Climate Commissioners, such as Veena Sahajwalla, talked with the public about climate science and ways to respond: who will do that now?
Climate Commission
The new Abbott Government decided today, just one day into governing, to axe the Climate Commission. This decision demonstrates to the Australian public the government is not interested in talking to them…
Science isn’t just for scientists. It’s not just a training for careers. Today’s young people – all of them – will live in a world, ever more dependent on technology, and ever more vulnerable to its failures…
The future is in your hands, tread carefully.
bbcradio4
This is a transcript of a speech given at the British Science Festival in Newcastle on September 12. It’s always a pleasure to speak at the British (Science) Association, but there are two special reasons…
Better questions may lead to better answers.
Antwaanmusic
With this year’s National Science Week (Aug 10-18) just past, many people are now thinking busily about science. So here’s a quick poll: What percentage of Australians are interested in science and technology…
Studies suggest around 30% of people are “generally unengaged” with science.
Suarez Leandro
Like many Australians, you may have recoiled in horror or laughed heartily when the results of the Australian Academy of Science’s science literacy survey surfaced last month. You may have had a similar…
There’s a public appetite for more science … so how should it be sated?
London Permaculture
Why is science not delivered as part of our routine news bulletins in the same way as, say, business and sport? Enter a group from the University of Queensland, who yesterday posted an open letter to radio…
Understanding how the world works as a system is vital.
Rigmarole
When the email notice for The Weekend Conversation landed on Saturday, I was intrigued and slightly startled by the opening teaser from the site’s Science + Technology editor, Paul Dalgarno. He got one…
The survey results are in … but what do they tell us?
twm1430
Perhaps the only positive note that can be sounded on the Australian science literacy survey results, released on Wednesday by the Australian Academy of Science (AAS), is they are somewhat better than…
People from all walks of life and all corners of the world are becoming scientists. Citizen science empowers those with an interest in any area from ecology to astronomy to be a part of the scientific…
“If we don’t evaluate our impact we risk becoming our own worst enemies.”
mollybob
Public concerns about issues such as wind farms and vaccines have led to a discussion about why some people have strong fears or adverse reactions, and why their perception of risk doesn’t align with those…
Social media provides new ways for journals and scientists to interact. Scientists should take an active role in shaping this exchange.
Noura
More and more scientists are communicating via social media to find, publicise and discuss current research. This trend has been highlighted in two recent papers that look at the influence of social media…
Children are getting their (mis)information about some scientific concepts from mass media sources.
Genetics image from www.shutterstock.com
“DNA is your blood in you, we can use DNA as evidence if someone’s been stabbed. We can run tests in suspects.” (Girl, 12, central Queensland) “DNA has to do with blood types and fingerprints, it helps…
If advice isn’t acted upon, is it good advice?
kevincollins123
Without good advice, governments are in extreme danger of creating erroneous or damaging public policy. So it’s a serious matter when a government science adviser is accused of ignoring scientific evidence…
Australia is stuck in a “deficit model” of science communication.
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Science engagement in Australia is trapped in the 20th century. It operates under an outdated model that aims to promote and celebrate science, rather than encouraging the public to participate in, and…
Australia is faced with the choice of falling behind or taking steps to keep pace with others.
Marco Crupi Visual Artist
Australia punches above its weight in terms of global research, producing more than we might expect given our small population. At least … that’s the line we’ve been fed for years – but is it true? A cracking…
Mathematics enrolments are falling but demand for trained mathematicians is on the rise.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edbrambley
Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation and Katie Moore, The Conversation
Demand for trained mathematicians is growing but enrolment is maths courses is in steep decline. Failing to tackle the problem puts the country at risk of producing the scientists and engineers needed…
Artistic license should be avoided in scientific illustration.
Crossett Library Bennington College
When you open a science textbook or magazine, it’s often the images that capture your attention. Some of these images help you visualise the topics, while others - such as diagrams - can be instrumental…
Don’t believe everything you read in the newspaper about sea level rise.
inju/Flickr
Peer review is an essential part of science. Journal editors recruit scientists to provide expert opinion on manuscripts submitted by other scientists. Reviewers are expected to identify major errors and…
Scientists let the climate change debate get by them. It’s not too late to own energy.
David Reeves
Climate change no longer attracts the headlines it once did, as the recent conference in Doha showed. Global media attention since its 2009 peak during the Copenhagen summit has fallen off a cliff – according…
There’s still plenty to discover about how the brain works but what we know now is irrelevant to education.
Brain image from www.shutterstock.com
Neuroscience: the word oozes sophistication and intelligence – the very qualities we might want to nurture in our students, our children, our general populace. Maybe that’s why many people involved in…