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Media Bulletin - 4 October 2006
In this bulletin:
- Science, politics and fear: invite to join journalists and UK MP’s politicians for a discussion over drinks at the Garvan in Sydney, Monday 9 October
- Fusion: should Australia help build the first fusion reactor: invite to join researchers over a drink in Manley, Wednesday 11 October
- Fusion conference – why Australia should join the US$10 billion plus global effort to turn fusion power into reality next week in Sydney
- US science prize to be presented to an Australian next week
- Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science – to be presented in Canberra 16 October 2006: info available on embargo
- RiverPhys – a major physics conference in Brisbane in December - www.aipc2006.com
- Cloning goes to Hollywood – is our view of cloning based on Jurassic Park, the Fifth Element, and The Island.
Here are the story details:
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SCIENCE, POLITICS AND FEAR: JOURNALISTS AND POLITICIANS DISCUSS
Garvan Institute of Medical Research Monday 9 October 6-8pm
INVITATION
Join your journalist colleagues and representatives from the UK Government Select Committee on Science and Technology as they discuss ways in which politicians and the media inform public debate on the impact of science on our lives - and the ways in which fear influences that debate. Panel discussion will be chaired by ABC’s Robyn Williams.
Panel members include: - Members from UK House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology, - Sarah Clarke, national science reporter ABC television - Leigh Dayton, science reporter The Australian - John Shine, Director of the Garvan Institute
Visiting MPs are: Mr Phil Willis MP, Dr Evan Harris MP, Dr Brian Iddon MP, Ms Margaret Moran MP, Mr Bob Spink MP, Dr Desmond Turner MP.
Where: Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney When: Monday 9 October 6 - 8pm
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FUSION energy: eveniNg reception
Manly Pacific Hotel Wednesday 11 October 6-8pm
INVITATION
Join fusion researchers from around the world over drinks and canapés at an evening reception on Wednesday 11 October at the Manly Pacific Hotel at Manly, Sydney.
The researchers are meeting in Australia to talk about how Australia can be involved in ITER – a multi-billion dollar global initiative to create a working fusion reactor.
Australian scientist, Sir Marc Oliphant discovered fusion in 1932 so it’s fitting that Australia should play its part in this bold initiative to create the ultimate energy source.
Details:
When: Wednesday 11 October 6-8pm Where: Manly Pacific Hotel, 55 North Steyne, Manly
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SHOULD AUSTRALIA HELP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUSION ENERGY ?
ITER fusion science workshop: 11 - 13 September, Manly Pacific Hotel, Sydney
Fusion energy is the energy that powers the sun. It is abundant, generates little waste and produces no carbon dioxide.
An international workshop will be held in Sydney to discuss whether Australia should be involved in ITER, a multi-billion dollar international collaboration to build a power generating fusion reactor.
The ITER project will involve the European, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United States of America, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea and India.
The conference is being organised by scientists from the University of Sydney, the Australian National University, Flinders University, University of Canberra, the University of Newcastle, University of Wollongong, Murdoch University, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, and the Australian Institute for Nuclear Science and Engineering.
The forum will be opened by Chief Scientist Dr Jim Peacock.
- Professor Claude Boucher (Official observer, Canadian Fusion Energy Initiative) - Dr Emilia Solano (Laboratorio Nacional de Fusión, CIEMAT)
Media are invited to sit in on the workshop.
More information on the workshop: www.ainse.edu.au/fusion/workshop_information.html
To speak with either the Australian organisers or to line up a time to interview one of the international guests, please contact Sarah Brooker on 0413 332 489.
_____________ EMBARGO
Next Tuesday, 10 October, Australian-born geneticist Elizabeth Blackburn will receive the $US250,000 Gruber Genetics Prize – the ceremony is in New Orleans and I’ll be there. This prize follows from her recent Lasker Prizes and confirms her as a favourite for a future Nobel for her work on telomeres (the ends of chromosomes) and their role in normal growth, cancer and ageing. _____________ Prime Minister's Prizes for Science - presented in Canberra on 16 October 2006 The Prime Ministers' Prizes for Science will be presented in the Great Hall at Parliament House, Canberra on the evening of 16 October 2006. The awards are strictly embargoed until 9 pm on the night of the 16th. However I can brief long lead-time publications in advance. Please let me know when/if you need an early briefing. There will also be a "recovery breakfast" hosted by the Australian Institute of Physics on 17 October. More details on that nearer the time. _____________ SPACE, FUSION, ASTROPHYSICS AND OPTICS: NATIONAL PHYSICS CONFERENCE 3-8 December, Brisbane
RiverPhys is the national conference for the Australian Institute of Physics. It is held approximately every two years and is the largest conference for physicists in Australia.
There are a host of good speakers including two Nobel Laureates and the Director of Science European Space Agency.
Topics covered will include: - Acoustics and Music - Astronomy - Atom Optics - Biophysics and Medical Physics - Environmental Physics - Meteorology and Climate Change, and Oceanography - Nuclear and Particle Physics - Optics, Photonics, Laser Physics - Plasma Physics - Relativity and Gravitation (ASRG) - Renewable Energy (RE) - Solar-Terrestrial and Space Physics (STSP)
Full program available at: www.aipc2006.com
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CLONING GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - IS IT MORE FICTION THAN SCIENCE?
What effect does Hollywood have on public perceptions of cloning and similar science?
Surveys show that the public gets most of their information about new technologies from the media – except on cloning where the movies have a much larger influence.
Craig Cormick from Biotechnology Australia has analysed how Hollywood portrays human reproductive cloning. Is the national debate being informed by Jurassic Park, The 6th Day, The Boys from Brazil, Multiplicity, Austin Powers and The Island? |
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