Science Communication

Science Communication

About

The Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science at ANU was the first science communication centre in Australia and is now the most diverse of its kind in the world.

The Centre’s mission is to encourage a confident democratic ownership of modern science nationally and internationally by increasing science awareness in the community, fostering public dialogue about science, and improving the communication skills of scientists.

Through research led education our students become skilled communicators who can engage people with the science, technology, or medical information that is most relevant to them.

Our research investigates the ways science is being communicated in the public arena, new ways to excite the public imagination about science and methods to encourage informed decisions about scientific issues that concern us in the 21st century.

We are global leaders in our field, developing methods to encourage informed decisions about the big scientific issues.

We are an accredited Centre for the Australian National Commission for UNESCO, and boast partnerships with the Alan Alda Centre for Science Communication at Stony Brook University in New York and Shell Australia amongst many others.

Facilities

Kioloa Campus

The 348-hectare ANU Kioloa Coastal Campus is one of Australia’s premier field stations, offering a diverse ecology which encourages research across all scientific disciplines.

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A group of people attentively watching a demonstration of 3D printers in a workshop setting.

The ANU MakerSpace is an initiative by the Research School of Physics and Engineering, where we know people learn by doing.  

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A laptop, microphone, headphones, and audio mixer on a textured gray surface, suggesting a podcast or recording setup.

The CPAS Podcast Studio is open to staff and students throughout ANU (not just scientists!) to record and grow podcast series. Your success is our success: we want to help you make the biggest and best podcast series in the world.  

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Science precinct

Our new $240-million science precinct on the ANU campus has state-of-the-art biological and chemical research laboratories, as well as a teaching hub.

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News

Two gloved hands holding a face mask

People who think based on their first instincts are more likely to believe and share COVID-19 misinformation, according to new research from The Australian National University.

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Close up of someone holding a smartphone, sitting at a table with microphones and a notebook in front of them.

Science journalism is a dream career for many people with a passion for science and flair for writing. For ANU graduate Ellen Phiddian, that dream is now a reality.

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University campus at dusk with lights

All cultures have communicated their knowledge in diverse and marvellous ways throughout time. Failing to see the significance of this is racist and lazy.

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Woman holding a diagram

"I'm going to listen to the gynaecologists, I'm going to listen to the hysterectomy patients."

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Aerial view of University Avenue showing buildings and trees.

Marie Curie overcame innumerable obstacles, and in the process has become a role model. But does the latest film version of her life do her story justice?

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University campus showing building, trees and sculpture of giant silver ball.

Science communication succeeds when it takes community knowledge seriously, works with other belief systems, and expects researchers to contribute to society.

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