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SMC Deadline: viral science and and another 'Big Dry'?

SMC Deadline: New look, viral science and and another 'Big Dry?


Issue 311, 16 Jan 2015

Our new look newsletter!

The SMC starts 2015 with a new look newsletter and exciting plans for science media we'd like you to be involved in.

Our weekly Heads-Up newsletter, which has been going strong for nearly seven years becomes Science Deadline with a simpler design and tighter content. We'd love to hear about features you'd like us to add to Science Deadline which reaches around 1,600 scientists, communications professionals and journalists each Friday.

The SMC is also gearing up for the launch of the Science Media Exchange, a website we have developed in conjunction with the Australian Science Media Centre and which we see as a go-to resource for busy journalists covering the science round and institutions looking to gain exposure for their research.

From next week we'll be inviting science media managers, journalists and experts to register on Scimex. In the meantime, visit the Scimex landing page or contact the SMC team to find out more about the site.

We look forward to working with you through the year of light.

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When science goes viral

New Zealand institutions and their scientists are increasingly using social media platforms to win worldwide exposure for their research.

The Wellington-based Malaghan Institute is the latest to achieve success when news of its discovery that a particular type of DNA can move between cells in an animal, was featured on the hugely popular Facebook page IFLScience.

After a few days on IFLS, the story had racked up:

- 87,000 Facebook likes

- 1,800 comments

- 26,000 Facebook shares

- 568 retweets

- 132 Upvotes on Reddit


NIWA also had success last year with IFLScience picking up two stories, while AUT University's Professor Steve Pointing notched up over 100,000 views of his light-hearted Science of Christmas Youtube video. Large social media platforms and aggregators are increasingly being leveraged to win international exposure for New Zealand science.

The SMC is currently working on a project looking at New Zealand scientific institutions' use of social media, the results of which will be published in a few weeks time.

Read more on Sciblogs.


NZ may head into drought

2015 got off to a very dry start and increasingly drought-like conditions could have a substantial impact on farmers in the coming weeks.

Soil moisture measurements in both the North and South Islands are lower than average for this time of year, with irrigation restrictions already in place in parts ofCanterbury and North Otago.

While DairyNZ reports that levels of grass cover and supplementary feed supplies are currently good, scientists suggest continuing dry conditions through January and early February could see parts of the country hit by drought.

Regional data on soil moisture isupdated daily on NIWA’s website.

Earlier this week the Science Media Centre contacted New Zealand climate and agribusiness experts for comment on the current dry conditions and how farmers will cope with increasingly dry conditions in future.

"Potentially, if there is no significant rainfall for the next month or so, we could be heading into one of the worst nation-wide droughts we’ve seen for some time," warns NIWA principal climate scientist Dr Andrew Tait.

"Based on the latest projections, New Zealand is still on track to see increased drought occurrence in eastern regions and over the northern part of the North Island, as a result of human-induced climate change," adds Prof James Renwick, Professor of Physical Geography at Victoria University of Wellington.

"This is a result of two things, the gradual southward expansion of the subtropical high pressure belt and gradually rising westerly winds over the South Island, especially in winter and spring."

"What we are seeing at the moment is that irrigation is not 100% reliable – water restrictions mean rationing and as a consequence plant yields are affected," explains Jacqueline Rowarth, Professor of Agribusiness at the University of Waikato. "This puts immense pressure on farmers and growers and is part of the reason that water storage is required."

Read the story with full comments on the Science Media Centre website.

Quoted: New Scientist


"The first synthetic cannabis product, having been on the market for five years unnoticed and problem-free, was banned under the vague, sweeping analogue provisions of the country's Misuse of Drugs Act.

"How different might things have been if that product had still been around?"


Ross Bell, executive director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation,comments on drug regulation.


Policy news & developments


New report on freshwater values: The Cawthron Institute has released the report Tools for Working with Freshwater Values, which aims to help regional councils and communities identify and compare values when planning and implementing the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.

Queen Charlotte Track conservation partnership: More than $100,000 over three years is being invested into conservation initiatives on and around the Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds, thanks to a new partnership between the Department of Conservation and Yealands Family Wines.

Agritech exports worth $1.2billion: New Zealand’s agritechnology exports are worth approximately $1.2 billion annually and there is a big opportunity to grow them further, according to the latest research outlined in the Coriolis Report.

New from Sciblogs


Some of the highlights from this week's Sciblogs posts:

Legal highs - Eric Crampton shares an article in New Scientist on what the rest of the world can learn from New Zealand's legal highs laws.
The Dismal Science

Science Knight speaks out on politicians “dishonesty” - Steve Pointing discusses Sir Paul Nurse's comments on politicians not using scientific evidence in making decisions.
Pointing at Science

At the beach? Meet global warming’s evil twin - Lynley Hargreaves asks Associate Professor Mary Sewell about the impacts of ocean acidification on kina, New Zealand's sea urchin, and other marine foods.
Infrequently Asked Questions

“Internet and social media misinform thousands daily” - Ken Perrott shows how the internet and social media can be an uphill battle for science, with misinformation often getting a bigger spotlight than the evidence.
Open Parachute

The science behind a good homebrew - Karl Safi is reluctant to say brewing beer is a science but admits his day job as a microbial ecologist definitely helps with his weekend hobby.
Guest Work


Upcoming events


Please see the SMC Events Calendar for more events and details.

The Evolution of Medicines: From Farmer to Pharma - 21 January, Christchurch. Dr Michael Edmonds discusses how medical beliefs have evolved across history as our understanding of disease has changed, including how some erroneous and discarded beliefs are now used to support "alternative" medicine.

2015 Coastal Economic Symposium - 23 January, Tauranga. Annual one day Coastal Economic Symposium on Tauranga - "Treasuring the Bay 2015 : Whakamana te taonga o te Moana a Toi".


New from the SMC


Synthetic cannabis deaths in Australia – Experts respond

EU passes new law on GM crops - Experts respond

Living with drought – Experts respond

The SMC network


UK SMC

Expert reaction to reports of suspected UK case of Ebola

Expert reaction to new research on sea level rise

Expert reaction to study looking at brain cooling and neurodegeneration

Australian SMC

Expert reaction: Two men die after suspected synthetic cannabis poisoning

Expert reaction: BPA-replacement chemical BPS makes zebrafish hyperactive

Expert reaction: Bureau confirms 2014 as third warmest year on record

Media training for scientists

Upcoming Christchurch andWellington two-day work shops


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