How to use the AusSMC

For media

How to use the Australian Science Media Centre

The primary focus of the AusSMC is to provide journalists with scientific experts and accurate, evidence-based information within the required timeframe.

Due to limited resources, priority is given to Australian journalists working in news and current affairs.

Register

If you are a journalist and would like to receive AusSMC’s rapid roundups, alerts and details of AusSMC events please fill in our journalist registration form.

Finding an expert

When covering a science story for news or current affairs, journalists can call (08) 7120 8666 or email us and we will use our database and contacts to put you in touch with the right person. This is a free service available to any Australian journalist.

Our database is populated with experts who are highly credible within their field, have excellent communication skills and who have agreed to respond to reporters at short notice. Most of the experts are Australian though we also have access to some key overseas experts on international issues.

Rapid Roundup of scientific opinion

One of the most useful services we provide is a Roundup of scientists’ reactions to breaking news – a series of quotes from experts around the country. This can be invaluable as a:

Source of quotes
Gauge of what the scientific community thinks about a new development
List of potential interviewees for print or broadcast

Media briefings

We also look at big picture, controversial issues and one of the advantages of the Centre’s independence is our ability to bring scientists from different scientific institutions onto the same platform to talk to journalists. These media briefings:

Help journalists get background information on stories they will be covering in the coming months
Enable scientists to be more pro-active about issues likely to arouse public concern

Since 2007 we have been offering Online Media Briefings - for more information about how to access these events, click here.

Hours of Operation

The AusSMC is operated by a small team and we aim to open between 9am and 6pm CST. If you need to talk to us urgently outside these hours please call 0424 676 136.

	Latest releases \| Archive

	CSIRO AND BoM JOINT STATEMENT ON AUSTRALIA'S CLIMATE - EXPERTS RESPOND RAPID ROUNDUP: Experts respond to a joint 'snapshot' of Australia's climate released by the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology. Mon 15 Mar 10 REDUCING BLOOD ALCOHOL LIMIT TO .02 - EXPERTS RESPOND RAPID ROUNDUP: Experts react to a Qld discussion paper which asks for public comment on the option to reduce allowable blood alcohol limits. Mon 15 Mar 10 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

This page was last modified on January 15, 2010
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