SCANZ 2012 - Feb 22 - 23, Te Papa, Wellington

The Science Communicators Association of New Zealand (SCANZ) is an organisation dedicated to improving the communication of science.

Anyone who is involved in, or who has a special interest in communicating science and who subscribes to the objectives of the organisation is welcome to join. Current members are drawn from a wide range of roles within the science sector and include working journalists, public relations professionals, academics, science festival organisers, museum directors, policy advisers, students, scientists and researchers, and science leaders.

Latest report from the President, Phil Johnstone

Special membership offer - $60 for a limited time

Winners of the RSNZ science medals interviewed.

SCANZ Forum - tell us what projects you are working on, look for collaborators...

“21st century communications for 21st century science” is the theme for the upcoming SCANZ conference.

SCANZ 2012: Te Papa Museum on 22-23 February 2012

The conference will offer a mix of high quality presentations, workshops, panel discussions and networking opportunities to an expected 120+ journalists, communicators for science and innovation organisations, scientists, academics and students. 

Full details of the conference programme are available in the Conference Programme.

See you at the conference!

Steve Maharey is the Vice-Chancellor of Massey University. Prior to this he was the fourth ranked Minister in Government for nine years, holding among others, the Research, Science and Technology portfolio. He is currently working on a book about the public domain and its importance in the
                                      21st century.

Dr Andi Horvath,  is Senior Curator, Science Communication at Museum Victoria. Her decades of science broadcasting experience  on radio and television led her to create the "Science Gym" for training scientists in communication skills.

Mark Quigley is a  Senior Lecturer in Active Tectonics and Tectonic Geomorphology at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch and recent recipient of the NZ Association of Scientist's Science Communicator's Award for his work on the Canterbury earthquakes.

Full details of the conference programme will be available on the SCANZ website next week.   Topics and speakers confirmed include:

• International guest, Dr Andi Horvath, senior curator at Museum Victoria, Australia and science education expert and science broadcaster.

• Communicating science in a disaster – presentations and panel discussion featuring GNS senior scientist Kelvin Berryman; Environment Canterbury comms manager Katherine Trought and Christchurch Press senior reporter Paul Gorman
• Managing messages in a social media environment – Senate Communication Counsel partner Tracey Bridges
• Te Papa science communication through display – GNS geologist and Te Papa scientist in residence Hamish Campbell
• Education and 21st century science – Massey University Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey will give a keynote address about how educational institutions are grappling with the changing challenges of training scientists and science consumers from early childhood through to post-graduate and beyond.