Blogs

In an event specifically for high-school teachers to complement a new PDplus module, road safety experts take you inside road crashes, from the causes through to what happens in an impact. Based around the associated teacher pack, we’ll look at the psychology of mobile-phone addiction, the effects of distraction while ... Continue Reading »

I’m writing this article feeling slightly apprehensive. The ethics of positive discrimination (AKA affirmative action) are so complex that I’m finding it hard to decide where to pitch my tent- the ‘for’ camp or ‘against’ camp? Prof Fiona Stanley and Baroness Prof Susan Greenfield had an interesting discussion about positive discrimination ... Continue Reading »

The annual F1 in Schools World Finals have been run in Abu Dhabi, and once again Australia has been shown to have some of the best young engineers in the world. Team Cold Fusion from Brighton Secondary School in Adelaide beat entries from 22 countries ... Continue Reading »

If you scream and run when you see a bug, then this event might not be for you. But if you are fascinated by the range and diversity of these beautiful creatures, then join Free Range Science for a day out with the family and a bit of science ‘on ... Continue Reading »

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 »

When it comes to attracting young people into a life in science, we have to think very carefully about the images we put forward. This could not have been more boldly illustrated than by the recent disastrous campaign by the European Union to attract young girls into science courses and ... Continue Reading »

How did science and science education fare in last week’s Federal Budget and what do the Fed’s funding decisions say about their respect for science and innovation? Well it’s a mixed picture with possibly encouraging signs of better things to come and a change of heart. Only time will tell ... Continue Reading »

Let’s put my bias up front; I’m a signatory to the letters of the Friends of Science In Medicine (FSM), a group of concerned citizens who speak out against the practice of some universities teaching non-scientific modalities as part of their courses in medicine. On the surface, that ... Continue Reading »

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I hope I don’t sound too smug but I count myself as one ... Continue Reading »

On a Friday evening a couple of weeks back, I attended the combined opening and keynote speech for the Adelaide Festival of Ideas.  And for a scientist in the making such as myself, the topic of the opening was certainly apt – Uncertainty and Science.  I walked away ... Continue Reading »

Hundreds of Darwin school kids and members of the public flocked to the showgrounds this morning to soak up some of the atmosphere surrounding the 2011 Veolia World Solar Challenge. While solar car teams from all over the world had their cars 'scrutineered', the students and members of ... Continue Reading »

Residents of Alice Springs have a chance to see the science behind the 2011 Veolia World Solar Challenge when RiAus and the Aurora Solar Car team arrive in town on Friday 14 October. View full media release Related Content Veolia World Solar Challenge Outreach Program (10 - 19 October ... Continue Reading »

7.45am Friday 14 October Alice Springs, NT We’ve made it half way!  So far we’ve travelled 1500km, passing through Katherine and Tennant Creek. ... Continue Reading »

At RiAus, we are all about science engagement. It’s not enough these days to simply take a scientist, put them on a podium and let them talk about their favourite bit of science. We need to connect with the audience, engage with the community, in ways that provide access to ... Continue Reading »

Our team pitched their tent as part of the Community Family Fun Day, hosted by Quantum Support Services. We entertained you with science demos that went fizzle and pop and workshops that got your hands dirty. Who knew chemistry would be this much fun? We were also joined by scientist and ... Continue Reading »

For all children who have ever wondered how electronic stuff works, Bright Sparks electronics workshop gave them a chance to investigate the inner workings of computers and other devices. Together with SciWorld and the RiAus volunteer team, we took devices apart to make way for some fantastic new ... Continue Reading »

National Science Week is finished now. Sadly this year, commitments have hampered my participation (I only managed a couple of events) but the kids led the way. My godchildren decided to spend a morning at the CSIRO, experimenting. This was no science ‘beginning’ for my godson Cameron either.  More an ... Continue Reading »

Bookworms are being encouraged to get stuck into science this month with the Great Big Science Read. Now in its second year, the read is an initiative of the Royal Institution Australia and is running throughout August to coincide with National Science Week. The science-related titles also count towards the Premier's Reading ... Continue Reading »

I’ve touched on this theme in previous blogs: why do we go out there and talk science to the world? The truth is there are several reasons why it’s important to not only communicate science but to engage the general public in the conversations of science. But I’d ... Continue Reading »

Tania has a Junior Primary/Primary Teaching degree with Honours from the University of South Australia.  Having become interested in teacher education, epistemology and philosophy for children she went on to complete a PhD focusing on the reasoning, or epistemological levels, of pre-service teachers.  Primarily, her research focused on how pre-service ... Continue Reading »

The much anticipated Mysteries in Science exhibition has opened at the Adelaide Science Exchange. The exhibition, from the New York Hall of Science, contains entries from the 11th International Digital Print Exhibition, a competition organised by Art and Science Collaborations, Inc. RiAus Head of Programs, Amanda Tyndall said as new fields of ... Continue Reading »

Seven indigenous students from Cairns diocese are among 30 students who have been chosen from around Australia to take part in an innovative Aboriginal summer school program being held in Adelaide this month. Full article from The Catholic Leader: Bringing science to the people (12 December 2010)

The last part of the opening celebrations for the Science Exchange of the Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) was the launch of the October lecture series. "The Robots are Coming" was presented by Hugh Durrant-Whyte, a much honoured Sydney-based leader in mechatronics, with help from his friendly robots. Almost 500 students ... Continue Reading »