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Briefings:

Unbiased and topical backgrounders and handy reference sheets for journalists covering issues in science and technology.

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Climate change and risk fatigue – what can science do?

Posted in Briefings on March 9th, 2010.

ONLINE BRIEFING: Tuesday 9 March 2010, 10.30 am NZT

Climate scientists have been warning since the 2007 publication of the landmark IPCC 4th Assessment Report that the world’s nations need to cut carbon emissions to avoid the devastating impacts of climate change.
But the Copenhagen climate conference failed to produce a legally binding agreement to lower emissions [...]

Continue reading “Climate change and risk fatigue – what can science do?

‘Fish for the future’ – the science behind the catch

ONLINE BRIEFING: Monday 8 March 2010, 11 am NZT

Seaweek kicks off this week with the theme ‘Fish for the future’. But faced with threats of overfishing and global fish stock collapses, will our marine resources survive for future generations?
New Zealand manages fishing rights to the world’s fourth largest Exclusive Economic Zone, and fishing is [...]

March 7th, 2010 Read full Story

Greener pastures? GM forage crops in New Zealand

ONLINE BRIEFING: Tues 2 March 2010, 10:30 a.m.
Drought-resistance, reduced greenhouse gas emissions intensity, superior nutrition for livestock — these are some of the benefits promised by researchers developing genetically modified pasture crops.
But will these be enough to convince farmers — and the wider public — to accept GM pastures?
No GM pasture crop has yet been [...]

March 2nd, 2010 Read full Story

Nutrigenomics – how do our genes affect our nutrition?

What sorts of foods should you — personally — eat to be healthiest?
Nutrigenomics studies the interaction between our genes and the foods we eat. Specifically, it looks at how people with different genetic makeups are affected by different foods, with the aim of matching people to the foods that suit them best.
This emerging field brings [...]

February 25th, 2010 Read full Story

Forensics pioneer on the science of DNA profiling

It is 20 years since DNA evidence was first presented in a New Zealand court, a development that resulted in the conviction of Michael James Pengelly for the murder of an elderly Auckland woman.
Long-used in helping solve serious crimes, DNA samples in the mid nineties were increasingly used as evidence in criminal cases when the [...]

February 16th, 2010 Read full Story

COP15 climate special: Resource centre

Here you will find resources, information and multimedia available to aid the media in the coverage of the COP15 climate change negotiations in Copenhagen.
COP15 coverage in the New Zealand Media
COP15 analysis on Sciblogs.co.nz
AusSMC photos available to the media
AusSMC video available to the media

The SMC will be issuing daily updates on developments in Copenhagen to journalists [...]

December 5th, 2009 Read full Story

Briefing: Dietary supplements – the good, the bad and the ineffectual

Dietary supplements are an increasingly common part of our lives, but should they be?
A sophisticated, multibillion dollar industry exists in supplying dietary supplements. It is not unusual for people to take vitamin and mineral supplements every day, while some rely on caffeine drinks for a daily energy boost and nutrition bars that promise more muscle [...]

November 20th, 2009 Read full Story

Are carbon sinks keeping up with emissions increase?

While natural carbon sinks have historically been able to absorb over half of global carbon dioxide emissions, this may no longer be the case if these emissions continue to increase as they have, say scientists from leading climate research group the Global Carbon Project (GCP).
In addition, carbon dioxide emissions are still rising, to [...]

November 18th, 2009 Read full Story

PODCAST: Climate science – preparing for Copenhagen

Next month, the world will gather in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference (7 – 18 December) to negotiate a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol.
In cooperation with the New Zealand Climate Change Centre and the Ministry for the Environment, the Science Media Centre held a briefing to clarify the science behind the COP15 talks [...]

November 11th, 2009 Read full Story

Climate science and Copenhagen — media update

SMC ONLINE BRIEFING: 10 am Wednesday 11 November
Next month, the world will gather in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference (7 – 18 December) to negotiate a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol.
In cooperation with the New Zealand Climate Change Centre and the Ministry for the Environment, the Science Media Centre will host a [...]

November 10th, 2009 Read full Story


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