Science gets fresh

UNSW has dominated the field of finalists in the 2016 NSW Fresh Science awards, announced today.

UNSW claimed four of the 12 NSW finalists spots in the national competition designed to help early career researchers find and then share their stories of discovery.

Around 100 early-career scientists around Australia nominated for Fresh Science 2016, which includes media training and a public event in their home state.

The NSW public will have the chance to meet their 12 “Freshies” as they explain their discoveries at a “pub night” on 26 July at the 3 Wise Monkeys Hotel in George Street in Sydney. They will need to present their work in the time it takes for a sparkler to burn out.

The NSW finalists will also attend a one-day workshop of media and presentation skills, to be held at the Australian Museum. Then, on Tuesday 26 July, they will discuss their research with high school students and science teachers at two forums at UNSW. These forums will be combined with science activities and tours of the campus hosted by UNSW Science.

The four UNSW finalists and their topics are:

• Teagan Gale, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences – The step-parent trap: conflict in the mouse household
• Alex Patton, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering – Conductive cardiac patches: mending broken hearts
• Mark Polizzotto, The Kirby Institute – Immune system boost offers new HIV-related cancer hope
• Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering – Blood supply: the missing piece of the bioartificial organ puzzle

See the full list of NSW Fresh Science finalists.

The 3 Wise Monkeys event is free but bookings are essential. See the Flyer.

Fresh Science NSW is supported by the Australian Museum and UNSW.