On this page:
- 1. Talking Heads – last event 6pm tonight 8 December, Auckland
- 2. Special offers to members of the Royal Society of New Zealand – Journals, ‘Kakapo’ book, 2012 calendar
- 3. FUSIONZ website for science, technology, humanities jobs
- 4. Early bird registration Asia Pacific Science Policy Studies (SPS) Research Conference, Wellington, 8-10 February 2012
- 5. Our Changing World, Thursday 9.00 pm, Radio New Zealand National
- 6. Follow the Royal Society of New Zealand on Facebook and Twitter
1. Talking Heads – last event 6pm tonight 8 December, Auckland
Panel discussion, Auckland – 6pm, 8 December - Kim Hill in conversation with Professor Kate McGrath, Director of MacDiarmid Centre; Dr Maurice Curtis, Deputy Director of the Human Brain Bank at The University of Auckland; and Professor Wayne Cutfield, Director of the Liggins Institute.
- The main venue is the auditorium at the Auckland Museum. As this is now full tickets can be booked for an overflow room to watch the discussion on video, or just turn up tonight.
The 2011 Talking Heads series is produced by the Royal Society of New Zealand in association with Radio New Zealand. These interviews are being recorded by Radio New Zealand for broadcast, so latecomers will not be admitted.
The Talking Heads series will be broadcast on National Radio at 4pm on 11 and 18 December. Repeating 9pm on 13 and 20 December. The session held in Wellington will have a further play on a ‘Best of Kim Hill’ slot on Saturday morning Christmas Eve.
2. Special offers to members of the Royal Society of New Zealand – Journals, ‘Kakapo’ book, 2012 calendar
We are delighted to offer members of the Royal Society of New Zealand the opportunity to purchase a colourful desk calendar for 2012, to also buy the book ‘Kakapo’ (at a great discounted price), or to take up an individual subscription to the Royal Society of New Zealand Journals.
Member subscriptions for 2012 are now available for the Royal Society of New Zealand science journals. Prices for 2012 subscriptions remain unchanged from 2011. See details and subscribe online on our journal subscription page.
We are also offering members the opportunity to purchase copies of ‘Kakapo – Rescued from the Brink of Extinction’, written by broadcaster and zoologist Alison Ballance, the winner of the 2011 Royal Society of New Zealand Science Book Prize, for just $40 (20% discount on the RRP). Also on offer are copies of our colourful Royal Society of New Zealand 2012 desk calendar for just $15. Members can take up these offers at www.royalsociety.org.nz/membership/xmas-offers/
To find out more about these offers or to become a member, please contact the Society’s Membership Support Officer, Tracy Farr, on membership@royalsociety.org.nz, or phone 04-470-5759.
3. FUSIONZ website for science, technology, humanities jobs
This week, Fusionz has 2 vacancies for jobs. The latest jobs are:
- Academic Staff Member (Microbiology / Biochemistry / Food Technology ): Wintec, Hamilton
- Chief Executive: Cawthron Institute, Nelson
For more information and to list your vacancy – http://fusionz.royalsociety.org.nz/
4. Early bird registration Asia Pacific Science Policy Studies (SPS) Research Conference, Wellington, 8-10 February 2012
This conference, the first of its kind in New Zealand, explores how science policy is developed and implemented, and how scientific knowledge is used in the policy process and decision-making by governments and industry.
The conference will consider the broad sweep of social research on the relationships between science (including social science) and policy decision-making for national wellbeing through science, technology and innovation.
The programme offers a compelling line up of keynote addresses, contributed papers, events focused on indigenous contributions to science policy studies and interactive opportunities. Contributed papers from across the Asia-Pacific region have been accepted from multiple disciplines and paper sessions will be guided by knowledgeable chairs. Find out more at www.sps2012.org.nz/
Early bird registration is now open at http://www.sps2012.org.nz/registration.asp
5. Our Changing World, Thursday 9.00 pm, Radio New Zealand National
Alison Ballance, Veronika Meduna and Ruth Beran http://radionz.co.nz/ourchangingworld email ourchangingworld@radionz.co.nz Tel (04) 474 1910.
IRL’s Emilio Calius and Andrew Hall are developing acoustic insulators which work like sound shields, bouncing back noise of particular frequencies. Ruth Beran listens as a new metamaterial they have created is tested in an impedance tube.
Orchids are masters of deception, using smell and looks to trick unsuspecting insects into pollinating them. Masters student Michelle Kelly and her supervisor Anne Gaskett take Alison Ballance to a small patch of bush in west Auckland to show her how the tiny spurred helmet orchid fits into this deceptive world.
University of Auckland evolutionary psychologist Quentin Atkinson explains how the transition from solitary to group living has allowed our primate ancestors to come down from the trees and become active during the day, some 50 million years ago.
Siouxsie Wiles is a microbiologist who uses ‘glow in the dark’ bacteria as a humane means of testing how well antibiotics work against TB and MRSA superbugs, and she shows Alison Ballance how caterpillars are an effective tool in bioluminescent imaging.
Shorter science, health and environment features also air during Afternoons with Jim Mora at 3.35 p.m., Monday to Thursday. The programme is repeated at 1.10 a.m. on Sunday mornings.
You can download a podcast or listen to streaming audio of programmes you’ve missed in the complete programme archive at: http://radionz.co.nz/ourchangingworld
6. Follow the Royal Society of New Zealand on Facebook and Twitter
Get timely updates from the Royal Society of New Zealand team via our Facebook and Twitter channels.
