Did you know that recycling starts at the supermarket? If you’re standing next to the rubbish and recycling bins at home wondering what to do with the plastic tray and wrap your lemons came in, you’re TOO LATE! Many people focus their efforts on recycling packaging waste after it’s been used. However, ‘precycling’ or avoiding … Continue reading Precycling
Each year, Science in Public publishes a collection of stories that share highlights of recent Australian research and prize-winning science with journalists in Australia and overseas, politicians, schools, museum visitors, and others. The 2017 collection is now online, along with stories from previous years. Here are links to a couple I wrote for the 2017 … Continue reading Stories of Australian Science 2017
We know open fires are romantic. We know about fire danger. Hopefully, we also know about the importance of clear, well-functioning chimneys and flues to remove indoor air polluting combustion gases. But did you know some fire fuels can also be a source of dangerous toxins? The fuel I'm talking about is treated wood. While … Continue reading Watch what you burn this winter
I’ll be taking the reins of the @WePublicHealth – a rotational Twitter account (with a different curator each week) that’s providing a new model for citizen journalism with a public health focus. I'm the Tweetybird for the week commencing Monday 27 February. What’s my background and what does it have to do with public health? I … Continue reading A week of tweeting public health @WePublicHealth
In March 2016, an estimated 120,000 people descended upon free and ticketed events and street science shows in Brisbane’s Cultural Precinct—all for the fun, fascination and food-for-thought offered by science. The inaugural World Science Festival Brisbane, presented by Queensland Museum, boasted a line-up of over 120 speakers from nine countries, including international stars—including MASH actor Alan Alda, … Continue reading Keys to a good panel event – insights from 2016 World Science Festival Brisbane
Hollywood’s dystopian movies would have you believe our future looks like the dark Los Angeles of Blade Runner or the grey concrete jungles of Metropolis. But the work of University of Melbourne urban ecologists paints possibilities more like Hobbiton in Lord of the Rings or Theed on the idyllic planet of Naboo in Star Wars. … Continue reading Making megacities healthy for humans
Tweets, transactions and transport card ‘touch-ons’ could give urban planners the big data they need to make our transport systems work better, identify accident black spots and make our cities more liveable. University of Melbourne researchers – armed with the right analytical tool – are finding Twitter data surprisingly useful. They’re mining the data and … Continue reading Taking a city’s pulse: touch-ons, transactions and tweets
Yes, we’ve safely banned the bulb and got rid of old fashioned, energy guzzling ‘incandescent’ bulbs. Just so you know what’s watt (geddit?), here’s a handy guide to deciphering the language of lighting: from halogen to LED and beyond. The basics Wattage – The wattage tells you how much electricity the light bulb uses – and … Continue reading Illuminating lighting jargon
Tanya Ha 