SCANZ 2012 - Podcasts online if you missed it!

Attended by: Bette Flagler, Peter Griffin, Jean Fleming, John Callan, Matt Walters, Mike Shaw, Peter Buchanan, Maj Padamsee, Rick Marshall, Kelly March, Susan Wylie, Laura Fogg, Fleur Templeton, Katherine Trought, Viviene Bryner, Siouxsie Wiles, Michael Edmond, Kate Doherty, Chris Green, Christine Ross, Phil Johnstone

8.35am Meeting opened by SCANZ President Phil Johnstone.

Delivery of President’s Report, discussion of progress over past 12 months, strategy and conference planning.

Discussion of Financial Report by Christine Ross.

Invoicing issues raised by Jean Fleming.

Suggestion by President to use some SCANZ money to invest in projects such as Awards and travel grants.

Proposal to change SCANZ Financial year to a calendar year moved by Phil Johnstone & seconded by Christine Ross.

Proposal to make Peter Burke a life member of SCANZ moved by Phil Johnstone & seconded by Jean Fleming.

Proposal to bid to host PCST 2016 by Phil Johnstone accepted by all members present at AGM.

Discussion of proposal to support bid to save TVNZ7. Laura Fogg suggested a formal submission is made on behalf of SCANZ and members are encouraged to sign the petition as individuals.

Proposal to accept the following members remain on the SCANZ Executive moved by Phil Johnstone & seconded by Peter Griffin:

Phil Johnstone (President)

Christine Ross (Vice President)
Peter Griffin
Jean Fleming
John Callan
Janette Busch
Rick Marshall
Emma Timewell

Phil mentioned the Exec Team was considering co-opting a science journalist in the next couple of months.

Discussion of next Conference, call for proposals for Conference organising team.

Discussion of using SCANZ funds for travel or journalism awards, science communication grants.

Discussion of next 12 months, organisational focus on building membership and growing
sponsorship, increasing regional events.

Laura Fogg raised the BSA Awards as an example that SCANZ may wish to follow.

Meeting closed at 9.05am.

_The 2012 Annual Meeting for SCANZ will take place at 8.30am on Thursday 23 February 2012, at the National Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa.   

The meeting will effectively kick-off the second day of the 2012 SCANZ annual conference.  All SCANZ members are requested to attend, along with anyone else who is interested in joining SCANZ.

The meeting will be asked to review and confirm minutes of the 2011 AGM, receive and discuss a report from the President Phil Johnstone and a financial report relating to the past financial year, which will include a recommendation that we change the SCANZ financial year to match the calendar year.  There will also be the opportunity to elect members onto the SCANZ Exec Committee for the year ahead, and we will appoint an Auditor.

President's Report for AGM:

2011 has been a good year of rebuilding for SCANZ, and I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to what has been achieved.  We certainly have not achieved everything we might have, however a number of significant foundations for the association have been strengthened, and I believe there is a reasonable amount of clarity around what our next steps in 2012 should be.      

The 2011 Annual Conference in Auckland provided a compelling programme and was well organised and attended.  Our thanks again go to everyone who was involved.   We also acknowledged the major contribution made by founding President Peter Burke, who stood down at the 2011 AGM.     

A year of change    

I will be putting a motion at the 2012 AGM that Peter be made an Honorary Member of SCANZ, which is provided for in our constitution as a way to mark outstanding contribution.  Day two of the conference was marred by news of the Christchurch earthquake, and our thoughts were (and remain) with SCANZ members & other conference delegates from Canterbury, or with connections in the region.

I'd like to thank the Exec Team for their contribution in the past year.  The team elected at the 2011 AGM was: Bridget Beaurepaire, Janette Busch, John Callan, Bette Flagler, Jean Fleming, Stephanie Gray, Peter Griffin, Rick Marshall, Jennifer Nickel, Philippa Sargent, Emma Timewell and Katherine Trought.   Midway through the year, with a maternity leave break imminent, Stephanie came off the team, as did Philippa as 2011 ended and she left the RSNZ to take up a new role in the education sector.  

A solid base for growth  

Almost all the team were able to attend a SCANZ planning day in Auckland in June 2011. The meeting received and approved a well considered review of our administrative systems review prepared by Vice-President Christine Ross, which led to chartered accountant Phil Brown being appointed as our auditor, and to the Science Media Centre being contracted to supply a range of services such as database and website maintenance, newsletter distribution, conference help, member queries, creating and maintaining a social media presence.     

Putting these things on a professional, paid-for basis has proved to be a good move.   Great work was done in re-establishing our database records - and we now have almost all the systems in place for growth.  Be assured - online payment on the website is in our sights.

Regional meet-ups 

Some regional meetings were held in Wellington, Palmerston North and in Auckland at mid-year, and pre-Christmas networking events also in December. Thanks to everyone involved in running the well-attended and lively panel discussions in Auckland and Wellington - and the excellent site visit to Te Manawa in Palmerston North.      

And a great job was done scoping, planning then delivering the 2012 SCANZ Annual Conference.  Many thanks are due to Bette Flagler for leading the charge - with excellent support also from Christine Ross, Peter Griffin, Nancy Yopp and more recently, our student intern Claudia.   

Strengthening partnerships   

We have appreciated the sponsorship support received from a relatively small number of organisations - support which has helped not just the conference but also regional events and in reducing admin costs such as conference calls.   I'm sure none of our supporters would mind me singling out GNS for the consistency of its support, and the significant contribution of making Te Papa available to us as the conference venue this year.     

Membership of the international body the World Federation of Science Journalists was investigated during the year, but we withdrew after taking the view that aligning ourselves in due course with a global association of science communicators would better fit with the wide range of membership SCANZ has.      

The exec agreed at the planning discussion that we will be much stronger if we keep our diverse range of members (journalists, PRs, scientists, academics, students, policy advisors etc) under one roof.  That said, given the relatively small representation by journalists in SCANZ, we want to be intentional in keeping the interests of our media members to the fore.    

What's next for SCANZ?  

We have a rough, work-in-progress catch-phrase to inform SCANZ planning for the next year or two.  It describes SCANZ as: "a valued portal connecting those interested in science and innovation, offering career-enhancing services which lift the quality of science communication in New Zealand".  I think this is still helpful as we plan for the future.    

The challenge for the Exec Team in 2012 is to pick up and implement the remaining targets identified at our 2011 planning day.  These include running regular regional events through the year, lifting our membership base further, making more improvements to our communication with members, locking in some sponsors for the mid-term, scope and implement grants to encourage science and innovation journalism and other forms of communication, plus develop our research activity.     

It will be important to set challenging (yet also realistic) targets over the coming months for the six exec committees (Administration, Membership, Conference 2012, Fundraising & Profile, Special Projects and Research & Policy).

I hope you are encouraged by what's underway at SCANZ.  We've tried in the past year to strike a balance between preserving our financial reserves, yet also investing in necessary administration and kick-start some interesting things.

SCANZ is your network for science and innovation communication, so do use it.   Your ideas, experience and networks are very welcome.

Phil Johnstone

_ Kia Ora!

The Science Communicators Association of New Zealand (SCANZ) invites you to its 9th annual conference at Te Papa Museum in Wellington on Wednesday 22 –Thursday 23February 2012.

This annual event is the only conference dedicated to science communication in New Zealand and a must-attend for anyone interested or involved in the communication of science.   

This year we expect over 100 journalists, PRs, scientists, science and innovation communicators, academics and students will join us for two days of stimulating presentations, education and networking.

Conference Highlights:

INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER Dr Andi Horvath, Senior Curator at Victoria Museum –on Becoming an Audience Advocate

Dr Mark Quigley, Award Winning earthquake scientist –The Personal Side of Communicating Science

Hon. Steve Maharey, Vice-Chancellor of Massey University –on Education, Science and the 21st Century

PANEL DISCUSSION including GNS Science, Katherine Trought (Environment Canterbury), Paul Gorman (The Press) –on Communicating Science in Disasters

Professor Chris Stringer, the Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution –on The Origin of Our Species

WORKSHOPS with Katherine Throught and Peter Griffin –on Crisis Management and Social Media in the Workplace.

PLUS Discussions, Case Studies and Presentations by local expert scientists and science communicators.

Conference Rates:

SCANZ Members: $240

Non Members: $300

First 25 Students to Register: $100 each

Carter Observatory Evening Reception $70 per person

All rates are inclusive of GST

Register online at www.scanz.co.nz

2012 Conference Evening Reception

Wednesday 22nd Feb, 6.30pm-9.30pm at the Carter Observatory.

Join SCANZ for the 2012 Conference Evening Reception at the Carter Observatory and be inspired through the stories of our southern skies.

Rate: $70 per person, includes Planetarium Show, Cook Telescope, drinks and finger food.

Hi everyone.

Recent months have been busy ones for SCANZ.

Well-attended panel discussion events were held in Wellington and Auckland in September, and Christmas networking functions are also now confirmed for both cities in early December.  Plus there have been a number of improvements made to our admin systems, which will improved our ability to offer value to SCANZ members.     

But looming large on the horizon is our 2012 annual conference – “21st Century Communication for 21st Century Science – which will take place at Te Papa in Wellington on 22-23 February.

Many thanks to GNS Science for sponsorship support which has enabled us to hold the conference at such a high quality venue. 

And special thanks to Bette Flagler for playing a key role in creating a compelling and relevant programme for the conference.  Details are on the SCANZ website, and information about additional speakers and sessions will be uploaded as details are confirmed in the next fortnight.

At just $240 for SCANZ members (and $300 for non-members)  – this conference offers extremely good value for money.   The event will offer excellent learning and networking opportunities – and continue the high standards set by SCANZ conferences in recent years. 

And finally, if you have not yet joined SCANZ, or haven’t renewed your membership, I am pleased to announce a special pre-Christmas reduced rate is now available.   

Sign up before Christmas Eve and you can get a one year SCANZ membership for just $60 – a 25% discount on the already very reasonable usual rate of $80.     

Now is a great time to join SCANZ for just $60 and qualify for the $240 conference fee of $240.   Full information is on our website.

The SCANZ executive look forward to seeing many of you at next month’s Christmas networking functions – and at the annual conference in February.

Kind regards, Phil Johnstone  

Hi everyone.  I’m pleased to give this update about recent activity and planning, and let you know about the good things to expect from SCANZ in the coming months. 

Almost all the Exec Team attended a strategy day in Auckland in June, where a lot of excellent thinking was done and decisions taken.  We’re lucky to have such an experienced and enthusiastic exec group, comprising Bridget Beaurepaire, Janette Busch, John Callan, Bette Flagler, Jean Fleming, Stephanie Gray, Peter Griffin, Rick Marshall, Jennifer Nickel, Philippa Sargent, Emma Timewell and Katherine Trought.  Due to her imminent maternity leave break from MSI, Stephanie has recently asked to come off the team.  We all wish her well and look forward to seeing her again at SCANZ events before too long.

SCANZ has many positives going for it, due in large part to the work put in by our former president Peter Burke and many others over the past 8 years.  We have a track record of running excellent annual conferences, some money in the bank, great networks and goodwill, plus there is a rising tide of interest in science and innovation. 

Our strategy day discussion assessed and gave priority to the many opportunities we face.  These include the chance to revamp our foundations such as admin, accounts, communications and sponsorship, and really know and deliver what SCANZ members want.  Plus we need a plan for the next couple of years to ensure regular high quality regional events and annual conferences, more members and lots of other possible initiatives such training, awards, research, international connections and better partnerships with groups such as the NZJTO and PRINZ to name only two.

Peter Griffin gave a helpful roundup of overseas organisations like SCANZ.  Takeaway observations were that SCANZ compares reasonably well and should strive to keep our network a ‘broad church’.  We will be much stronger if we keep our diverse range of members (journalists, PRs, scientists, academics, students, policy advisors etc) under one roof.  Improved partnerships will really help here, and given the relatively small representation by journalists in SCANZ, we want to be intentional in keeping the interests of our media members to the fore.

We brainstormed our environment, potential strategies and tactics and came up with this work-in-progress phrase to informally describe SCANZ: “a valued portal connecting those interested in science and innovation, offering career-enhancing services which lift the quality of science communication in New Zealand”.

What do you think?  We welcome your input, and will be engaging with you about the future of SCANZ at meetings and online over the coming months.  But if you would like to drop me or any of the Exec team your ideas and feedback in the interim, please do!       
At the strategy day we created six Exec committees to share the work around, covering the areas of Administration, Membership, Conference 2012, Fundraising & Profile, Special Projects and Research & Policy.  And we made a number of important other decisions such as contracting a chartered accountant to get our finances in order and produce audited report, and arranging for the Science Media Centre to supply a range of other admin services (including database and website maintenance, newsletter distribution, conference help, member queries, creating and maintaining a social media presence).  

These decisions would not have been possible without a superb ‘back-office’ review done by Christine Ross, and I also want to sincerely thank Sue Miller at Kotuku Media for single-handedly managing our administration and playing a key role in conference logistics since October 2009.

So – what else to expect from SCANZ from here on?

An event in Wellington is set for 28 September (see info elsewhere in this newsletter) and functions will be happening elsewhere before long.  To offer help and ideas for regional events, do check in with Christine Ross in Wellington, Emma Timewell (Auckland), Janette Busch (Christchurch, Jean Fleming (Dunedin), Bette Flagler (Palmerston North) and Jennifer Nickel (Hamilton). 

Online payment on our website will be in place shortly, along with streamlined processes for things such as event RSVPs, membership renewal notices and database management.  If you haven’t done so already, please respond to the recent email asking you to update your information on the SCANZ database, and pass the email onto others you think would be interested.  

Planning is underway for the SCANZ annual conference in 2012 – taking place at Te Papa on February xx.  We aim to exceed the very high benchmark set by the 2011 conference, in order to turbo boost a SCANZ membership drive which will take place over the next six months.  More information about the conference will be published soon.

I hope you are encouraged by what’s underway at SCANZ and what we can achieve together in the coming year. SCANZ is your network for science and innovation communication, so do use it.   Your ideas, experience and networks are very welcome.

Phil Johnstone

President

Peter Griffin, manager of the Science Media Centre looks at some of the biggest science-related stories of recent times, how the media handled them and how the scientific community needs to up its game to improve the level of science communication in New Zealand. Click here to listen back to the podcast.