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Science Media Centre Issue 120 Feb 11-17
Issue 120 Feb 11-17
We're hiring!
One of our media advisors has been snapped up by the science sector which means the SMC is looking for new talent.
If you are obsessed with science, news savvy, great with words and interested in how science is communicated, you could well be the perfect person to join our small Wellington-based team.
Ideally, we are looking for someone with a strong journalism or communications background. A science qualification would also be incredibly useful. The SMC covers everything from cancer research to quantum physics, helping the media access research and experts from throughout New Zealand's scientific institutions. The job offers a huge amount of variety and we are looking for someone who is able to respond quickly when science is in the news to help journalists put stories together.
Further details and a job description for this position will be posted to the Science Media Centre website early next week.
In the meantime, please email us with your contact details if you want to receive information about the position when the job description becomes available.
Observing
the Earth from above
Next week, top scientists from the European Space Agency will be in New Zealand for the launch of the "Johannes Kepler" unmanned spacecraft, which will be tracked at Awarua Station near Invercargill on 16 Feb (local time)
The new spacecraft, known as an Automated Transfer Vehicle or ATV, will carry essential supplies to the International Space Station, as well as lending its thrusters to "reboost" the station in its orbit.
In conjunction with the visit, "What on Earth", an international colloquium on Earth observation in New Zealand will explore new opportunities for using satellite imagery and data. These include applications in forestry, fishing, conservation, land use change, mineral exploration, and even natural disaster assessment.
The Science Media Centre is organising a media briefing ahead of the launch featuring a selection of visiting scientists. The briefing will take place online at 2:30 pm Tues 15 Feb.
Further details will be sent to journalists early next week.
AusSMC boss to join Climate Commission
Australian Science Media Centre chief executive Dr Susannah Eliott, has been appointed to Australia's new independent Climate Commission, which will help inform the public about efforts underway in Australia and internationally to adapt to and mitigate climate change.
Dr Elliott joins 2007 Australian of the Year and environmentalist Professor Tim Flannery, who will head the commission. Other members include researcher Professor Will Steffen, biologist Professor Lesley Hughes, former BP president Gerry Hueston and economist Roger Beale.
Commenting on her appointment, Dr Elliott said: "My
own personal reason for joining the commission is to help
provide clear, evidence-based information to the public. I
am not an advocate for any particular aspect of climate
change science or a low carbon economy, but I am pro-science
and I believe the public needs access to the best
information possible in order to make informed decisions
about Australia's future."
On the science radar
Bipedal origins, in-utero surgery for spina bifida, Cook
Strait mega-canyon, high fructose bad for fetuses, testosterone
reduces empathy, nanowire computer
chips
Quoted: The Press
"Enough solar energy falls on the surface of the Earth in one hour to meet global energy demands for an entire year. ... Nanotechnology presents opportunities to deliver energy on a global scale."
Dr Justin Hodgkiss, Principal Investigator - MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.
New from the SMC
PODCAST: Nanotech conference highlights - A few of the highlights from the The Fifth International Conference on Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology (AMN-5) opens today in Wellington. Organised every two years by the MacDiarmid Institute, the conference attracts scientists from over 50 countries to discuss the latest developments in materials science and nanotech.
Meat 'gassing' - what
are the facts? - Experts comment on recent reports that
some of New Zealand's meat products undergo Modified Atmosphere Packaging.
In
the news:
3 News: World's largest tidal power scheme planned for Kaipara - Plans have been approved for a giant tidal powerplant on the seabed of north Auckland's Kaipara Harbour.
Media coverage: Extreme weather conference in Wellington - More than 200 scientists are gathering this week in Wellington to share information and better understand extreme weather events in Australasia.
The Press: A big discussion about small things - Radio presenter Kim Hill will be hosting a panel discussion, to be held in Canterbury, in which nanotechnology experts will discuss what it is, what its benefits and downsides are, and whether New Zealand is set to be a net winner or loser.
Stuff: Aussie dung beetles are coming - ERMA has given permission for ten species of Australian dung beetles to be brought over to New Zealand, to help farmers deal with agricultural runoff and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
NZ Herald: Stem cell hope for kidney patients - Research, led by New Zealand scientists Alan Davidson, has found that stem cell treatment for kidney disease may be possible.
AusSMC:
Rapid Roundup: Bushfires in Perth - Experts respond to the bushfires in Perth on 7 February 2011 which have caused widespread damage.
Rapid Roundup: Cannabis linked to onset of early psychosis - An expert responds to a meta-analysis of studies which shows that cannabis use is linked with earlier onset of psychotic illness.
SMC Canada:
Experts Comment - Cardiac Imaging & Cancer - An expert comments on a study concluding that radiation used in cardiac angioplasty or myocardial perfusion imaging is strong enough to cause a five per cent increase in cancer risk during the five years after imaging.
Sciblogs highlights
Some of the highlights of this week's posts include:
End game was the start point for sleep
enhancing drink - Peter Kerr profiles a NZ company
using milk peptides to induce a better night's
sleep.
sticK
What would you do with $500 million?
... to transform the NZ economy? Peter Griffin highlights a
provocative IPENZ report launched this week.
Griffin's
gadgets
The bed of nails - Marcus Wilson
explains how it is possible to lie down on a bed of nails
without impaling oneself.
Physics Stop
Why do people blog? - Alison
Campbell talks about research into why people blog, and her
own experience of blogging.
BioBlog
New Zealand forests still threatened, but
not THAT threatened - Hilary Miller blogs about the
recent confusion about where New Zealand ranks in the 'most
threatened forests' listing published by Conservation
International.
The chicken or the egg
Carbonscape's global expansion will take
place, but will New Zealand invest in its development?
- Peter Kerr blogs about CarbonScape, a New Zealand
startup which may need to take its technology oversease for
funding.
sticK
Rural broadband - safe hands win out
- Peter Griffin writes about the decision by Government
to opt for a consortium made up of Telecom and Vodafone for
the rural broadband tender.
Griffin's
Gadgets
Here comes the sun: 100% renewables by
2050 - Bryan Walker discusses a recently released
report which suggests it is technically, and economically,
feasible to have an almost fully sustainable energy supply
within 4 decades.
Hot Topic
Sunday Spinelessness - Hadda beetle
- David Winter's newest Spineless subjects is the
ladybird: in particular, the hadda beetle from
Vanuatu.
The Atavism
Research highlights
Please note: hyperlinks point, where possible, to the relevant abstract or paper.
Some of
the articles in this week's edition of the New Zealand Medical
Journal:
Editorials
• Persistent
rheumatic fever in New Zealand-a shameful indicator of child
health
• Alternative (right-wing/economist) views on
Peter Crampton's viewpoint
• Continuity of care in New
Zealand primary health services
Original
Articles
• Continuity of care with general
practitioner in New Zealand: results from SoFIE-Primary
Care
• Consumer demographics and expectations of
probiotic therapy in New Zealand: results of a large
telephone survey
Viewpoints
• Leadership for
health: developing a canny nanny state
• Obesity and
health-new perspectives from bioscience research suggest
directions for clinical practice
Special section -
'The Data Deluge' - A special collection of Perspectives
in Science look at the challenge of
dealing with the increasingly huge amounts of data being
generated by research. Being able to organise, archive and
access this data is important for the ability of science to
help encourage economic growth, public health,
sustainability and other issues.
Climate change threatens polar bear births - Climate change could lead to a significant decrease in polar bear births, suggests new research published in Nature Communications. The drop would be due to a decline in sea ice, which in turn reduces the hunting season and makes it difficult for female polar bears to sustain themselves, even without cubs.
Junk food early diet could lower IQ - An early childhood diet full of vitamins and nutrients could help heighten a child's IQ, suggests research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. However, a processed food diet, high in fats and sugars, in early childhood could have the oposite effect, and the effects could last into later childhood even if diets improve.
Sleep deprivation ups risk of stroke, heart attack - People who suffer prolonged sleep deprivation and disrupted sleep patterns, are at a higher risk for strokes, heart attacks and cardiovascular disorders, which in turn can lead to premature death. Sleep deprivation is defined as sleeping five hours a night or less. Researchers say 6 - 8 hours of sleep a night (preferably undisturbed), but less than nine, reduces health risks. Published in the European Heart Journal.
Special issue - Genomics - This week, Nature features a special issue on the subject of genomics, and its implications for personal medicine. The articles discuss the field's emerging opportunities, recommendations for the next decade, a review of the last decade, and speculation on the future.
Policy updates
Some highlights from this week's announcements include:
Budget date announced - Budget 2011 figures will be released 19 May, with a focus on 'savings and investment' - according to Finance Minister Bill English.
Immunisation levels increasing - Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced that the government's extra investment in health is resulting in a record high for child immunisation.
Road cones to be made from recycled plastic - The Waste Minimisation Fund will contribute $42,000 to a Canterbury-based manufacturing initiative.
NZ dioxin levels down - A new report from the Environment Ministry shows that the levels of dioxin in New Zealand's air is decreasing.
Upcoming sci-tech events
2011 Inaugural International Cancer Symposium - University of Otago, Wellington - 13 - 19 Feb. The symposium will provide an update on advances in haematology, solid tumours and aspects of palliative care.
Nanotechnology in sunscreens and cosmetics - 15 Feb, Christchurch - A public lecture by Georgia Miller about the next big small thing, and why its use in consumer products is stirring up increasing controversy.
Workshop: Food Structures - 15-17 Feb, Palmerston North - A three-day workshop covering food structures, rheological measurements and microscopic and non-microscopic analysis of foods.
UC Development Network Symposium - 16 February, Christchurch - The Development Symposium brings together those who are working in Developing Nations, studying, researching or have an interest in Development.
Kim Hill hosts "A big discussion about small things" - 16 February, Christchurch - Views on nanotechnology from across the spectrum of scientists, Maori, government regulators, business, NGOs, toxicity researchers, and more.
Otago Health Lecture Series: Inflammation - A new frontier of medicine - 16 February, Christchurch - A public lecture by Professor Madhav Bhatia.
What on Earth: An
International Colloquium Exploring Science & Policy
Implications of Earth Observation in New Zealand - 17
February, Wellington - The Royal Society of New Zealand, in
collaboration with the European Space Agency and Venture
Southland, is hosting an international event exploring
the
opportunities for using satellite imagery and improved data
and image access.
US-NZ Health Symposium - 17-18
February, Auckland -
This Symposium builds on the momentum created
by The Wellington Declaration's affirmation of collaboration
between the United States and New Zealand in science,
technology and innovation.
Engineering the Future through Manufacturing Research - 18 February, Wellington - This presentation discusses some of the typical research challenges still to be solved in manufacturing, and gives many examples of the practical robotic and other equipment and systems being developed in our laboratories to meet some of these challenges.
SCANZ conference - 21-22 February, Auckland - 'Listening to the other side': Non-scientists speak about their experiences of science and exchanges with scientists.
Geo-Engineerings Implications: An Interactive Workshop - 8 March, Wellington - The Royal Society is holding a workshop on using decision-making software tools to evaluate different geo-engineering schemes, aimed at scientists and policy-makers.
For these and more upcoming events, and more details about them, visit the SMC's Events Calendar.
ENDS
Science Media Centre NZ
Our aim is to promote accurate, evidence-based reporting on science and technology by helping the media work more closely with the scientific community.
The Science Media Centre is New Zealand's only trusted, independent source of information for the media on all issues related to science. Thousands of news stories providing context from and quoting New Zealand researchers have been published as a direct result of our work.
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