform for delving into how dance can be help scientists understand more about brain function and how our bodies respond to movement. It also examines how dance can serve as a powerful teaching tool for helping those outside academia understand sophisticated academic ideas. </p>
<p>It’s an intersection of disciplines that’s led to fascinating collaborations with fruitful results. One of these is <a href="http://danceforparkinsonsaustralia.org/">Queensland Ballet’s Dance for PD (Parkinson’s Disease) project</a>, which involved a team of movement neuroscientists, psychologists, physiotherapists and dancers developing exercises to improve cognitive performance and reaction times in individuals with PD. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/92674/original/image-20150821-8360-1rnedul.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/92674/original/image-20150821-8360-1rnedul.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/92674/original/image-20150821-8360-1rnedul.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/92674/original/image-20150821-8360-1rnedul.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/92674/original/image-20150821-8360-1rnedul.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/92674/original/image-20150821-8360-1rnedul.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/92674/original/image-20150821-8360-1rnedul.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/92674/original/image-20150821-8360-1rnedul.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Jazz dance.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/39486997@N00/1804807649/in/photolist-3Ku7rg-4UHiNJ-5gAjsu-8ZhVvB-PAYi4-iG61S-u1dy2w-o1Y5M7-eA3iyg-6z1H3w-6d67np-kCS8uM-7RvdRA-6XGy86-tS5ZUG-mpZDg-3Qf1yY-4k3hTe-eeqQMx-gYrgeA-9pXC8Z-ak7dep-atAZ26-aqrUpa-271ce8-7NpgW7-hfmGrc-e99Bhh-sQiv5p-66qpLe-bAsu5f-r5xEGj-6JPm3n-oBWt87-25PpMf-8wduoP-efhDEQ-hH4dn9-4rPuJT-7zhHKe-gZ4bQW-9xB8Sj-bHVm5T-84kGHR-4BLgbq-fJi3Jt-bVUL7-H5cSM-4ZbFrj-9nw9Xn">teo_ladodicivideo/flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Significant progress has already been achieved in the application of exercise science, medicine and related allied health fields to dance, in what we would call the traditional “dance science” field. Think of the use of <a href="http://www.sciencewa.net.au/topics/health-a-medicine/item/3094-motion-capture-examines-dance-techniques/3094-motion-capture-examines-dance-techniques">motion-capture technology to prevent injuries</a>, or the use of exercise physiology to determine how choreography impacts upon the dancer and what they need to do to be best prepared to perform it. </p>
<p>Other research has fed into guidelines released by organisations such as the <a href="http://www.iadms.org/">International Association for Dance Medicine & Science</a> and the <a href="http://www.aspah.org.au/web/">Australian Society for Performing Arts Healthcare</a>.</p>
<p>But there are many activities happening across the globe that focus not on the use of science in dance, but instead the use of dance in science. Ballet dancers are teaching us how to <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/healthreport/how-ballet-could-help-the-treatment-of-chronic-dizziness/6019722">address symptoms of dizziness</a> in older populations, and <a href="http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/mexican-dance-for-dementia">dementia sufferers who participate in dance classes </a> are shown to experience improvements in physical, social and emotional wellbeing.</p>
<p>Yet more research explores the psychological processes involved in creating, perceiving, and performing music and dance, and their application in the evaluation of complex systems and human-computer interactions. These interfaces involve testing learning and <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201310/why-is-dancing-so-good-your-brain">memory function through physical movement</a>. Such examples only scratch the surface in what is becoming a rich area of research. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/92677/original/image-20150821-8381-jr1fg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/92677/original/image-20150821-8381-jr1fg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/92677/original/image-20150821-8381-jr1fg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/92677/original/image-20150821-8381-jr1fg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/92677/original/image-20150821-8381-jr1fg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/92677/original/image-20150821-8381-jr1fg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/92677/original/image-20150821-8381-jr1fg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The good old-fashioned wedding dance.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/1uk3/2565587586/in/photolist-4UHiNJ-5gAjsu-8ZhVvB-PAYi4-iG61S-u1dy2w-o1Y5M7-eA3iyg-6z1H3w-6d67np-kCS8uM-7RvdRA-6XGy86-tS5ZUG-mpZDg-3Qf1yY-4k3hTe-eeqQMx-gYrgeA-9pXC8Z-ak7dep-atAZ26-aqrUpa-271ce8-7NpgW7-hfmGrc-e99Bhh-sQiv5p-66qpLe-bAsu5f-r5xEGj-6JPm3n-oBWt87-25PpMf-8wduoP-efhDEQ-hH4dn9-4rPuJT-7zhHKe-gZ4bQW-9xB8Sj-bHVm5T-84kGHR-4BLgbq-fJi3Jt-bVUL7-H5cSM-4ZbFrj-9nw9Xn-5as3WX">LukeAddison/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Science is also utilising dance as a means of communication, with a regular <a href="https://theconversation.com/uwa-student-wins-international-dance-your-phd-competition-3956">Dance Your PhD</a> competition providing hard science with an artistic voice – 2014 winner Uma Nagendra’s film showed at DANscienCE. </p>
<p>As for <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2014/dec/28/biology-lessons-science-teacher">teaching biology through dance</a>, that involves embodying and embedding information into gestures and sequences of movement. This enables the brain to make associations with what’s being taught, in addition to linking it with fun and humour – which are also powerful ways in which to embed memory. In the words of <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/richard-spencer-the-man-who-could-become-britains-first-millionaire-classroom-teacher-10073118.html">Dr Richard Spencer</a>: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>Dance engages students as it links both body and mind, so is a holistic activity, and pairs it with music – something that all students love.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Robotics is another area that has been exploring the intersection of science with humans through dance, with the beautiful work of Huang Yi challenging people’s thinking regarding these relationships. <a href="http://www.robotronica.qut.edu.au/">QUT’s Robotronica</a>, linked to the DANscienCE Festival, showcases the full range of innovative and mind-blowing developments within this field including robots dancing too. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7moBSpAEkD4?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Huang Yi & Kuka, A Duet of Human and Robot.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The connection of dance and science is one that holds significant potential in generating results that can expand far beyond the realms of the fields in which they originate. This nexus is an artform in and of itself and was showcased across both the DANscienCE Festival and QUT’s Robotronica this past weekend. </p>
<p>Participants and audience members alike were both challenged and inspired to consider the potential future this area of research and practice holds for all of us, dancers or otherwise.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/46385/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Gene Moyle does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>For a growing number of artists, academics, researchers and scientists, dance represents a promising new frontier of exploration. The annual DANscienCE festival shines a spotlight on their findings.Gene Moyle, Associate Professor in Creative Industries, Queensland University of TechnologyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/382772015-03-03T23:15:49Z2015-03-03T23:15:49ZWhen too much science communication is barely enough<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/73581/original/image-20150303-29788-plh9pj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Australia has a wealth of great science communicators, such as Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. But we need even more.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/laruth/15903542566/in/photolist-hThNAU-jxvBtT-r1MvTP-qJo5kf-qJo4LQ-fNv8ju-qJmKNA-qJvHsp-qJvJPx-r1WxNB-qJo5Sh-pZbD6g-qekP8L-2Sankt-9QFGSk-6w8L2X-6nSLXA-2SeKhQ-2SeGLS-2SeFDs-qYDrRo-fzbx9Y-qviEc8-82tibm-82qbiz-82qbnK-92YyzJ-fePPPB-5BQXCg-82qbe2-pQX9H2-q2XGzH-peN8U6-8XrKkE-8XrKro-4Xkg3i-cQmsho-5wma4-kEvMiG-8Nv5cx-8Nv4TK-8Nv4PH-8Nyavm-8NyaBA-8Nv5eV-8VQKze-8VTPLm-2Sa9Sp-8VTPFS-qLQPB">Ruth Ellison/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>The message about <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/climate-change-denial">climate change still faces opposition</a> in a few ideologically-driven quarters. Print media is struggling to support <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-stop-the-media-reporting-science-fiction-as-fact-10252">specialist science journalists</a>. And surveys about <a href="https://theconversation.com/glum-and-glummer-australia-vs-us-on-science-literacy-results-16222">science literacy</a> repeatedly give alarming results.</p>
<p>But reports of the death of science communication have been greatly exaggerated. </p>
<p>The old statement that the former minister for science <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/barry-jones-2557">Barry Jones</a> made that scientists are wimps, and the countless subsequent claims that scientists can’t or don’t try hard enough to communicate are not true. At least not any more.</p>
<p>The electronic and the remaining print media are simply buzzing with science communication, with many good initiatives spurred on by Barry’s words.</p>
<h2>Voices of science</h2>
<p>Here’s a partial list of just some important science outreach initiatives: </p>
<ul>
<li><p>The <a href="https://www.science.org.au/">Australian Academy of Science</a> runs Science Pathways, a workshop for science communication for early/mid career researchers, and regular other events</p></li>
<li><p>The <a href="http://threeminutethesis.org/">3 minute thesis competitions</a>, initiated by the University of Queensland and now adopted broadly across the sector, are hugely successful in instilling the importance of communication and in uncovering talent</p></li>
<li><p><a href="http://www.scienceweek.net.au/">National Science Week</a> occurs each year with a range of events, involving research organisations, museums and universities</p></li>
<li><p>New technologies allow grass roots communication with many scientists on Twitter, such as <a href="https://twitter.com/iflscience">IFLScience</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/profbriancox">Brian Cox</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BillNye">Bill Nye</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/neiltyson">Neil DeGrasse Tyson</a></p></li>
<li><p>YouTube also hosts a wealth of great science, including <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/njwildberger">Norman Wildberger</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/DrChrisTisdell">Chris Tisdell</a> from my institution and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/UNSW">UNSW TV</a>, which is excellent at science</p></li>
<li><p>Facebook is also bursting with science. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IFeakingLoveScience">IFLS</a> has nearly 20 million Likes, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ScienceAlert">Science Alert</a> has more than 6 million</p></li>
<li><p>Massive Open On-line Courses (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_open_online_course">MOOCs</a>) cover every topic, but science is strongly represented. Hundreds of thousands of students enrol, and although only a small proportion finish, the total numbers are still impressive</p></li>
<li><p>Crowdsourcing for science, such as <a href="http://thinkable.org/">Thinkable</a> and <a href="http://www.pozible.com/">Pozible</a>, are designed to gather many small donations for important projects but they also serve to communicate science</p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/">COSMOS</a>, the Australian answer to New Scientist or Scientific American, and now supported by the Chancellor of Monash University, Alan Finkel, and <a href="http://www.australasianscience.com.au/">Australasian Science</a> provide material for the general public and for schools</p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://theconversation.com/au/technology">The Conversation</a> is particularly good on in-depth science</p></li>
<li><p>The ABC produces in-depth programs such as the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/scienceshow/">Science Show</a> and <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/">Catalyst</a>, and has featured influential science communicators such as <a href="https://drkarl.com/">Dr Karl</a>, <a href="https://adamspencer.com.au/">Adam Spencer</a> and the astronomer <a href="http://www.fredwatson.com.au/">Fred Watson</a> </p></li>
<li><p>Other international science shows such as <a href="http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/">Mythbusters</a>, first screened here on SBS, and even programs like <a href="http://qi.com/">QI</a> are also popular</p></li>
<li><p>The <a href="http://www.newsouthpublishing.com/scienceprize">Best of Australian Science Writing</a>, by UNSW Press, and originally sponsored by the Australian Copyright Agency, is an annual collection of science writing, with the winner securing the UNSW Bragg Prize. UNSW also hosts the annual Scientia Lecture and <a href="https://www.science.unsw.edu.au/scientia-lecture">UNSW Medal for Science Communication</a></p></li>
<li><p>The Australian Museum’s <a href="http://australianmuseum.net.au/eureka">Eureka Prizes</a> prominently celebrate a science communication prize sponsored by the Department of Industry and Science</p></li>
<li><p>The <a href="http://www.smc.org.au/">Australian Science Media Centre</a> works behind the scenes and on March 4, 2015 it will publicly launch its new site, <a href="https://www.scimex.org/">Scimex</a>, to list breaking scientific news and help journalists connect with experts in the field</p></li>
<li><p>The Royal Institution of Australia (<a href="http://riaus.org.au/">RiAus</a>), was founded in Adelaide and works nationally to promote the public understanding of science using a range of media including recently launching <a href="https://riaus.tv/">RiAus TV</a></p></li>
<li><p>CSIRO initiated the <a href="http://www.scientistsinschools.edu.au/">Scientists in Schools</a> program to connect working scientists with school students and their teachers, <a href="http://www.publish.csiro.au/">CSIRO Publishing</a> also produces excellent material for schools and the general public, including its magazine <a href="http://www.csiro.au/Portals/Education/Programs/Double-Helix-Science-Club/ScientrifficMain.aspx">Scientriffic</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="http://www.britishcouncil.org.au/programmes/science/famelab">Famelab</a> and <a href="http://freshscience.org.au/">Fresh Science</a> get young researchers and their stories out and into the media</p></li>
<li><p><a href="http://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/">Science and Technology Australia</a>, previously called FASTS, runs Science Meets Policymakers (previously Science Meets Parliament) each year and many other events</p></li>
<li><p>The Australian Institute of Policy and Science runs the <a href="http://www.aips.net.au/tall-poppies/">Tall Poppy Awards</a>, which recognise top early career researchers who also contribute to science communication, and then gets the winners out to talk in schools</p></li>
<li><p><a href="http://www.questacon.edu.au/">Questacon</a> and other museums play major roles in science communication</p></li>
</ul>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/73580/original/image-20150303-15975-13k4d5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/73580/original/image-20150303-15975-13k4d5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/73580/original/image-20150303-15975-13k4d5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/73580/original/image-20150303-15975-13k4d5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/73580/original/image-20150303-15975-13k4d5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/73580/original/image-20150303-15975-13k4d5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/73580/original/image-20150303-15975-13k4d5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/73580/original/image-20150303-15975-13k4d5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Questacon in Canberra does a terrific job of engaging children of all ages.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Questacon</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<ul>
<li><p>Open Access publishing is supported by both the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council, and ensures that publicly funded science is available to all</p></li>
<li><p>Open Innovation systems and <a href="http://www.osdd.net/">Open Source Drug Discovery</a> approaches engage many people as do citizen science projects and competitions</p></li>
<li><p>Globally, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a> is constantly improving in its capacity to communicate science</p></li>
<li><p>We have never had a busier <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ian-chubb-5153">Chief Scientist</a> in Canberra, and we also have Chief Scientists at the State level</p></li>
<li><p>The Climate Commission, whose mission was to communicate the evidence on climate science was abolished but was quickly reborn as the <a href="http://www.climatecouncil.org.au/">Climate Council</a> and is supported by donations </p></li>
<li><p><a href="http://inspiringaustralia.net.au/">Inspiring Australia</a>, a Federal Government initiative, has taken a lead in supporting and coordinating a whole raft of events</p></li>
<li><p>Finally, ABC Radio National’s and UNSW’s new <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/top-5-under-40-page/6012928">Top 5 under 40</a> event, selects five new science communicators to be mentored in producing material for Radio National’s Science Show or other programs.</p></li>
</ul>
<h2>Getting out there</h2>
<p>Whichever way one looks at it, science is out there and the audiences are large. Ashley Hay, writing in the Best of Australian Science writing in 2014, told us that “science” is the most used search word on American Merriam-Webster Dictionary site. </p>
<p>The Twitter feeds and web metrics and TV ratings suggest there is a healthy appetite for science. Admittedly, some of the coverage is superficial, but much is deeper and overall the signs are good.</p>
<p>Most importantly, the grass root movement is growing. Historically there has been concern that serious academics shunned the popular media. It is said that the renowned physicist Carl Sagan was never elected to the US National Academy of Sciences because his <a href="http://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/popular-and-pilloried/">colleagues resented his popularity</a>.</p>
<p>My own experiences are not remotely comparable, but during my career as a molecular biologist I have never felt discouraged from publicly communicating science. The reason that I did not start communicating until recently is simply that previously I did not find many opportunities – or at least I was not successful in making opportunities.</p>
<p>I should have tried harder, but nowadays I am delighted that one does not have to try very hard at all. Anyone can start on Twitter or YouTube or blog sites, and it is great to see that many junior scientists regularly explain their work in The Conversation.</p>
<p>I sit on university promotions committees and we now specifically recognise both scholarly publishing and the public communication of science. Young scientists want to communicate and older scientists want them to.</p>
<p>The new initiative, Top 5 under 40, is designed to celebrate young scientists with a passion for communication, and is being launched on this Saturday’s ABC Radio National Science Show (from noon AEDT March 7, 2015). This is the first time this competition has been held and there were more than 250 entries.</p>
<h2>Never enough</h2>
<p>Up until now many of the initiatives I listed above have been driven by individuals in key positions, most notably by Robyn Williams at the ABC. In the future might we dream of discovering five new Robyns each year?</p>
<p>But sadly many of these initiatives are short term or fragile. Some are funded by governments, some by donations, and many on the basis of sponsorship and the sweat of dedicated workers.</p>
<p>Universities tend to be supportive as they are keen to promote their research in order to attract top students and staff. There are also many industries that depend on a rational and scientifically literate public aware and they are also happy to lend a hand. </p>
<p>So why is it not enough? </p>
<p>Why has the CSIRO been cut? Why are the opportunities for younger people at risk now the Future Fellowship scheme is threatened? Why is essential collaborative infrastructure in the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy still out on a limb? Why have the ABC and SBS again been hounded? And why have universities in Australia faced successive budget cuts from both sides of politics at a time when it is harder than ever to keep up with our neighbours in Asia?</p>
<p>I cannot say. But I am certain it would be worse without all this science communication. I would like to believe that it will get better when a scientific vision and a science strategy is adopted, and hopefully all the science communicators will support whichever politician articulates the vision. </p>
<p>Until then we will at least have fun doing science that is interesting and sharing our experiences with more and more people.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/38277/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Merlin Crossley works for the University of New South Wales. He receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council. He is on the Board of the Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC) and is a Trustee of the Australian Museum.</span></em></p>There is a wealth of science communication going on, but it’s still not enough.Merlin Crossley, Dean of Science and Professor of Molecular Biology, UNSW SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/89112012-08-17T04:16:45Z2012-08-17T04:16:45ZNational Science Week: stirring the scientist in all of us<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/14359/original/8jygdy96-1345167749.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A passion for science can be contagious.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Discover Science & Engineering</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Today marks the end of <a href="http://www.scienceweek.net.au/">National Science Week</a>, an annual celebration of Australian science. It’s always a fun week in which scientists get to share their research with the public, where museums and universities throw open their doors a bit wider with extra hands-on exhibitions and events, and a time for us to celebrate the awesome achievements of our country’s scientific community. </p>
<p>For me, science week always gets me thinking about my childhood, my love of science, and afternoons spent in the shed building all manner of weird and wonderful contraptions.</p>
<p>This year my science week started on Saturday morning when I was a judge at the <a href="http://www.youngictexplorers.net.au/cms/">Young Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Explorers</a> event here at the University of Queensland. </p>
<p>Students from all over the state came to Brisbane to showcase their projects with robots, websites, mobile phone applications and more on display. These students had worked for a year on their projects, both in and outside of the classroom. From the projects I saw, it was clear that the ICT future in this state is in good hands … so long as we support students <a href="http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/432883/improving_ict_education_may_take_government_help/">when they get to uni</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/14338/original/9yqwv297-1345161515.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/14338/original/9yqwv297-1345161515.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=415&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14338/original/9yqwv297-1345161515.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=415&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14338/original/9yqwv297-1345161515.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=415&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14338/original/9yqwv297-1345161515.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=522&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14338/original/9yqwv297-1345161515.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=522&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14338/original/9yqwv297-1345161515.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=522&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Your author constructing a tesla coil (or lightning generator) in a friend’s shed as a year-nine student.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Daniel Angus</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>During high school in the mid-90s I spent my afternoons with my other nerdy mates building computers, a lightning generator (see photo above), a solar oven, wireless transmitters and other similarly wacky and possibly illegal devices.</p>
<p>We loved these projects and found mateship and pride in watching something we’d pumped our money, mental and physical efforts into light up for the first time. We all loved science, but found that the conventional classroom did not allow enough freedom to truly explore the boundaries of science.</p>
<p>Some of our projects took us well over a year, which fell well outside of a conventional school term, and many of our projects had concepts ranging from chemistry to physics and biology.</p>
<p>The backyard shed, with its four tin walls, gave us a conceptual space that seemed to have none. In the shed we were free to explore in any direction, our creativity only limited by the tools and parts we could afford. In a time when personal computers cost upwards of $3,000 we came upon these limitations somewhat frequently. </p>
<p>Fast-forward to today and those sheds still exist, but what has changed is the access to information and availability of parts and tools to let that creativity roam free. Many of the projects at the Young ICT Explorers event made use of the <a href="http://www.arduino.cc/">Arduino platform</a>, an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible and easy-to-use hardware and software. These kits cost $35 (including postage) – the equivalent technology in the 90s would have cost us well over $500! </p>
<p>While I saw the same passion for science in the students that I once had, the difference is that they have a toolbox overflowing with possibilities, and they are far less constrained by cost. Cheap, high-powered and flexible technology is helping our children create and discover science better than any generation before. All we need to do is provide them with some encouragement and a safe place to do so.</p>
<p>National Science Week may be over for another year, but the passion for science I saw in the eyes of those students will keep me going for the next ten.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/8911/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Daniel Angus does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Today marks the end of National Science Week, an annual celebration of Australian science. It’s always a fun week in which scientists get to share their research with the public, where museums and universities…Daniel Angus, Lecturer in Computational Intelligence and Information Visualisation, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.