Science and the Media: Friend or Foe?   Scientists Richard Fullaghar and Michael Burton meet Journalists Bernie Hobbs and Alison Leigh Wednesday, June 24, 1998 Duke of Edinburgh, Pyrmont A poetic, thought-provoking contribution from Richard Fullagar Should scientists have all the fun? Should they bottle the truth for years? And pass on the dregs when they're done? And hide all their hopes and fears? Shall we risk the scorn of our mates, let the media have it all? And expose our premature dates? Break down the ivory wall! Oh, to see eternity in a grain of sand, and the world in a ten sec grab! To hold a glass in the palm of your hand, and speak from the green can slab! Richard Fullagar (Australian Museum) is an archaeologist and has just completed a five year (Australian Research Council) Research Fellowship at the Australian Museum. His specialty is the study of stone tools to reconstruct prehistoric subsistence and settlement history. He has published more than 60 scientific papers. Over the last 20 years, archaeological fieldwork has taken him to PNG, Philippines, throughout southeastern Australia and to the East Kimberley where he has worked closely with Aboriginal communities. Recent research at Cuddie Springs and Jinmium has sucked him into the media spotlight and continue to raise controversies on megafaunal extinctions, early evidence for Aboriginal seed grinding, and initial colonisation of the Australian continent. Currently he is collecting his thoughts and writing up various reports. Michael Burton (UNSW) is an astronomer at the University of New South Wales. When not teaching undergraduate physics he researches the formation of stars, and has contributed over 150 scientific articles to his field. In doing so his career has taken him through the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, the UK Infrared Telescope on Hawaii, NASA's Kuiper Airborne Observatory and the Anglo Australian Telescope at Coonabarrabran, before ending up at UNSW. He also is trying to build an observatory at the very end of the Earth, the South Pole! As well as his teaching and research Michael devotes much energy to the popularisation of science and astronomy, including a regular spot on ABC radio. He believes in the importance of professional scientists communicating their work in an accessible manner, but also understands their reticence when finding their life efforts crudely distorted for an attention-grabbing headline. Michael is deeply concerned about the state of science in society. Bernie Hobbs (ABC) Bernie has very kindly stepped in when Wilson suddenly found himself in Broken Hill on a Quantum mission. A relative newcomer to the media proper, Bernie Hobbs has been waxing scientific to captive audiences for over a decade - as a science teacher, researcher and soul-searching generalist. Now with weekly gigs on ABC radio and the internet, Bernie's on a writing and ranting mission to convert the "science=yawn" crowd. And we even have a little po-em: Haiku Meets Science Ink pink you stink Infinity Alison Leigh (ABC) is a highly regarded TV and Radio Producer and Broadcaster with many years’ experience in Australia and the UK. She has played a leading role in science communication in Australia, producing the highly popular, award winning shows, Quantum for ABC TV, What’s your Poison? Tim Flannery’s Future Eaters and The Face. Alison has also been responsible for getting a number of ground breaking shows to air: Media Watch, 1989; Hot Chips, 1994-5, and Home Truths, 1996. The themed programming across ABC networks of National Science Week to promote awareness of science was also one of Alison’s initiatives. She is also past President of the Australian Science Communicators and a member of the International Steering Committee of the World Congress of Science Producers. She is regularly invited to give lectures and seminars in Australia and overseas.
Science in the Pub™, © 2000. Stutchbury, R, Burton, M.