Science Communication - beyond the daily news
| Sunday 8 Nov. evening | Arrival and registration | |||
| 6 pm | BBQ (exact location to be advised) | Hosted by Massey University Vice Chancellor Steve Maharey and Bette Flagler | ||
| Monday 9 Nov. | Sport and Rugby Institute, Massey University | |||
| 8.30 – 9.00 | Registration | |||
| 9.00 - 9.15 | Welcome to Massey and the conference | |||
| 9.15 - 10.15 | Keynote speaker: Science on the big screen | Andrew Waterworth  Executive Producer Natural History New Zealand | ||
| 10.15 – 10.30 | Morning tea | |||
| 10.30 - 11.30 | The decision makers: science stories getting to the public | Panel of publishers and editors, senior communications managers and museum curators Miriam Sharland Te Manawa John Callan GNS Science Mary Varnham Publisher, Awa Press Mark Revington Editor, Unlimited | ||
| 11.30 – 12.00 | Science on the ground: regional councils conducting science and telling the community | Grey Carlyon Horizons Regional Council | ||
| 12.00 - 12.30 | Communicating in a pandemic | Spiro Anastasiou Strategic Communications Manager, Ministry of Health | ||
| 12.30 - 1.00 | Keynote speaker | Professor David Parry | ||
| 1.00 – 2.00 | Lunch | |||
| 2.00 – 2.30 | Update from MoRST on Science Communication issues including a recent review of the New Zealand Science Media Centre | Rob Hosking Justin Browlie | ||
| The intricacies of communicating science (afternoon workshops) | ||||
| 2.30 – 3.30 | Communicating to kids – beyond the classroom Davina Hunt | "Have Handy Cam – can do" Peter Burke & Glen Young Horizons Regional Council | Communicating science – tips for scientists Sue Foley Massey University Marianne Tremaine Massey University | |
| 3.30 - 3.45 | Afternoon tea | |||
| 4.00 – 5.00 | Too good to publish. IP protection: how do we make this work in the university and CRI settings? Adelia Hallett | Local and regional communication opportunities: museums, science cafes, local papers Sarah Rusholme Carter Observatory David Hancock Hutt City Council | Communicating science – tips for communicators Margie Comrie Massey University Christine Ross NZBIO | |
| 5.00 | State of SCANZ | Peter Burke | ||
| 5.30 | Day ends | |||
| 6.30 - 10.00 | 6.30 - Bus to Te Manawa, cocktails and time to wander around museum and science centre 7.30 Conference dinner at Te Manawa | |||
| Tuesday 10 Nov. | "Into the Future" | |||
| 8.00 – 9.00 | Where to with science communication: open discussion including
| Peter Griffin Science Media Centre | ||
| 9.00 - 10.00 | The Big View | Christina Elson National Geographic Barry Fox former network Vice President CBS | ||
| 10.00 – 10.30 | Morning tea | |||
| 10.30 - 11.15 | Communicating across the sciences – The Agri-food Example | Brennon Wood Massey University | ||
| 11.15 - 12.15 | Social media: blogging and beyond | Gareth Renowden Paul Brislen | ||
| 12.15 – 12.30 | Wrap up formal part of conference | |||
| 12.30 – 1.30 | Lunch | |||
| 1.30 - 4.00 | Science tour of Manawatu, bus to go to airport for final stop Auckland flights leave at 4.55 and 6.10 Chch direct flight leaves at 4.30 | |||
Peter is the founding manager of the Science Media Centre and the co-founder of Sciblogs.co.nz, New Zealand's largest network of science blogs. Peter has come to science following a career in journalism. He started out during the dotcom boom covering technology for trade magazines in London, then spent eight years covering technology at the New Zealand Herald, latterly as technology editor. He was also technology commentator for TVNZ, Radio Live, the Herald on Sunday and Idealog. He has a Bachelor in Communication Studies from AUT and an MA in Creative Writing from Victoria University's Institute of Modern Letters.
Andrew's career in science journalism and communication covers more than two decades. Having earned a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English at Cambridge University, UK, he made his first break into the television industry in Australia as a current affairs journalist in 1978.
In 1987 Andrew became a reporter on the weekly science magazine show Quantum for ABC Australia. It was while working on this series that he jointly won the prestigious Michael Daley Eureka Science Journalism Prize for the best broadcast media feature and an Images et Science award for the Quantum episode, Gravity Waves.
Five years later Andrew moved to Australia's Beyond Productions to be one of seven reporters working on the long-running science and technology series, Beyond 2000. During his five years on the show Andrew travelled to more than 30 countries in search of compelling stories and established himself as an internationally respected science reporter and producer.
In 1996 he moved on to be Beyond Production's series producer for 26 half hour episodes of Ultra Science made for Discovery's The Learning Channel. His next project was series producing and writing The Human Journey, a three-part series examining the evolution and migration of the human species. Andrew's story-telling credentials were again recognised with another Michael Daley Eureka Prize for excellence in science journalism.
Andrew joined New Zealand-based production company NHNZ in 2000 as an Executive Producer to assist the company in developing more cutting-edge science programming.
Since joining NHNZ Andrew has executive produced a diverse range of award-winning documentaries including Animal Face Off (Discovery Channel), Tribal Life (Travel Channel), Man Made Marvels (Discovery Networks Asia), Ultimate Disaster (National Geographic Channels US and International) and China Circus (NGCI and Voom). Andrew's expertise in science programming is evident in the Megastructures China series of three engineering shows as well as two hour long Inside China programs on the Harbin Ice Festival and Shaolin Temple, both made with National Geographic Channels.
Most recently the veteran of factual television production has overseen production of the ratings success Colossal Squid which explores the scientific mysteries surrounding this little-known species for Discovery Channel as well as executive producing a quirky travel show for NGCI and the Travel Channel - chronicling the adventures of zany English virologist Dr Mike Leahy. Andrew's passion for science and natural history have also seen him named NHNZ's executive producer for Weird Edens a major co production series with NHK (Japan), Discovery Science, Animal Planet and France 5, scheduled for delivery in late 2010.
A free-lance writer and oral historian since 1986, Mary is co-editor of Heading Nowhere in a Navy Blue Suit: Tales of the Feminist Revolution and the author of Beyond Blue Hills: 100 Years of Woodford House and Bhutan, Himalayan Kingdom. She has written for many publications in New Zealand and overseas and her opinion column appeared in Wellington's Evening Post for eight years. She was a Wellington city councillor from 1998 to 2001.
In 2003 Mary founded Awa Press, to publish high quality non-fiction by New Zealand and overseas authors.
Paul is the communications manager for Vodafone New Zealand where in addition to managing the company's communication strategy, he has developed the mobile giant's new media presence. Vodafone was one of the first major New Zealand corporates to set up customer forums and the company has won plaudits for its use of the social networking service Twitter. Prior to joining Vodafone, Paul was the editor of Computerworld, technology reporter on the New Zealand Herald and a prominent commentator on telco and IT issues.
Gareth is a writer, photographer and truffle grower based in the Waipara Valley.
He runs the influential Hot Topic blog (http://hot-topic.co.nz/ ), covering climate change science and politics in New Zealand.
During a 30 year career in journalism and magazine publishing in the UK and NZ he has worked as a journalist, editor, photographer, publisher and consultant.
Since arriving in NZ in the mid-90s with his Christchurch born wife Camille and their two children, he has written books on olive growing, truffles, and climate change, and contributed articles to many magazines, including NZ Geographic and Growing Today.
His most recent book, Hot Topic - Global Warming & The Future of New Zealand, was published by AUT Media in 2007.
Davina Hunt has been communicating and researching science and education for sustainability to all ages outside the classroom for over 16 years through curating interactive exhibitions, developing experiential LEOTC programmes, ecotourism, writing resources, consulting communities, convening conferences and facilitating Enviroschools. She has a passion for strengthening partnerships to enable learning through action and is currently co-ordinating Science W?nanga on marae for Maori secondary students alongside scientists from the University of Otago.
Workshop overview:
Explore tips, tricks and techniques for engaging kids in memorable, in-context science experiences that change attitudes and behaviours.
Tools were developed while implementing:
- Science Wananga with University of Otago
- Pilot Partnerships between Enviroschools & Dept. of Conservation
- Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom (LEOTC) at Orokonui Ecosanctuary Science Wananga with University of Otago
Workshop participants will have the opportunity to start planning an upcoming programme, exhibit, event or partnership with support.
Brennon Wood is a Massey University sociologist whose work has until recently focused on the New Zealand mass media. Over the past year he has been working on Massey's new agri-food initiative and this has sparked an interest in science communication. Brennon uses social network analysis to explore and improve the varied relationships that make up scientific knowledge.
Christine Ross is the Corporate Affairs Manager for NZBIO, New Zealand's industry organisation for the life sciences. This role includes internal and external communication at all levels to a wide variety of audiences. Prior to NZBIO Christine held communications roles with the Life Sciences Network, Biotenz and the Association for Crown Research Institutes (now Science New Zealand), the Department of Corrections and the Wellington City and Regional Councils.
Christine has a BA in English Literature from Victoria University in Wellington and a post Graduate Diploma in Journalism from Massey. She received the inaugural Sally Logan Milne award from the Public Relations Institute of NZ in 2005, is a member of Prinz and the Science Communicators Association of New Zealand.
Barry Fox is an Emmy Award winning veteran of 40 years in Film and Television. A former news film cameraman, documentary producer and director he eventually became a vice president with CBS and was responsible for the area that originated and distributed Discovery, Learning, A&E, Biography and History channels giving Barry insight into how science shows are scheduled and promoted and the various "stunts" networks use to promote "science" as a ratings winner - such as "Shark Week".
Distinguished Professor David Parry is the 2009 recipient of New Zealand's top science honour, the Rutherford Medal. Former Head of the Institute of Fundamental Sciences and a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Professor Parry is a biophysicist based at the Institute of Fundamental Sciences in Palmerston North, and is a world authority on fibrous proteins - the proteins that make up muscles, connective tissues, hair and skin.
Sarah is the Director of Carter Observatory in Wellington, is a former research scientist who also holds an MSc in Science Communications from Techniquest, Cardiff. Passionate about creating public opportunities for the communication of science, Sarah was on the team that set up the National Space Centre - a Millennium Science Centre in the UK.
Since moving to New Zealand, Sarah has been employed by the Royal Society where she worked on communications projects for the Marsden Fund, as well as the bid for the Science Media Centre. In 2008, Sarah left the Royal Society to join the Wellington City Council to lead the renovation and reopening of the Carter Observatory.
A veteran of health sector communications and a former TVNZ reporter, Spiro was involved in helping coordinate the Ministry of Health's response to the pandemic literally from day one.
He'll give an overview of what the MoH learnt from through the process of communicating important public health information during a pandemic.
David is the Visitor Development Manager for Hutt City, Wellington and coordinator of the Cafe Scientifique events held at the New Dowse Gallery each month. New Zealand is bringing visitors to Hutt City, increasing the product that is available and making it accessible. Art and Science are key points of difference in Hutt City and initiatives to exploit these are a major focus in visitor development. I have always been involved in hospitality and tourism and never in art or science, but the beauty of tourism is that it can cross over all industries and all interest groups. People will travel for anything they're interested in; train spotters, rugby players and science buffs!
Cafe Scientifique is a casual environment where the public can come and discuss topics that are in the scientific community. This is far from a lecture. Instead the questions from the audience guide the discussion. You can get involved in the questions or just sit back and listen. School children through to academics make up the audience and so there really is something for everyone.
Mark is the editor of Unlimited, New Zealand's influential business magazine and has 25 years experience as a senior journalist. Mark's career began at the Gisborne Herald but he had a hankering for magazines and before long was a writer and online editor at the Listener. Mark was twice named as a finalist for the Magazine Publishing Awards' business writer of the year (2006 and 2007) and, in 2006 won the feature-writing category of the Westpac Business and Financial Journalism Awards. He previously won awards in sport and environmental reporting. In his role as editor of Unlimited, he regularly assigns stories about the commercialisation of science and believes it is an important area for the title to cover.
Margie is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, Journalism and Marketing at Massey University. Margie teaches journalism studies at undergraduate and post graduate levels, including Feature Writing and Freelancing. She finds the subjects great to teach because they raise philosophical and ethical questions about media practice. Margie has also taught public relations for many years and, as a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute, remains very interested in public relations practice and teaching. She came to Massey in 1990 after 15 years in the media, largely with public radio, but also with experience in newspapers, freelance writing and communication work. Her PhD showed how TVNZ's news became more sensational and tabloid because of the pressures of deregulation and competition and she has continued researching and writing on the news media, publishing articles on the effectiveness of media relations, the ideal of bi-cultural communication with Maori, and communication methods for public consultation and participation in decision-making.
Marianne is a senior lecturer in communication at Massey University and as a woman with an ethnicity mix of Maori, Irish, Scottish, French and English says she isn't surprised that her professional teaching and research interests have centred on gender and culture. Before assuming her current role, she was a secondary school teacher, an editor, a conference organiser and a researcher. Cross-cultural communication, women and leadership, equal employment opportunity and managing diversity are her research interests. Marianne is often hired by CRIs and CoREs to lead communication workshops.
Editor Carbon News, correspondent Mediawatch on Radio New Zealand, media trainer and experienced journalist will discuss practical examples of where science communication has been done particularly well and particularly badly and how we can learn from these examples.