My Problem with PROSH

For 82 years in Perth, a group of students of at the University of Western Australia produce a satirical newspaper to raise funds for local charities working for the betterment of young people. An even bigger group of students dress in costumes and go throughout Perth’s CBD to sell the paper asking for a donation from people as they head into work and even from high school students heading to school. It’s known as PROSH Day. It hits the local airwaves and newspapers and occasionally makes the evening news.

I am 100% behind these ideals. I volunteer with organisations that aim to improve the lives of young people in WA and have done so for over a decade. I have bought editions of the paper over the years but it has been a long time since I’ve read through the pages and enjoyed it. In an era with satirical outlets like The Onion, The Daily Mash, and The NewsBiscuit, perhaps I’ve been spoilt for choice or expect too much from university students. Hang on, I write professionally and get paid for it. University students can do better and the majority of the population do so. Some even lead volunteer and non-profit organisations on top of a full time study load. Others sit on state committees. I am not expecting too much for wanting something better in quality.

This year I bought a copy of the PROSH paper and on a quick glance I noticed a lack of sexist material that had become normal fodder in recent years. After 5 minutes I sent out a tweet declaring it to be wittier than in recent years and in support of it. After all the proceeds of the sale this year are going to Miracle Babies, Huntington’s Western Australia, The Song Room, and the Indigenous Communities Education & Awareness Foundation, (ICEA). I could see past the students yelling through closed windows at drivers staring ahead in the morning commute especially when their compatriots reigned them in from such stupidity.

I had a good feeling about PROSH. I was thinking about leafing through my copy slowly tonight to read it. That is until I had a look at my Facebook and Twitter feeds. The headline, Drunk, naked West Australian uni students hit the streets to sell racist hate-speech… all in the name of charity summed it up. Not the headline I imagine the Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Johnson expected to come from this year’s PROSH activities.

Photos of the racist content is throughout my social media feeds with people expressing disgust and anger. It’s not outrage^TM that the zeitgeist has grabbed hold of for this week or the complaints from people who don’t have a sense of humour as some people posting to the UWA Student Guild’s apology post on their Facebook page seem to be hinting at.

I no longer have any positive feelings about PROSH. The small disquiet I had has resolved itself into feelings of distaste. Just because the results of the activities results in benefits to the vulnerable members of the community, it shouldn’t be done so at the expense of those members. Nor should hateful material be excused simply on the grounds of satire and charity especially in the face of widespread criticism. This year unfortunately is not the exception when it comes to complaints. Perhaps it’s time to review the selection criteria for the PROSH Director which is currently scant.

Western Australia’s Opposition Aboriginal Affairs spokesman Ben Wyatt and former UWA student has spoken out on the racist material calling upon the need for reflection amongst the UWA Student Guild and the editorial team of this year’s PROSH. This year is the first that I have heard of one of the partner charities, ICEA, deciding to cease and refuse further sponsorship from the UWA Student Guild following the publication of the paper. This is not a badge of honour.

I am a UWA student and I have never spent any time involved with the production and publication of the PROSH paper. This does not preclude me from stating my opinion of the publication. An enrolment at UWA is not necessary to express disgust when a minority of UWA students decide to behave in a socially unacceptable manner. I just wish those students would just get it into their craniums in amongst the party schedules that their behaviour reflects back on the rest of the UWA community. It diminishes the positive impact of numerous academic and social achievements of UWA.

This year I am wearing a name badge with my full name in full display with the UWA logo and name. I want to be able to wear this without having to deal with the consequences of immaturity and selfishness of others. I am shocked at reading some of the vitriolic attitudes held by those attacking those criticising the latest round of idiocy; mostly because I know that a proportion of them attend UWA. I am not comfortable with this. It is disturbing that these students will never face any consequences and that I may end up sharing the graduation stage with them. It is a frightening prospect that they will enter the community with such hateful ideals.

There not only needs to be reflection at UWA. There needs to be a change. The sooner the better. It’s not enough to have one off cultural events. There should be no refuge for hate on campus, or indeed anywhere.

WA Science Awards 2012

On Thursday night, I attended the 2012 Western Australia Science Awards Gala Dinner where the top scientists, science educators and science communicators are recognised. I was lucky to receive an invitation from the WA Department of Commerce to attend as a science blogger and also as the President of the WA Branch of the Australian Science Communicators.

The dinner was held in the Astral Ballroom at Crown Perth and it was beautifully decorated. There was even a red carpet leading to the stage to walk on. It was clear from the onset that the science community of Western Australia was the star attraction.

The Red Carpet – Photo: The Scene Team

And there was even a little jazz throughout the night.

Live Band – Photo: The Scene Team

To complete the celebratory occasion, there was also a WA Science Awards wall to stand in front of to have photos taken. It was quite possibly my most favourite discovery of the night. I delighted in the opportunity to be in front of it.

WA Chief Scientist Prof Lyn Beazley and I – Photo: The Scene Team

The MC of the events was Ruben Meerman, The Surfing Scientist. He was affable, funny, and knew his audience. There is talent in eliciting genuine laughter for science jokes from a room of scientists.

Ruben Meerman, Photo: The Scene Team

What I did like this year at the WA Science Awards was the emphasis on science engagement and science communication and that was where the awards of the night began.

Educator of the Year: Mrs Mady (Marion) Colquhoun (Armadale) – Science Specialist Teacher, Armadale Primary School with Science and Innovation Minister John Day Photo: The Scene Team

Science Ambassador of the Year: Professor Steven Tingay – Director, Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy and Deputy Director, International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research with Science and Innovation Minister John Day, Photo: The Scene Team

I especially liked the comment made during the awarding of these awards, “What is the point of doing fantastic science if we tell no one about it?”. I have yet to hear strong arguments for staying silent about science. This is the stuff that can change lives. It rankles me when science news is left out of mainstream news unless there are centimetres to fill on a page of the newspaper or a sudden silence to fill on air. We can have nightly finance and sport news  presented with aplomb, enthusiasm and jargon but we can’t have nightly science news but yet we tell ourselves that science is important for the future and we should encourage a new generation of scientists.

Engineers without Borders High School Outreach Program won the next award, Science Engagement Initiative of the Year. This program has been developed by the WA Chapter of Engineers without Borders. It aims to improve students’ understanding of climate change, sustainability and technology. In addition to this, the program is used as an assessment tool for university engineering students and allows working engineers to become involved and use it as a professional development opportunity. Any engineers reading this should really look this up and break the stereotype of the socially awkward engineer.

Science Engagement Initiative of the Year: Engineers without Borders High School Outreach Program with Science and Innovation Minister John Day, Photo: The Scene Team

Western Australia’s Student Scientist of the Year went to UWA PhD student Mr David Erceg-Hurn whose research is evaluating strategies used to reduce stigma surrounding seeking professional help and treatment for clinical depression. He has also evaluated programs designed to reduce drug and alcohol misuse. The announcement of this award was beautifully and coincidentally timed with Australia’s national Mental Health Week.

Student Scientist of the Year: Mr David Erceg-Hurn – Master of Clinical Psychology / PhD Student, UWA with Science and Innovation Minister John Day, Photo: The Scene Team

Australian Research Fellow, UWA Associate Professor Ajmal Mian was awarded Early Career Scientist of the Year for his pioneering research on 3D face and object recognition for a wide range of multidisciplinary applications.

Early Career Scientist of the Year: Associate Professor Ajmal Mian – Australian Research Fellow, UWA with Science and Innovation Minister John Day, Photo: The Scene Team

Professor Stephen Hopper AC FLS FTSE who recently served as the Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew was inducted into the Science Hall of Fame. Prof Hopper is a plant conservation biologist who has contributed significantly to preserving biodiversity in Western Australia as well as improving conservation programs and infrastructure within the state. He has also been named a Companion of Order of Australia for his service as a global science leader.

Science Hall of Fame Inductee: Professor Stephen Hopper AC FLS FTSE with WA Premier Colin Barnett, Photo: The Scene Team

The Scientist of the Year award went to the Director for International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, Professor Peter Quinn. Prof Quinn is an astrophysicist whose area of specialty is galaxy formation and dark matter. He does this using large astronomical facilities and supercomputers. In recent times, his efforts in developing WA’s radio astronomy capabilities have been central in the success of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Telescope campaign.

Unfortunately Prof Quinn had to be in Germany on the night of the WA Science Awards but he was able to Skype in his acceptance speech. It was such a lovely and warm touch to the evening.

Scientist of the Year: Professor Peter Quinn – Director, International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research on Skype at the 2012 WA Science Awards, Photo: The Scene Team

It was a great night out celebrating the very best science in Western Australia. There is an incredible depth and breadth of scientific research happening in the state. In a state dominated by the mining industry, I noted that not one award was mining related. I am constantly stating that there is much more to science in Western Australia than mining technologies and the 2012 WA Science Awards has epitomised that this year.

For more photos of the gorgeous night, I have created an album on my Facebook page that is publicly available so no account needed.

Hello From the Pilbara

I am almost a week into a three week odyssey in the Pilbara. Two weeks of it will be work in a lab broken in the middle with a week spent in Port Hedland. I’ve got a story to follow up and write about in Hedland for Science Network WA and that is all the work I am doing. Beyond that I’m going to take it easy and have a look around and take a few photos though my travels will be dependent on what roads are open.

There has been a lot of rain up here. The wet has arrived in the Pilbara. There has been two cyclones this month. Tropical Cyclone Heidi crossed the coast near Hedland and Tropical Cyclone Iggy, the most recent one is disintegrating in the Indian Ocean. With them there has been storm activity though I missed both lightning storms much to my frustration. No storm chasing in the Pilbara yet. I say yet with hope.

However, I have not missed out on awakening 4WD driving skills. The roads here have gotten incredibly soggy. The dirt roads that is. There is so much water out here small pools form and in some cases streams run across them. In some instances local traffic management teams directs traffic to minimise damage to the wet roads and to slow people down though this is when things get rather wet.

Anyhow, enough blathering from me. Here’s a really quick video from my point of view when driving in soft mud. It really is me driving and swearing quietly under my breath, (this can’t be heard, I’ve checked), as I get through and hoping that my poorly mounted iPhone doesn’t fall into the dirt encrusted crevices of the car. It was like driving through mousse or cheesecake. There was no grip. It was really slippery. It is definitely for 4WD vehicles only and takes skill to get through without getting bogged.

This is where my science degrees have gotten me so far. It’s an incredibly stunning landscape that I want to spend time in relaxing. Not every FIFO worker is just about the work and getting home to spend up big.

A Fangirl Got Invited to the 2011 WA Science Awards

Last night I attended the WA Science Awards as a guest of the Department of Commerce. I was in the same room with incredibly talented scientists. I understand that for most people this isn’t a big deal but then I’m not most people. Like how someone might follow the career of an athlete, artist, actor or chef, I follow the careers of scientists. Being at the WA Science Awards was a HUGE deal to me.

I got there early and the aim was to position myself somewhere to watch who was coming. I had a quick look at the list and it was impressive. I started making a mental list of who I would like to chat to. The butterflies in my stomach were threatening to escape when out of nowhere a waiter appeared offering pre-drinks. I collected my nerves and had another look around and started to see familiar faces, people I knew or had interviewed for a science news article or had a photograph taken with them in the past.

I relaxed and started chatting with people in the foyer of the Bellevue Ballroom at the Perth Convention and Entertainment Centre. At some point while chatting to one of my bosses, the Editor of Science Network WA, Jason Boudville and a colleague Marion Lopez, I lost my composure and forgot about etiquette altogether. I had not just spotted Professor Barry Marshall in the crowd but also who he shares his 2005 Nobel Prize in Medicine with, Dr Robin Warren. While I was tweeting my excitement, I left my amused boss to explain to Marion why I had suddenly transformed into a fangirl.

A few, (okay, maybe a lot), of them say that I collect scientists like Pokémon. I get photos taken with scientists I admire and respect. And why not? Why should only celebrities be treated like super stars? Before walking into the ballroom I decided that I had to get a photo of the Prof Marshall and Dr Warren together. And as tempting it was to visit almost everyone in the room for a photo, I didn’t but boy was it tempting. I have three photographs to share.

Second Generation of Tall Poppies Blooms in Western Australia

This evening I attended the second Western Australian Young Tall Poppy Science Awards. The Young Tall Poppy Science Awards is the type of science award I would love to earn one day. These awards celebrate and recognise excellence in young Australian researchers in their chosen area of science including technology, engineering, mathematics and medical research as well as their involvement in science communication and science outreach.

The Tall Poppy Campaign was started in 1998 by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science. A Young Tall Poppy Science Award is state level award and was only made available to all states and territories last year. Western Australia was the last to join in on the action. From speaking with experienced researchers tonight, (and I also suspect I spoke with people who have been on judging panels awarding grant money), the Tall Poppy Award is something that is looked for in an application.

What’s the big deal over an awkwardly named science award? After all don’t we as a nation cut down tall poppies and remind them that they are not better than anyone else? The big deal is this. Life as a researcher is tough and the work done towards making our lives better should be recognised. Some researchers are working in areas that focus on preventing illness and others are working out how to feed an ever increasing global population. What I have seen in two consecutive years of Young Tall Poppy Science Award nights is that the young scientists receiving their accolades are not shy or awkward.

They are charming, articulate and approachable. They also love to talk about their work and take great pains to make sure that you understand it. I’ve spoken with medical researchers and materials scientists at the Tall Poppy Awards and their enthusiasm is infectious. I walk away caring more about science and science communication after speaking with the Young Tall Poppy Award winners. It isn’t the silly season affecting my judgement. Elektra Spathopoulos, AIPS Executive Director described the winners beautifully.

“We need to communicate science in an increasingly complex world. These young researchers will be the champions of science and we cannot underestimate their future role or our need for their leadership.”

The 2011 WA Young Tall Poppies are:

A/Prof Ben Corry, University of Western Australia (UWA)
What does the provision of cheap, clean, non-salty drinking water have to do with the way that electrical signals are sent between cells in the body? Ben’s research bridges chemistry, physics and biology.  It has implications for neuromuscular diseases, the development of new antibiotics and how to decrease the cost of desalinating water.

Dr Aleksandra Filipovska, WAIMR / University of Western Australia
Mitochondria are microscopic, energy producing machines found in all human cells. Defects cause debilitating neurodegenerative diseases for which there are no cures. Aleksandra’s group has developed new technologies to help understand how defects cause disease, provide insights into new treatments and develop therapeutics that can help treatment.

Dr Lorenzo Ntogramatzidis, Curtin University
We are surrounded by control systems: household washing machines, heating and cooling systems, aircraft and CDs. As users we usually take control for granted. Lorenzo’s goal is to design of controllers that influence the behaviour of such systems in the best possible way. There are always disturbances, and he works to obtain a desired outcome nevertheless.

Dr Monique Robinson, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research / UWA
Monique is trying to find out what sorts of events during pregnancy determine whether or not a mental health problem will develop and how these experiences cause poorer mental health. She has already found numerous risk factors including stress, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and hypertension.

Dr Keith Stubbs, University of Western Australia
Keith studies the mechanisms by which bacteria are able to cause infections and evade our immune system. Many diseases are caused by improper function of carbohydrate-processing enzymes. He aims to find ways to restore the function of these enzymes bringing a better quality of life to sufferers. He is already a co-inventor on four patents.

Dr Bruce Webber, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences
Bruce explores the effect of climate change on invasive plants (weeds) and future food security. He has generated a freely available global climate dataset and his research on food security examines the effect of climate change on yield and nutritional value in globally important crops such as cassava: the ‘drought, war and famine crop’.

Professor David White, University of Western Australia
David has pioneered research into the behaviour of shallow seabed sediments and devising analysis techniques for the response of foundations and pipelines laid on soft and unstable seabed sediments. His results are being used to assess the stability of all the major pipelines currently being designed to tap Australia’s offshore gas resources.

A/Prof Andrew Whitehouse, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research (UWA)
Autism is a debilitating developmental disorder affecting approximately one in every 100 Australians, but the exact causes of the condition remain unclear. Andrew’s research aims to discover the biological and environmental causes of autism, and to use this understanding to identify and treat affected children as early as possible.

The 2011 WA Young Tall Poppies with Ambassador A/Prof Kristen Nowak Photo Courtesy of AIPS

Past Tall Poppy recipient and Nobel Laureate Professor Barry Marshall was in the audience tonight. Prof Marshall was awarded a Young Tall Poppy Science Award in 1998 and received the Nobel Prize seven years later jointly with with Dr Robin Warren for their work with Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria responsible for a majority of stomach ulcers.

“It’s reassuring to me that there are so many good scientists involved in communicating the message with young people. The latest thing is to really get science, mathematics and technology related disciplines to very young children – their first year or two at school. My own case, I know how hungry I was for that information in my school years. It wasn’t until later years that you were allowed go get involved with it. It is very natural for young children to take an interest in science and understand how things work,” said Prof Marshall.

I also caught up with last year’s WA Tall Poppy Young Scientist of the Year A/Prof Kristen Nowak to talk about what she has been doing as a Tall Poppy.

“We’ve been doing talks at different schools around the state and operating at the science awareness festivals that Scitech run. We’ve gotten involved in video conferencing with remote and rural schools. It’s really interactive. You can see the students online and they can ask you questions. It’s a lot of fun. We hope to get into it more.”

At the commencement of the awards ceremony A/Prof Kristen Nowak was announced as the Ambassador for the Young Tall Poppy Science Awards in WA.

“It’s to bring the Tall Poppies together. Last year the winners some of us came from the same university and we didn’t know each other. We want to tap into the network of partnerships AIPS has fostered here like the Science Teachers Association of WA andt Scitech and others. They’re already doing excellent work in engaging students, teachers and the public. If we can help or offer our services and give insight into various aspects of the science that we do that do and why we love it so much, that would be great.”

I’m looking forward to seeing the WA Young Tall Poppies at science events in the coming year. It would be a wonderful sight to see a scientist out in the community talking about their work as a well groomed athlete does to an audience with anticipation. It is also working towards vanquishing the stereotype that scientists are awkward creatures only trotted out when things go wrong.