School of Agriculture, Food & Wine promoting careers in agriculture at the Royal Adelaide Show

The Golden Grains pavilion at the the Royal Adelaide Show is hosting the “Ground 2 Grub” (G2G) exhibit. This exhibit showcases the South Australia’s award winning grains plus contains interactive science-based displays focusing on plant breeding for quality grain, pests in the paddock, soil health and precision agriculture.

Show goers in this pavilion get to touch, see, smell and understand the process of growing quality grain from the scientists in the lab to the farmer in the field to the food on the plate. The G2G exhibit was developed over two years with support from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society’s Grain and Fodder Committee.   This year the School of Agriculture, Food & Wine is presenting a number of hands on activities as part of G2G. These include:

• See and taste barley exhibit: showcasing what foods barley is used in
• Plant and soil health: come and test soil pH and see how salt effects plant growth
• Just what does gluten do in bread?

A crucial aspect of the display presents the myriad of career opportunities for Agricultural Science Graduates.  The Show runs from 2 Sept-10 Sept 2011.

Read Full Post »

Science Alive! Careers day speakers – Fri 5 August

Science Alive!- is the three day SA National Science Week event held in the Goyder Pavilion at the Adelaide Showgrounds from Friday 5th – Sunday 7th August.

Friday is a Secondary Schools ‘Careers focus’ day- Saturday and Sunday are general public.

The Science Alive Committee is looking for speakers to assist in a ‘Speed Networking’ activity (x 2) on:

Date: Friday, 5th August 2011
Location: Goyder Pavilion, Wayville Showgrounds
Times: 10.15am – 10.40am & 12.15pm – 12.40pm

Breakdown of the ‘Speed Networking’ activity:

• During these events- (10.15 – 10.40, and 12.15 – 12.40), There will be ~20 chairs set out in a semi-circle around the back of the theatre with a working Scientist at each, complete with laminated A3 sheet giving name and ~ 3 words max re their science.
• Wranglers will organise ~ 1/20th share of the students per speaker, then the Scientists will have 5 minutes to speak with their captives along the lines of how sorry they feel for all the other speakers because , “I HAVE THE BEST SCIENCE JOB IN THE WORLD!”.. here’s what I do, here’s an artefact or three from my work, my education pathway was. 1 minute for questions.
• A blow from a whistle and all student groups (assisted by wranglers) rotate one Scientist clockwise.
• Repeat ~4 times.
• Speakers collapse, wranglers gently guide students into the Careers presentation seating which has, until this point been fenced off with bunting.

Current draft of Friday’s timetable:

10.15 – 11.00; speed dating and RiAUS Science Careers Presentation by Director and former Catalyst TV Presenter Paul Willis

10.15 – 10.40; speed dating (20 scientists)

10.40 – 11.00 RiAus Science Careers Presentation

11.30 – 11.50 Spectacular Chemistry Science Show

11.50 iPod draw #1 on main stage (5 mins max)

12.15 – 1.00; speed dating and RiAUS Science Careers Presentation by Director and former Catalyst TV Presenter Paul Willis

12.15 – 12.40; speed dating (20 scientists)

12.40 – 1.00 RiAus Science Careers Presentation

LUNCH BREAK

1.30 – 1.50 Spectacular Chemistry Science Show

1.50 iPod draw #2 on main stage (5 mins max)

Ian Maynard, one of the Science Alive Committee members for this event is coordinating the above Speed Networking activity. He needs several scientists to participate for this to work effectively.

If you are interested in helping out on the day, please contact:

Donna Montes
Marketing and Outreach (Events & Web)
Faculty of Sciences Office
The University of Adelaide, AUSTRALIA 5005
Ph : +61 8 8303 4325
Fax : +61 8 8303 4386
e-mail: donna.montes@adelaide.edu.au

Read Full Post »