From director at tossgascoigne.com.au Mon Dec 1 21:57:38 2008 From: director at tossgascoigne.com.au (Toss Gascoigne) Date: Wed Dec 3 01:38:21 2008 Subject: [PCST] Post Message-ID: <4FABF6E8-30B0-4E2B-9B47-D5923F063D3A@tossgascoigne.com.au> The Geological Society of London has just issued a new book, edited my myself, Brian Marker and Chris Pereira entitled "Communicating Environmental Geoscience". More details available at the Geolsoc bookshop - http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsl/publications/bookshop/ See "New publications". This is the major output to date of the IUGS-GEM working Group "Communicating Environmental Geoscience" http://www.mun.ca/canqua/ceg/ Description of book follows: This collection of papers addresses the issues surrounding communication of environmental geoscience. Geologists whose research deals with environmental problems such as landslides, floods, earthquakes and other natural hazards that affect people's health and safety, must communicate their results effectively to the public, policy makers and politicians. There are many examples of geological studies being ignored in policy and public action; this is in due in part to geoscientists being poor communicators. These papers document issues in communicating environmental geoscience, outline successes and failures through case studies, describe ways in which geoscientists can improve communication skills and show how new methods can make communication more effective. (Posted by David Liverman: dliverman@gov.nl.ca) *************** Toss Gascoigne President PCST Network Join the PCST network at: http://mailmanlist.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pcst/ E. director@tossgascoigne.com.au P. +61 408 704 442 W. tossgascoigne.com.au -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailmanlist.net/pipermail/pcst/attachments/20081202/ae26e56a/attachment.htm From jenni at econnect.com.au Tue Dec 2 10:36:46 2008 From: jenni at econnect.com.au (Jenni Metcalfe) Date: Wed Dec 3 01:38:37 2008 Subject: [PCST] 2009 Symposia on communicating the science of climate change, in Australia Message-ID: <20081202093430.1CCB53F2CAD@mailout1.pacific.net.au> Dear Colleagues, Please find some preliminary details about three symposia Australian Science Communicators are organising for 2009. If you would like more information or would like to provide support or ideas, please contact me. Also, please note that the symposia are definitely going ahead, but the breadth and extent will depend on sponsorship. CENTRAL QUESTION OF HOT AIR SYMPOSIA Human-induced climate change is now accepted as fact by the vast majority of climate change scientists. The public also largely accepts this view, as demonstrated in opinion polls and at the last national election. Governments are moving to minimise carbon use by industry and individuals. The next step will be a difficult one. Reductions in carbon use will require changes to the way most people live, affecting jobs, energy prices and transport. They will increase the cost of living at a time of economic fragility. The arguments on climate change will be tested again and again as policies begin to bite. The central question our symposia will explore is: given that climate change is occurring, how can science communicators work with governments, industry, business and communities to help generate solutions to the problems it raises? Solutions will focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as adapting to climate change. Every step and every change will be accompanied by a renewed need for dialogue and discussion with the public on the causes and impact of climate change. THREE SYMPOSIA 1. Communicating the science of climate change in a sceptical world - to be held on Tuesday 23 March, 2009 in conjunction with Greenhouse 2009, Perth, March 23-26, 2009 2. Communicating the science of climate change with government, industry and business - to be held in conjunction with the 10th International Congress of Ecology (INTECOL), Brisbane, August 16-21, 2009 3. Communicating the science of climate change with the people - to be held in conjunction with Australian Science Communicators conference, date and location to be confirmed (Likely Canberra in November 2008) OBJECTIVES 1. To increase awareness and understanding of the issues and opportunities associated with communicating climate change to assist in the generation and adoption of useful mitigation and adaptation strategies. 2. To discuss factors influencing ethical and clear communication of and engagement with climate change science. 3. To identify 'best practice' in communicating about climate change science to assist in the generation and adoption of useful mitigation and adaptation strategies. TARGET PARTICIPANTS * Science communication professionals, including science journalists, writers, editors, institution-based communicators and consultants * Scientists involved in communicating climate change science * Others involved in communicating about climate change, e.g. policy makers, industry leaders, business leaders, community leaders FORMAT Each symposium will run for one day and will include plenary sessions with keynote speakers and panel discussions followed by small group discussion sessions. Each small group (6-10 people) will have a mix of participants, an experienced facilitator and a recorder. The small group discussions would focus on specific questions relevant to each symposium topic and determined prior to each symposium. OUTPUTS 1. The proceedings of each symposium, including plenary sessions and small group discussions, will be made available on the ASC website. 2. We will be using the output of each symposium to produce a set of guidelines for science communicators as to how to work most effectively with governments, industry, business and communities to achieve mitigation and adaptation solutions to climate change. 3. We will use the subject of climate change as a model for communicating complex and controversial science topics. This will form the basis of a professional development module for science communicators. 4. The outcomes of the symposia discussions will form the basis for a paper to be published in an international journal Look forward to your inputs and ideas. Cheers Jenni Metcalfe Director Econnect Communication PO Box 734 South Brisbane Q 4101 Ph. 07 3846 7111; 0408 551 866 jenni@econnect.com.au www.econnect.com.au Subscribe to Econnect's free monthly e-newsletter on our website. From R.M.Holliman at open.ac.uk Tue Dec 2 16:34:23 2008 From: R.M.Holliman at open.ac.uk (R.M.Holliman) Date: Wed Dec 3 01:38:58 2008 Subject: [PCST] New postgraduate course on communicating science in the information age Message-ID: Communicating science in the information age Colleagues working in the Science Faculty at the Open University, UK are delighted to announce a new course in the postgraduate science programme called SH804 Communicating science in the information age. Registration is now open for this course. To find out more about the course, please visit the Open University's course and qualifications website at: http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?C01SH804. The course draws on the expertise of a good number of experienced practitioners and researchers to examine a range of contexts where contemporary science is communicated. The examination of contemporary examples includes discussion of emerging forms of science communication, including blogs, open access and social networking, and international debates about public service broadcasting for science in the context of the digital switchover. The course also considers recent developments in how science is communicated in museums and discovery centres, and what recent calls for upstream public engagement with science might mean for those interested in communicating science. However, the course also examines media forms that have endured over time, including various forms of print media, such as popular science books, journals, magazines and newspapers, and their broadcast equivalents, such as science on the radio. In exploring these different media forms we draw on a range of scientific case studies. These include recent debates about the communication of climate change and how this relates to representations of scientific consensus, but also important considerations of accuracy and impartiality. We also examine ideas about the strategic management of scientific information for particular reasons. For example, a historical case study examining the Windscale nuclear accident from the 1950s provides a vehicle for exploring contemporary ideas about openness and transparency. This is compared to more recent communications that have promoted the work being conducted at CERN, notably with the recent announcements in relation to the Large Hadron Collider. A further case study that examines the role of patents and intellectual property in relation to a tobacco plant facilitates exploration of the innovation agenda in relation to contemporary science communication. In so doing, we explore whether the dual imperatives of objectivity and impartiality that scientists have cherished for so long are being challenged by the demands to seek a return on investment in intellectual capital? Historical examples are also addressed, including an examination of the communication that followed the discovery of the structure of DNA, and a critical investigation of the emergence of peer review as a crucial and enduring mechanism for verifying new scientific knowledge. This course is delivered almost exclusively online, and is available to those wishing to study part-time and at a distance. This includes those who wish to study from beyond the UK. Other course materials are delivered in more traditional forms, including two readers that have been co-published with Oxford University Press (Holliman et al. 2009a/b). * Holliman, R., Whitelegg, E., Scanlon, E., Smidt, S. and Thomas, J. (2009a). (eds.) Investigating science communication in the information age: Implications for public engagement and popular media. Oxford University Press, Oxford. For more information, see http://www.oup.com/uk/catalogue/?ci=9780199552665. * Holliman, R., Thomas, J., Smidt, S., Scanlon, E., and Whitelegg, E. (2009b). (eds.) Practising science communication in the information age: Theorising professional practices. Oxford University Press, Oxford. For more information, see http://www.oup.com/uk/catalogue/?ci=9780199552672. Please note that if you are planning to study the course, these books are supplied as part of the materials. SH804 is a component course for the following Open University-administered awards: * MSc in Science and Society; (http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q01F48) * MSc in Science; (http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q01F12) * Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Society (http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q01E35). Best wishes Rick Dr. Richard Holliman Senior Lecturer in Science Communication Science Faculty The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA Tel +44 (0)1908 654646 For more information about my teaching, research and science outreach and public engagement interests, see: http://www.open.ac.uk/personalpages/r.m.holliman . For more information about the Informing Science Outreach and Public Engagement (ISOTOPE) Project, visit the home page at: http://isotope.open.ac.uk . For more information about the Invisible Witnesses Project, visit the homepage at: http://www.open.ac.uk/invisible-witnesses . --------------------------------- The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302). From jenni at econnect.com.au Wed Dec 3 02:46:32 2008 From: jenni at econnect.com.au (Jenni Metcalfe) Date: Wed Dec 3 22:43:48 2008 Subject: [PCST] Science and environment communication stream at ANZCA, July 09, Brisbane Message-ID: <20081203014422.5B44C3EFAA5@mailout1.pacific.net.au> ANZCA09: Communication, Creativity and Global Citizenship Conference QUT Creative Industries Precinct, Brisbane, Australia, July 8-10, 2009 www.anzca09.org Stream conveners: Dr Joan Leach, Science Communication, University of Queensland, Dr Alison Henderson, University ofWaikato, Dr Maureen Burns, University of Queensland The discourses of crisis that characterize global issues of science, technology and the environment demand further interrogation from a variety of disciplines - including science and technology studies, cultural studies, sociology, and environment studies. The Science and Environment stream of the ANZCA 09 conference is seeking panels and papers on the communication of global issues of science, technology and the environment. Submissions are sought on issues including, but not limited to: * Uncertain futures: What does it mean to talk about 'risk' in relation to advances in science and technology? How are societies changing to meet the uncertain demands of new technologies? * How can communication theories and practices address climate change and the environment? Scientific and technical controversies? International scientific collaboration? * How do various constructions of the 'scientific citizen' (from Alfred Schutz to Allen Irwin and beyond) operate in debates about science, technology and the environment? How do such constructions intersect with the figures of the expert and the science celebrity? * (How) do science popularization and other attempts at public engagement imply norms of citizenship, and particular conceptions of democracy in various cultures and contexts? (eg in agricultural imperialism, water management inter alia) Papers and panels that address specific areas of science and environmental communication such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, agriculture, water management or nutriceuticals are particularly welcome. Abstracts and papers are due by Friday 5 February, 2009, and should be submitted directly to the ANZCA09 web site at www.anzca09.org . Enquiries about this stream can be directed to Alison Henderson at alison@waikato.ac.nz or Joan Leach at j.leach@uq.edu.au Jenni Metcalfe Director Econnect Communication PO Box 734 South Brisbane Q 4101 Ph. 07 3846 7111; 0408 551 866 jenni@econnect.com.au www.econnect.com.au Subscribe to Econnect's free monthly e-newsletter on our website. _______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content &task=view&id=97&Itemid=115 From willrifkin at unsw.edu.au Tue Dec 16 04:34:02 2008 From: willrifkin at unsw.edu.au (Will Rifkin) Date: Tue Dec 16 21:46:22 2008 Subject: [PCST] Do You Organise a Science Festival? Message-ID: <8CBFF4F0-AFC6-49FB-8798-180AA23FB4A6@unsw.edu.au> Do You Organise a Science Festival? Here is a request for information on science festivals internationally -- see the e-mail below. The online survey takes 10-15 minutes. The aim is to share insights among organisers. Not sure that what you run counts as a 'festival'? Offer your information anyway (I am going to describe a 'virtual festival'). The information requested seems easy to recall or look up in a report, e.g, attendance figures. Numbers only have to be rough. They are a guide for counterparts. Questions? Contact Annette Smith of the British Association for the Advancement of Science -- Annette.Smith@the-ba.net. Will William D. Rifkin, PhD Director, Science Communication Program Faculty of Science, BSB-BABS UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052 AUSTRALIA willrifkin@unsw.edu.au +61 2 9385 2748 +61 2 9385 1530 fax www.scom.unsw.edu.au www.onset.unsw.edu.au www.dayinscience.unsw.edu.au ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------- Begin forwarded message: From: "Annette Smith" Date: 15 December 2008 9:58:18 PM Subject: research into science festivals To all those who are involved in helping to plan and/or run a Science Festival: I am writing to you as an attendee of the PCST post-conference event held in the summer. I'm writing to ask you to spare 10-15 minutes before the holidays start to help us with a research project that will hopefully help us all to demonstrate the benefits of science festivals to others - and help everyone to do it better. The aim is to collect information about as many festivals internationally as possible, so we need your help to both complete the survey and spread the word. The survey is at: http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/bnhc/sciencefestival We are aiming to publish a summary report, as well as a journal article on behalf of the community of science festival organisers. The research team is currently: Savita Custead from the Bristol Natural History Consortium Karen Bultitude from University of the West of England, Dominic McDonald from the Oxford Trust, and Annette Smith from the British Association for the Advancement of Science (and past President of EUSCEA). If you have any questions about the process, please get in touch (annette.smith@the-ba.net)! Thanks very much in advance for your help with this, and my very best wishes for the holiday season and the New Year. Annette Annette Smith, Director of Regions the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) Wellcome Wolfson Building, 165 Queen's Gate, London, SW7 5HD T: +44 (0)20 7019 4935 , F: +44 (0)87 0770 7102, M: +44 (0) 7771 994 780 Website: www.the-ba.net Registered charity numbers: 212479 and SCO39236 Please consider the environment before printing this email From p.goetz at uni-tuebingen.de Wed Dec 17 09:22:19 2008 From: p.goetz at uni-tuebingen.de (Patricia Goetz) Date: Thu Dec 18 12:05:07 2008 Subject: [PCST] Invitation - International Children's University Conference Message-ID: <20081217102219.878458um4hf6dcy3@webmail.uni-tuebingen.de> Invitation ========================================================== International Children's University Conference, 13th & 14th Feb. 2009, University of T?bingen/Germany ========================================================== Dear Sir or Madam, We kindly invite you to the International Conference on Children's Universities, which will take place at the University of T?bingen, Germany, on Friday/Saturday the 13th/14th February 2009. The Conference "Children's University - The idea captures Europe" is part of the EU-project "European Children's Universities Network (EUCU.NET)" which aims not only to establish a European Children's Universities Network but also to provide information to all parties (in-/directly) involved and interested in the ideas of Children?s University and Science communication to children and teenagers. Please find details under www.eucu.net/conference or download information by following the link: www.eucu.net/content/en/ConferenceInfo.pdf For further information please visit www.eucu.net We are looking forward to welcoming you to T?bingen. Kind regards, Michael Seifert & Patricia G?tz on behalf of EUCU.NET ? University of T?bingen -- "CHILDREN'S UNIVERSITIES - THE IDEA CAPTURES EUROPE" is part of the EUCU.NET project (European Children's Universities Network) - with support of the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme, Science and Society. http://eucu.net ------- Patricia G?tz University of T?bingen Public Relations/EUCU.NET Wilhelmstr. 5, D-72074 T?bingen Phone: +49(0)7071 - 29 76 791 eMail: p.goetz@uni-tuebingen.de From change123 at bigpond.com Mon Dec 22 03:12:02 2008 From: change123 at bigpond.com (Liese Coulter) Date: Mon Dec 22 12:09:13 2008 Subject: [PCST] Call for Papers: Community based adaptation to climate change Message-ID: <001101c963e3$0f91cff0$2eb56fd0$@com> Apologies for cross posting but looks like a great opportunity to promote community adaptation communications. Regards, Liese Coulter M.Sc. Communication Manager Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease Building 76 Molecular Biosciences (SMMS) Cooper Rd The University of Queensland St Lucia QLD 4072 AUSTRALIA P +61-(0)2-6624 2910 M 0402 084 661 E liese.coulter@abcrc.org.au www.abcrc.org.au From: bounce-845922-382260@lists.iisd.ca [mailto:bounce-845922-382260@lists.iisd.ca] On Behalf Of Holly Ashley Sent: Saturday, 20 December 2008 1:04 AM To: Climate Change Info Mailing List Subject: Call for Papers: Community based adaptation to climate change Dear colleagues A special issue of Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) is planned for June 2009 in time for COP 15. It will focus on participatory activities that help communities adapt to (and mitigate) climate change. For more information on PLA and to see the guidelines for contributors visit the website at: www.planotes.org Please see the call for papers below. Please circulate to your networks. Regards Holly Ashley Co-editor, Participatory Learning and Action Sustainable Agriculture, Biodiversity and Livelihoods Programme Natural Resources Group International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) 3 Endsleigh Street London WC1H 0DD, UK Tel: +44 207 872 7208 Fax: +44 207 388 2826 Skype: iied.nicolek Email: nicole.kenton@iied.org Website: www.planotes.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- CALL FOR PAPERS Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) 60 on Community-based adaptation and mitigation to climate change June 2009 The Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) series provides a forum for all those engaged in participatory work - community workers, activist and researchers - to share their experiences, conceptual reflections and methodological innovations. Issue no 60 of PLA will look at methods used by communities to adapt to climate change impacts, such as changes to everyday conditions as well as floods, rising sea levels, droughts and other extreme weather events. Many poor communities have experience of coping with climate change, and the methods they use deserve wider dissemination and support. In many cases, adapting to climate change does not involve a whole new approach. Rather, it involves building on the extensive knowledge and experience that communities already have due to generations of coping with variable climatic conditions and other shocks. In some cases, activities that increase community resilience to climate change also serve to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The special issue will also look at activities used by communities worldwide to simultaneously mitigate and adapt to climate change. It is increasingly acknowledged that tackling climate change is a global challenge. Methods used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are also 'pro-poor' need to be supported precisely because it is the poorest who have contributed least to climate change and who are suffering most from its impacts. This issue will include some of the articles produced for the 3rd International Conference on Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change which will be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in February 2009. We are looking for articles of maximum 2,500 words that contain one or more of the following elements: . an innovative angle to the concepts of participatory approaches or their application . critical reflections on the lessons learned from the author's experiences . an attempt to develop new methods, or innovative adaptations of existing ones . consideration of the processes involved in participatory approaches . an assessment of the impacts of a participatory process on the livelihoods of the target community . potentials and limitations of scaling up and institutionalizing participatory approaches . potentials and limitations of participatory policy-making processes Please send your abstract (200 words maximum) to: Holly Ashley, Nicole Kenton and Angela Milligan Co-editors, Participatory Learning and Action, 3 Endsleigh Street, London WC1 0DD, U.K. Email: pla.notes@iied.org Fax: + 44 (0)20 7388 2826 Abstracts should include title, author(s) with full contact address, and summary of the paper. Deadline for submission of abstracts is Monday 12 January 2009. The full paper will be required no later than 15 March 2009. From eniorodrigo at gmail.com Mon Dec 22 14:44:08 2008 From: eniorodrigo at gmail.com (Enio Rodrigo) Date: Tue Dec 23 23:10:19 2008 Subject: [PCST] bioethanol: book for download Message-ID: For those who are interested in the bioenergy area, the following book is online for free download (portuguese, english and spanish version). BIOETHANOL http://www.bioetanoldecana.org/ Version per Chapters - Chapter 1 ? Bioenergy and biofuels - Chapter 2 - Ethanol as a vehicle fuel - Chapter 3 ? Bioethanol production - Chapter 4 - Co-products of sugarcane bioethanol - Chapter 5 ? Advanced Technologies in the sugarcane agribusiness - Chapter 6 ? Sugarcane bioethanol in Brazil - Chapter 7 ? Sustainability of sugarcane bioethanol: the Brazilian experience - Chapter 8 - Perspectives for the biofuels world market - Chapter 9 ? An outlook for bioethanol fuel -- Att. Enio Rodrigo :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::....................... Enio Rodrigo Barbosa Silva Labjor/Unicamp celular: +55 (19) 9170.4808. msn: eniorodrigo@hotmail.com skype: eniorodrigo Rep?rter: www.comciencia.br / http://cienciaecultura.bvs.br .................................................................