Blogs

Dealing with the media can be a challenge. This is especially so if the science involved is of a contentious nature. This session has been specifically designed to assist science professionals (in research, communications or policy) to understand the media process and how to construct clear, consistent messages from plan ... Continue Reading »

Dr Paul Willis is a respected leader in the science community, and takes up his appointment at RiAus as the next step in an impressive career in science. Dr Willis' early interest in dinosaurs and fossils lead him to Sydney University to study zoology and geology, then on to further studies ... Continue Reading »

As many of you will know, I made something of a dramatic career shift when I took up the job as Director here at RiAus. I’d spent the previous 14 years at the ABC as a science reporter, mostly on TV, on the Catalyst program. But I’m surprised how often ... Continue Reading »

I was going to write about The Golden Ratio and how some quazi mumbo-jumbo has crept into our culture via some intriguing mathematics, but that will have to wait. The last week has seen some disturbing developments in the future of science communication in this country and I want to ... Continue Reading »

November edition of Science Behind the Headlines looked at the issues of marine parks and 'no-take' zones as proposed earlier in 2012 by the federal government. Both sides of politics claim the science is on their side but under the politics the science appears one-sided and in favour of marine parks. Just ... Continue Reading »

Simply by starting to read this article, you are aware that there is a new media landscape. You’re a part of it. It’s a landscape that is changing rapidly, tearing down the old paradigms of who can be involved and what can be said. And, on the horizon, I think ... Continue Reading »

Spanish businessman Javier Moll is the owner of the Barcelona-based media company Editorial Prensa Ibérica. His media holdings in Australia include The Adelaide Review and other titles. Mr Moll is the former owner of the heritage-listed Science Exchange (previously the Adelaide Stock Exchange), which is now owned by the South Australian ... Continue Reading »

In this instalment of Science Behind the Headlines we looked at the issues of agricultural biosecurity and ensuring Australia’s food supply. With a rising population can we continue to be so picky about where our food comes from? Why do we import apples from New Zealand but not potatoes? Who ... Continue Reading »

The science of climate change is irrefutable and it is time to move the discussion forward and consider the options for energy generation in the future. With coal on the nose the search begins for a suitable replacement but to where do we turn? Wind, solar, geothermal, tidal and of ... Continue Reading »

For me this week has been focused around the ASC 2012 conference in Sydney. That’s the Australian Science Communicators, a collegial organisation supporting a diversity of careers in talking science to Australians. It’s important to keep up with your ... Continue Reading »

Some follow-up on last week’s blog on how to pick sides in a scientific debate. This week, let’s dig a little deeper. Last week was a stand-back and assess the bunfight approach. Now I want to move in closer to the action and think about evaluating the science ... Continue Reading »

As the human population swells to over seven billion, are we in danger of permanently depleting the Earth's resources? What does the future hold for humans as a species? At our first Science behind the headlines event, Paul Willis hosted a discussion on the science of population growth. He ... Continue Reading »

Originally from Toowoomba in country Queensland, Mark Horstman studied zoology, geography, geology, and marine biology for a science degree at James Cook University in tropical Townsville. This led to work with scientists and Aboriginal communities 'looking after country' across northern Australia, with groups as diverse as the Cape York Land ... Continue Reading »

CEO, Australian Science Media Centre Susannah has a PhD in cell and developmental biology from Macquarie University, a Graduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) and more than 16 years of practical experience in science communication with the science-media nexus as her primary focus. She is currently CEO ... Continue Reading »

Cobi Smith worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation while completing degrees in journalism and international studies, focusing on environmental security. After working as a newsreader she headed abroad to join a team of young international journalists producing a documentary about youth-led development for the Millennium Development Goals. After working in communications ... Continue Reading »

Wilson da Silva is editor in chief of Cosmos magazine. He has had a long and successful career as a science report and editor, including with ABC TV, Reuters, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and New Scientist. In 2009 da Silva created 'Hello from Earth', a project to collect short ... Continue Reading »

Born: 1964, Somerset, UK Simon Singh was educated at Imperial College London, where he studied physics, and obtained a PhD degree in particle physics from Cambridge University and CERN, Geneva. In 1990 he joined the BBC's Science and Features Department, where he was a producer and director working ... Continue Reading »

Born: 1944, High Wickham, UK Robyn Williams has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of London. He joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Science Unit in 1972 where in 1975 he began hosting the award-winning Science Show, now one of the longest-running programs on Australian radio. He has also made ... Continue Reading »

Professor Rob Morrison has been a science and environment broadcaster for more than 40 years. He co-hosted the long-running Curiosity Show on television as well as appearing on The New Inventors, Science Magazine and Radio National's Ockham's Razor. He produced the science segments on NEXUS for the Australia Network, ... Continue Reading »

Dr Paul Willis is the Director of RiAus. He is known as a science journalist and broadcaster, formerly a presenter for ABC-TV's Catalyst. He replaces Acting Director, Dr Jane Lomax-Smith, who filled in after the resignation of Professor Gavin Brown. Dr Willis is a respected leader in the science community, and takes ... Continue Reading »

Natasha Mitchell is a science and health journalist, host and producer of the popular program, All in the Mind, on ABC Radio National and Radio Australia. Her work has received accolades internationally, including the overall Grand Prize and four Gold World Medals at the New York Radio Festivals, ... Continue Reading »

Born: Silicon Valley, US Jeff Goodell is a journalist, author and commentator on environmental and energy issues, who has become an advocate on climate change, particularly in relation to the coal industry and proposed geoengineering technologies. Goodell was born and raised in Silicon Valley, and his early journalistic ... Continue Reading »

Dr Graham Phillips has 20 years' experience as a science journalist and commentator. He has a PhD in astrophysics, and has lectured and researched at various universities as well as the CSIRO. Prior to joining ABC TV's Catalyst program, Dr Phillips was a reporter on Quantum and ... Continue Reading »