1. This week 10 years ago, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) revealed that a survey taken during a Science Week show in Sydney found that three-quarters of people wrongly believed that microscopic life existed on other planets and one-quarter believed in light sabres.
The Fact or Fiction show, which attracted hundreds of people, screened scenes from science fiction films before inviting audiences to use keypads to vote on which technologies were now a reality and which were still the stuff of daydreams.
The survey found more than half the people taking part wrongly believed hoverboards, such as that used by Back to the Future’s Marty McFly, existed; and more than 40 per cent incorrectly believed it was possible to bring people back to life after they had been frozen.
2. Also this week in 2011, the National Archives of Australia (NAA) won an award for its digital preservation programs in UNESCO’s Memory of the World project. UNESCO described the NAA as a world leader in many areas, notably that of digital preservation. It praised the Archives for sharing with others “the fruit of its own research and development by making available open source tools for digital preservation”.
The prize also recognised the NAA’s research into preserving documents written in iron gall ink, which was used in Europe for many centuries but which, over time, can eat into the paper on which it is used.
3. NSW and Queensland signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed in part at improving responses to natural disasters. NSW Premier, Barry O’Farrell said it would reinforce the relationship between the two States by including all Government services that were affected by cross-border issues, including policing, social services, primary industries, water, emergency management and response.
“There is a strong spirit of cooperation between our two States,” Mr O’Farrell said. “The MOU will formalise cooperation on strategic growth issues in key population centres and advance policy development and service delivery in the cross-border regions.”
4. South Australian Government scientists monitoring environmental issues in the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region uncovered four new species of zooplankton, which they believed played an important role in the area’s food chain. Minister for Environment and Conservation, Paul Caica said zooplankton were a base food source for juvenile fish and were important for the survival of the region’s native fish species.
“Zooplankton are used around the world as bio-indicators, but until recently they have not been regularly studied in Australia,” Mr Caica said. “Studying these microscopic animals provides critical water quality information.”
5. Queensland moved to introduce a new system for dealing with police complaints, discipline and misconduct after an independent expert panel described the current system as “dysfunctional and unsustainable”. Responding to the report, Premier, Anna Bligh said the Queensland Police Service was among the best.
“These officers, and indeed the entire Queensland community, deserve to be confident that police will be held accountable to the highest ethical standards,” Ms Bligh said.
“Our response to the independent expert panel outlines a new regime that will make the police complaints system simpler, more effective, more transparent and stronger.”
6. And a decade ago this week, Screen Australia released a report into Australian content on free-to-air and pay television that raised fears that Australian programs could be on the way out.
The report said there had been a “significant dilution” of Australian content in the media in recent years. Chief Operating Officer of Screen Australia, Fiona Cameron said audiences were fragmenting away from the main free-to-air channels to multi-channels that had no Australian content requirements.
“In an era of convergence, Screen Australia is keen to promote choice, access and diversity and looks forward to further contributing to the debate,” Ms Cameron said.
