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Blogs

Spring Bragg Walking Tour 2012 and the Big Reveal

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova on September 3, 2012 ]
The lives of Sir William Henry Bragg and his son, Sir William Lawrence Bragg, were revealed through a guided walking tour. We heard what life would have been like when these famous men lived and worked in Adelaide. The Braggs are two of Australia’s most important scientists, with their discoveries being ... Continue Reading »

Prof Chris Rapley CBE Presents: An Inconvenient Truth

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova on August 30, 2012 ]
Prof Chris Rapley CBE may not be a name you’re familiar with, but he provided expert support to Nobel Prize Winner Al Gore in the UK. In this exclusive event, we heard from Chris as he presented the film An Inconvenient Truth and looked at new data which ... Continue Reading »

Artist’s Inspiration: Cheryl Hutchens

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova on July 31, 2012 ]
I’m inspired by technologies for imaging the inside of the human body. I wonder if the more we understand about how our bodies work, will it change the way we see ourselves? I know my view of my own body has changed a great deal since starting my research. Micrograph images [caption ... Continue Reading »

Leonardo da Vinci @ Queen’s Gallery

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova on July 28, 2012 ]
Recently, we tagged along on a tour of the Queen’s Gallery’s current exhibition, Leonardo da Vinci – Anatomist, led by its impressively knowledgeable curator, Martyn Clayton. We highly recommend this exhibition, but for those who can’t make it, here’s what we learned. The exhibition begins with a short introductory film. Nature(watch ... Continue Reading »

Domestic + Science (12 July 2012)

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova on July 12, 2012 ]
This SALA season, RiAus will open its FutureSpace Gallery to an art exhibition that takes us to a place we all know – or we think we do – the domestic environment. RiAus aims to foster links with the local arts and science community and within the SALA Festival, its Domestic ... Continue Reading »

Jon McCormack

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova on April 2, 2012 ]
Flicker 2010 Generative software program, computer, monitor. Duration 2:20 minutes. Developed in collaboration with Oliver Brown. Artist's Synopsis I work across the disciplines of art and science. I am interested in developing new modes of creative expression through computation, expression that, in the spirit of Gyorgy Kepes, leads to a “deeper and richer ... Continue Reading »

The Science Exchange: An historic tour

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova on March 21, 2012 ]
We may be new, but there is more history than you know behind the Science Exchange! Before becoming the home of RiAus, it had an exciting history as the Adelaide Stock Exchange. Kay Bennetts led guided tours every Friday in May. We stepped back in time to imagine what is ... Continue Reading »

Free Range Science & Art Symposium

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova on July 28, 2011 | Filed under: Uncategorized ]
The often disparate worlds of arts and science combined in this exciting symposium event, as part of the Mildura Palimpsest. Our four speakers addressed the theme of Change and Resilience from scientific, artistic, indigenous and historical perspectives. You could discover some of the complex issues relevant to the ... Continue Reading »

Why it’s important

[ By freya on July 27, 2011 ]
Recently this graph came through my twitter feed. It was presented at a recent conference in the USA and it plots the proportion of a nation’s population that accept evolution against national wealth. http://www.calamitiesofnature.com/archive/?c=559 A startling correlation emerges; the greater the acceptance of evolution in ... Continue Reading »

Peter McLeish

[ By freya on July 5, 2011 ]
Peter McLeish is a Canadian born international multi-media artist/filmmaker with a Masters Fine Arts degree. Peter received over twenty various types of grants and support from different branches of the Canadian and Quebec Governments between 1991-2010. Since the late 1990s, Peter has been developing multimedia projects, films and research on science based themes. These ... Continue Reading »

Mark Hamlyn

[ By freya ]
As the head of Specialist Factual at ScreenWorld in 2009 and then Beyond Screen Production Pty Ltd in 2010, Mark Hamlyn has overseen a diverse range of factual/documentary productions.  This has included the three-part docudrama Darwin’s Brave New World a ScreenWorld/Ferns international co-production, the 3 part Logie winning documentary series ... Continue Reading »

Clare Peddie

[ By freya on June 28, 2011 ]
Science journalist Clare Peddie joined the Advertiser, a News Ltd publication, in 2006. A degree in health sciences from the University of Adelaide and graduate diploma in science journalism, combined with seven years experience as a science communicator in research organisations have provided Clare with valuable knowledge and experience. She ... Continue Reading »

I Sci-Ku – can you? (6 June 2011)

[ By freya on June 6, 2011 ]
RiAus and the Friendly Street Poets are calling on Australians young and old to take part in the second annual Sci-ku Poetry Competition. “Sci-ku is a 21st century Australian form created by ratbags, scientists and poets. It’s still in the process of developing an exact definition but at its most simple ... Continue Reading »

Chemical murder mystery night: Back in time to solve a crime

[ By freya on May 24, 2011 ]
Our scientific super sleuths had the chance to become crime scene investigators, using the power of chemistry to solve a 'murder'. Attendees explored the Science Exchange with a series of interactive activities, and were entertained by science and theatrical performance. In association with The Royal Australian Chemical Institute (SA Branch) as ... Continue Reading »

The art of sharing: too much too soon? (18 May 2011)

[ By freya on May 18, 2011 ]
Sites like Wikipedia are a kind of collective brain or warehouse of knowledge, maintained on servers in various countries and built by anyone with an Internet connection who wants to share their knowledge about a subject. View full media release: The art of sharing - too much too soon ... Continue Reading »

Club Cosmos: Synthetic Biology in the Pub

[ By freya on April 3, 2011 ]
This time Club Cosmos tackled the topic of "Synthetic Biology". We enjoyed a drink as we discussed Synthetic biology - beyond the hype: what it is, and what ethical and legal issues may arise from it. Our panel included: Desmond Lun, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at Rutgers University ... Continue Reading »

New RiAus Director announced today (16 March 2011)

[ By freya on March 16, 2011 ]
Popular science communicator and ABC Television science presenter, Dr Paul Willis, has been named the new Director of the Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus). In announcing the appointment today, RiAus Council Chair, Mr Peter Yates, said that: ‘Dr Willis has had a stellar career in science and combined with his vision ... Continue Reading »

Review of Stupid Species: It. Was. Awesome.

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova ]
I just got home from seeing Daniel Keogh (from ABC's the Hungry Beast, aka Professor Funk) performing in the 18+ science comedy show The Stupid Species - Why Everyone (except you) is an Idiot. It. Was. Awesome. From the complex and perplexing placebo effect to the Asch Conformity Test, it was ... Continue Reading »

Filming the Invisible World

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova ]
We are at a very disturbing point in film production, where we assume the audience has no imagination and no intelligence. Stories are spoon fed and wrapped up with explosions and effects to sell the same tired old plot. Such is the opinion of Douglas Trumbull, who has spent ... Continue Reading »

Club Cosmos: From Sci-Fi to Sci-Fact

[ By freya on March 12, 2011 ]
The Awfully Wonderful exhibition at Sydney’s Performance Space combined sci-fi, art and science to take us on an amazing journey from science fiction to science fact. What is it about these visions of the future that inspire humans to make them a reality? Hosted by COSMOS Editor, ... Continue Reading »

Why everyone (except you) is an idiot?

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova on March 11, 2011 ]
This Friday, Saturday and Sunday the infamous and irreverent Daniel Keogh presents The Stupid Species, which will reveal why everyone (except you) is an idiot. In 1999 two clever gents, Justin Kruger and David Dunning, described a cognitive bias which occurs when unskilled people get the wrong answer, but ... Continue Reading »

Autumn Season Bragg walking tour

[ By freya ]
Meet at the Science Exchange. We discovered the world of Sir William Henry Bragg and his son, Sir William Lawrence Bragg, with a guided tour of their Adelaide lives. The Bragg men are two of Australia’s most prestigious scientists, with their discoveries being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics ... Continue Reading »

Film Club: My Sister’s Keeper

[ By freya ]
Based on the best-selling novel by Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper tackles the emotive subject of saviour siblings. Conceived by means of in vitro fertilisation, Anna was brought into the world to be a genetic match for her older sister Kate, who suffers from acute promyelocytic leukaemia. When ... Continue Reading »

Adelaide Fringe 2011: Dante’s Laboratory (Cabaret)

[ By freya on March 9, 2011 ]
Dante's Laboratory followed Dante's path through Hell, with a scientific perspective and an entertaining twist. Chris KP (Pre-Coital, Somnium) gave us a cabaret exploring behaviour, morality and the secrets of sin -- with reference to evolutionary biology, genetics and psychology. Dante's Laboratory asked the big questions and did it ... Continue Reading »

Adelaide Fringe 2011: Pieces of Mind (Comedy)

[ By freya ]
Former psychology student turned award-winning entertainer, Simon Taylor attempted to solve the puzzles of the mind. He knew what we were thinking -- and made us laugh out loud as he told us. In his unique show, Pieces of Mind, Simon taught us how to trick ourselves into feeling ... Continue Reading »

Summer Season Bragg Walking Tour

[ By freya ]
The world of Sir William Henry Bragg and his son, Sir William Lawrence Bragg was made available for discovery with this guided tour of their Adelaide lives. The Bragg men are two of Adelaide's most prestigious scientists, with their discoveries leading to the award ... Continue Reading »

Book Club: Short adventures in sci-fi

[ By freya ]
We started the new year with some short adventures in science fiction. The RiAus Book Club met to discuss and unravel the questions thrown up by some classic short stories: Nightfall by Isaac Asimov (1941): the story of the sudden coming of darkness to a world which never experiences sunset. ... Continue Reading »

Seven Deadly Sins: Pride – Film Club: I, Psychopath

[ By freya ]
Psychopaths… they’ll charm you, manipulate you, then ruin your life. But not all of them with a gun or a knife. In this extra-ordinary documentary, suspected corporate psychopath Sam Vaknin goes in search of a diagnosis…was he born without a conscience? The tables are turned when film-maker Ian Walker becomes a ... Continue Reading »

Invisible worlds

[ By freya ]
RiAus hosted a wide-ranging discussion with Lynette Wallworth (ReKindling Venus: In Plain Sight), Douglas Trumbull (2001: A Space Odyssey, Blade Runner), Tim Baier (creator of 3D movie Standing in Amazement) and Dr Chris Fluke (Swinburne’s Centre for Astrophysics & Supercomputing) exploring how ... Continue Reading »

Book Club: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

[ By freya ]
In 1951, a young black American woman died of cancer. Her death changed the history of medicine. Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer whose cancer cells -- taken without her knowledge -- became one of the most ... Continue Reading »

Book Club: Day of the Triffids

[ By freya on March 4, 2011 ]
We put a twist on celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity with this September's RiAus Book Club selection, Day of the Triffids. Biological warfare, genetic engineering, ecological disaster, the quest for cheap oil... themes that could be lifted from today's newspapers. But John Wyndham's novel was first published nearly 60 ... Continue Reading »

Film Club: Panic in the Streets

[ By freya on March 2, 2011 ]
The RiAus Film Club is dedicated to screening films with science- and culture-based themes. From classic to modern works, docos, sci-fi and sci-fact, and utopian or dystopian futures, we'll tackle all science screen genres. Become a member to enjoy the benefits of viewing and discussing film in the comfort of ... Continue Reading »

Film club: Soylent green

[ By freya ]
The RiAus Film Club is dedicated to screening films with science- and culture-based themes. From classic to modern works, docos, sci-fi and sci-fact, and utopian or dystopian futures -- we'll tackle all science screen genres. Public health expert Professor John Coveney introduced the 1973 dystopian classic Soylent Green, ... Continue Reading »

Book Club: The Greatest Show on Earth

[ By freya ]
The RiAus hosts a bi-monthly Book Club for those keen to explore, rediscover and get excited about science-themed books, new and old. In March 2010 we saw our first foray into non-fiction with Richard Dawkins' new work The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution. With the literary skill ... Continue Reading »

Book Club: Leviathan

[ By freya ]
RiAus hosts a bi-monthly Book Club for those keen to explore, rediscover and get excited about science-themed books, new and old. We started 2010 with Leviathan, an alternative history steampunk adventure by Scott Westerfeld. Set at the outbreak of World War I,Leviathan follows Alek -- the son of ... Continue Reading »

Film Club: 28 Weeks Later

[ By freya ]
The RiAus Film Club is dedicated to screening science-based films of all sorts. From classics to moderns, features and docos, sci-fi to sci-fact and utopian or dystopian futures, we'll tackle all science genres. Become a member to enjoy the benefits of viewing and discussing film in the comfort ... Continue Reading »

Book Club: Maralinga

[ By freya ]
RiAus hosts a bi-monthly Book Club for those keen to explore, rediscover and get excited about science-themed books, new and old. Our first book selection was Maralinga, a novel by Judy Nunn. During the darkest days of the Cold War, in the remote wilderness of a South ... Continue Reading »

Review of Rocket Town (28 February 2011) – The Advertiser

[ By freya on February 28, 2011 ]
Review by Clare Peddie Welcome to Woomera, Outback South Australia, a town slowly coming to terms with its own insignificance. The population has shrunk from thousands to hundreds in a few decades. Woomera was once a top-secret place of critical national and international importance, for testing long range missiles and rockets and ... Continue Reading »

Pieces of Mind: What were you THINKING? (21 February 2011)

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova on February 21, 2011 ]
Illusionist and entertainer Simon Taylor knows – and he’ll tell you at the Science Exchange, during the Adelaide Fringe Festival. It’s entertainment for the mind, about the mind, this Fringe at the Science Exchange. Award-winning entertainer Simon Taylor combines a history in psychology with a background in magic, theatre, stand-up and ... Continue Reading »

Science fiction to science fact

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova ]
Advances in science and technology speed along at such a rate it can be hard to know exactly what's out there, and to separate the plausible, possible or predictive, from the cold hard facts. While much of the fiction, remains just that (at least for now!), other ideas have ... Continue Reading »

The Great Big Science Read 2009

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova ]
2009 was a big year for science -- combining the UN International Year of Astronomy and a special double-anniversary for Charles Darwin, father of evolution and definitely one of the big names in science. Science Outside the Square celebrated this with a Great Big Science Read! A collaboration between the ... Continue Reading »

Science is golden with Dr Karl

[ By Petra Dzurovcinova ]
Some say that 'silence is golden' but all-Australian science geek Dr Karl Kruszelnicki bucked the trend and shouted his love of science from the rooftops in November's thoroughly entertaining Science Outside the Square. This event was for all those who longed to know the answers to life's ... Continue Reading »
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