[ASC-list] Top 10 Reasons You Should Join Australian Science Communicators

[Nancy Longnecker]

Top 10 Reasons You Should Join Australian Science Communicators

1. Connect with a network of professionals from a wide range of science communication related fields
2. Discover new ways to communicate science to benefit you and your audience
3. Receive the latest news on research and events from the world of science and communication
4. Gain useful knowledge and skills from presentations, workshops and discussion sessions
5. Learn the art and science of communication through a professional network
6. Establish professional and business contacts
7. Enjoy access to great local and international scientists and communicators
8. Be informed of the latest developments in communication, including technology and techniques
9. Share your work, experiences and opportunities with a network extending through Australia and the world
10. Join a group of people passionate about communicating the importance, relevance and excitement of science

This list of reasons to join ASC was produced when we had a very similar discussion years ago in the WA branch. My memory (not totally reliable) is that Brendon Cant drafted these and other members contributed. It's great to see that currently there is strong branch and national activity in ASC. At the time (early naughties), a small group of WA members was trying to reinvigorate a branch that was at a low point and in danger of total atrophy. One deeply embarassing moment for me personally was when a handful of members turned up for a guest speaker who was invited because he was a published science writer but had been in a rock band in the UK in a previous life. He graciously persisted but likened presenting to the ASC-WA branch to some of his early gigs when the band played to a pub manager and a few hangers on. Cringe. We persevered and membership doubled over the space of a couple of years.

The point here is: support your branch; support your national executive. Go along to things, even if you're tired and just want to go home. It won't happen in every instance, but you will get things out of participating.You may not realise how important your presence is to support those volunteers making the effort to organise things on your behalf. And you can always decide to get more involved, help organise something or even join the local committee.

I've used some of the tips for editing your own work suggested in recent list discussion to check for typos, but apologies if I didn't catch them all. ;)

Cheers, Nancy

Professor Nancy Longnecker
Science Communication
School of Animal Biology, M092
The University of Western Australia
35 Stirling Highway
Crawley, WA   6009

ph: 61 8 6488 3926
nancy.longnecker at uwa.edu.au

www.animals.uwa.edu.au/research/science-communication
www.facebook.com/pages/UWA-Science-Communication/139535189461853
skype: nancylongnecker

CRICOS Provider No. 00126G
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