2010 Mid West Science Summit | Inspiring Australia

Inspiring Australia:A national strategy for engagement in the sciencesGeoff CraneQuestacon – The National Science and Technology Centre

“We have to get serious about science communication”

Innovation Minister Kim Carr, 8 February 2010

PART ONE: A bit of history

What’s Questacon?

We’re also known as The National Science and Technology Centre

Questacon is a big hands-on science centrenext to Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra

We also send our exhibitions around Australia and the Asia-Pacific region

And we have a suite of outreach programsthat tour the length and breadth of Australia.

In fact…

I was here in Geraldton for the last week of August in 1991 with the Shell Questacon Science Circus

We performed science shows in schools from Dongara to Northampton and opened our public science exhibition in the hall at Geraldton Senior College

And just last week the Science Circus celebrated its 25th anniversary!

Questacon

Questacon

Questacon

Questacon

Questacon

A new brief

Given responsibility for the existing Science Connections Program in July 2009

Released Inspiring Australia in February 2010 after national consultations

Dual roles: to be a science centre with travelling exhibitions and outreach programs as well as developing policy and providing leadership

“Science communication matters because so many of the decisions we make these days are based on science.

Decisions about who gets what, when, where and how. Decisions that influence people’s chances in life. Decisions that may well determine the fate of the planet.”

Innovation Minister Kim Carr, 8 February 2010

PART TWO: The strategy

Developing Inspiring Australia

Steering committee with representatives from Questacon, ABC & CSIRO, the Chief Scientist for Australia and chaired by DIISR

Consultative meetings and submissionsfrom 200 individuals and organisations

Report released 8 February 2010Funding announced 8 September 2010Initiative to start 1 July 2011

Inspiring Australia

The strategy aims to build a scientifically engaged Australia with

• an innovative society• a technologically skilled workforce• a scientifically literate community• scientifically well informed decision makers

Highlights that the social sciences and humanities are critical to the interface between science and society

Needed more than ever

Building a healthy relationship between science and society

Sharing the excitement of discoveryFacilitating dialogue and consensusCountering misinformation, doubt and

pseudoscience

Inspiring Australia recommendations1. A new initiative2. Vision & priority setting3. Leadership4. Coherent action5. Pride in Australian achievement6. International recognition7. Science & society8. Engaging Australian communities9. Building partnerships – using networks10. Strengthening the media’s role11. A focus on youth and the future12. Unlocking Australia’s full potential13. National framework – local action14. Utilising new media15. Developing an evidence base

(so there’s a lot to be getting on with)

Reactions to the report

“A new national approach to communicating science will unite the sector and strengthen Australia’s prized and highly regarded scientists and scientific heritage”

Dr Cathy Foley, President of FASTS

Reactions to the report

“Australian Science Communicators (ASC) welcomes Inspiring Australia, a report which sets the agenda for science communication for the nation”

Dr Jessie Shore, President, Australian Science Communicators

Reactions to the report

“The report recognises the contribution of the humanities, arts and social science disciplines in problem-solving, and notes the social sciences and humanities are critical to the interface between science and society."

Prof Linda Rosenman, President of CHASS

Reactions to the report

“The review has done a service by gathering the first compendium of projects and activities that have sprung up spasmodically throughout the nation from people who are motivated to engage the broad community with science.”

Dr Peter Pockley, Australasian Science

“Inspiring Australia calls for a clear vision, strong leadership and coherent action”

Innovation Minister Kim Carr, 8 February 2010

PART THREE: What we’ll be doing

First steps

This is a transitional year moving from Science Connections to Inspiring Australia

Official start date is 1 July 2011, but we’re working on it now

Communicating with stakeholders (you!)

Funding

$21 million announced for 3 years from 1 July 2011

Leveraging value: co-contributions to projects and not duplicating effort

The initiative will only work if lots of other organisations - including yours - join in

Four elements

Recognising achievementNational Science WeekUnlocking Australia’s potentialConnecting with mainstream media and new

media

(2010 election commitment)

Recognising achievement

The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Sciencerecognising excellence in

• research• primary and secondary teachingSponsor of Eureka Awards• science journalism• promoting understanding of science• people’s choice

Recognising achievement

Recognising achievement

Recognising achievement

Recognising achievement

National Science Week

A collaborative effort: 1000 events Australia wide

Success depends on the efforts of volunteer coordinating committees in each state and territory to bring together the great events held by science organisations

Will continue over next three years, including grants to support events

National Science Week

National Science Week

National Science Week

National Science Week

Unlocking Australia’s full potential

Co-funded Inspiring Australia officers or seed funding in states & territories –providing for year round events($44 000 for events in WA during 2010)

Programs for youth, regions and remote communities

Science and Engineering ChallengeIntegrating science into events like writers’

weeks and music festivals

Unlocking Australia’s full potential

International Year of Biodiversity 2010- through the Council of Australasian Museum Directors, esp. Western Australian Museum & Australian Museum

International Year of Chemistry 2011- through the Royal Australian Chemical Institute

Unlocking Australia’s full potential

Unlocking Australia’s full potential

Unlocking Australia’s full potential

Unlocking Australia’s full potential

Connecting with mainstream and new mediaAn expert working group on science in the

media, led by the Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC), will report soon

Fresh Science media training for scientistsNow trialling scicommunity, a web site for

science communicators to share stories about public engagement

Planning to support cadetships for science journalists

Connecting with mainstream and new media

Connecting with mainstream and new media

Connecting with mainstream and new media

Connecting with mainstream and new media

Connecting with mainstream and new media

“We need to strengthen public engagement with science and research, to build support, understanding and consensus of scientific evidence and the role it plays in shaping our future”

Innovation Minister Kim Carr, 20 September 2010

PART FOUR: The future

We’ve already started work on

Expert working groups on media and evaluation

Science communication conference in partnership with the Royal Institution of Australia

Developing an Inspiring Australia brandEstablishing an officers working group and

intergovernmental framework of principles

Over the next 3 years we’ll

Support science journalism cadetshipsProvide training for scientists in science

communicationConsider more expert working groupsProvide support to CHASS and FASTSWork with science-related agencies and

businesses like yours to build Inspiring Australia as a coherent and trusted brand

Hold a science & society forumEvaluate what we’re achieving

How can you join in?

Actively support the Inspiring Australiainitiative:

• identify a contact officer to facilitate information flow

• consider aligning some current science communication activities with Inspiring Australia principles

• contribute to forums, expert working groups

• engage with new audiences

“Some scientists will know the satisfaction of a major breakthrough. Some will find one thousand ways that don’t work.

But all scientists take forward the same great mission: to interpret the world – and to help us change it.”

Innovation Minister Kim Carr, 12 October 2010

Geoff Cranegcrane@questacon.edu.au

This presentation is online at:http://www.slideshare.net/geoffcrane

Bookmarks for web sites mentioned in this presentation are online at:http://www.delicious.com/tag/midwestsciencesummit