AusSMC: Staff

About us

Staff

The AusSMC team currently consists of five full-time and one part-time staff:

		Dr Susannah Eliott: CEO Susannah has a PhD in cell biology from Macquarie University, a Graduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Technology, Sydney and more than 15 years of practical experience in science communication with the science-media nexus as her primary focus. In 2000, Susannah moved to Stockholm, Sweden as Communications Director for the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), an international network of scientists working on global environmental change. She moved to Adelaide with her husband and two children in Septemebr 2005 to help establish the Australian Science Media Centre. For a more detailed bio of Susannah Eliott, click here.

		Lyndal Byford: Media Manager After completing an Honours degree in Biotechnology, Lyndal joined the Shell Questacon Science Circus and promoted science throughout regional Australia. She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Science Communication and went on to work at a range of science museums and as a specialist representative within the pharmaceutical industry. Moving to the UK in 2005, Lyndal co-ordinated the education programs at the Grant Museum of Zoology before joining the UK Science Media Centre as engineering press officer in 2006. She returned to Australia in November 2007.

		Nigel Kerby: Project Manager Nigel has more than 15 years experience in the media having worked with the Seven, Nine and Ten Networks in areas including programming, publicity and promotions. An ongoing interest in science led Nigel to pursue further studies in March 2004 and he recently completed a Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation at Flinders University.

		Marilyn Arnold: Office and Corporate Relations Manager Marilyn joined the AusSMC full time as Office Manager in August 2006. She has a BA in Psychology and Sociology, a Diploma in Business and Marketing and more than 12 years of experience in the areas of office administration, finance, marketing and event management. She has vast experience within the food, wine and irrigation industries and has contributed to the development of many small to medium size not-for-profit associations.

		Brad Cameron: Project Officer A keen interest in science led Brad to the AusSMC where he started as a part-time Graduate Officer in late 2005. After leaving Australia in March 2007 to teach English in Japan, he returned to the AusSMC in June 2008 to take on the full-time role of Project Officer. Brad has studied Agricultural Science at the University of Adelaide, has a BA (Multimedia, Professional Writing) and is currently working on a Masters Degree (Applied Linguistics).

		Annie Hastwell: Consultant Journalist (part time) Annie Hastwell has degrees in teaching, linguistics and journalism and has worked in radio for the past twenty years. She spent several years as an ABC broadcaster and producer in Darwin and Adelaide local radio and now produces features for Radio National and also runs a national current affairs program for the community radio sector. She also lectures in the UniSA Journalism degree course on a casual basis and is currently studying for her Masters in Journalism. In her freelance work she pursues a special interest in environmental issues.

Science or journalism students are also employed on a casual basis to work on specific projects.

	Latest releases \| Archive

	CONTRACEPTIVE PILL NOT ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED RISK OF DEATH RAPID ROUNDUP: Experts react to new research showing women who have used the oral contraceptive pill are less likely to die from any cause, including all cancers and heart disease, compared with women who have never used ‘the pill’. Fri 12 Mar 10 CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI RAPID ROUNDUP: An 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Chile, causing major damage and a tsunami. Experts from Australia, New Zealand and the UK respond. Sun 28 Feb 10 CLIMATE CONFUSION - SCIENTISTS ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS RESOURCE PAGE: After conversations and emails from a number of journalists, we have put their most pressing questions about climate change to a panel of climate scientists. Thu 25 Feb 10 TROPICAL CYCLONES AND CLIMATE FEEDBACK (NATURE) RAPID ROUNDUP: Experts comment on a new paper from Nature about the relationship between tropical cyclones and climate - a topic which has been a subject of much debate. Thu 25 Feb 10 BAN ON MEAT FROM BSE AFFECTED COUNTRIES SET TO END RAPID ROUNDUP: From next week countries where mad cow disease has been discovered will be able to export beef to Australia provided they comply with new regulations. Experts respond. Wed 24 Feb 10 NEW RADIOACTIVE WASTE BILL TO BE INTRODUCED RAPID ROUNDUP: Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson has announced the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010. Experts respond. Tue 23 Feb 10 PAN FRYING WITH GAS MAY BE WORSE THAN ELECTRICITY FOR RAISING CANCER RISK RAPID ROUNDUP: New research suggests frying meat on a gas cooktop may be more harmful to health than using an electric cooktop, because of the type of fumes it produces. Experts respond. Thus 18 Feb 10 PROTECTING SPACE HERITAGE SCIENCE BLOG: Dr Alice Gorman (Flinders University) discusses space archaeology and how to protect historic sites such as the moon landing site. Tues 9 Feb 10 LAUNCH OF NATIONAL SCIENCE COMMUNICATION STRATEGY RAPID ROUNDUP: Senator the Hon Kim Carr today launched Australia’s new National Science Communication Strategy, Inspiring Australia. Mon 8 Feb 10 WATER, CLIMATE CHANGE AND TREES SCIENCE BLOG: Professor Derek Eamus discusses the role of trees and tree planting in carbon sequestration and some surrounding issues. Mon 8 Feb 10 WA DROUGHT UNIQUE FOR 750 YEARS (NATURE GEOSCIENCE) RAPID ROUNDUP: New Australian research suggests the past few decades of serious drought in the southwestern corner of Australia may be highly unusual compared with the past 750 years. Mon 8 Feb 10 LANCET RETRACTS WAKEFIELD PAPER ON MMR/AUTISM UK & NZ SMC ROUNDUP: The Lancet has formally retracted the paper in which Andrew Wakefield claimed that the MMR vaccine can be linked to autism - see comments from UK and New Zealand based experts. Wed 3 Feb 10 COALITION'S CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY RAPID ROUNDUP: The Coalition has announced their climate change policy under the leadership of Tony Abbott. Experts respond. Tue 2 Feb 10 STAIN REPELLENT CHEMICAL LINKED TO THYROID DISEASE RAPID ROUNDUP: Experts comment on new research out of the UK linking thyroid disease with exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Fri 22 Jan 10 EXPERTS RESPOND TO GLACIER MELT DOUBTS RAPID ROUNDUP: NZ and Aus SMC round-up of reaction to news The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is reexamining a report it issued that suggests Himalayan glaciers could vanish by 2035. Thu 21 Jan 10 ALCOHOL DURING PREGNANCY AFFECTS GENE EXPRESSION RAPID ROUNDUP: Experts react to new Australian research showing alcohol consumed during pregancy can effect fetal gene expression Fri 15 Jan 10 EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI RAPID ROUNDUP: A magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti is feared to have resulted in the deaths of at least 170,000. Experts respond. Thu 14 Jan 10 TV TIME MAY CUT LIFE SHORT ONLINE BRIEFING: Australian researchers have tracked the TV viewing habits of 8,800 adults and found that every hour spent in front of the TV each day increased the risk of death. Tue 12 Jan 10

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