Sci Art Walks

SCIENCE WHEN SCIENCE AND ART COLLIDE

Interview: Stephanie Williams

With so many festivals not going ahead right now, Dr Margo Adler from Beaker Street shares how they’re filling the festival void.

What is Sci Art Walks and how does it work?

Sci Art Walks is a new project by Beaker Street, which we’ve been working on since having to Corona-cancel our 2020 Beaker Street Festival. The project features fascinating talks by some of Tasmania’s most innovative and accomplished scientists and cultural figures, paired with iconic walking trails around the state. Woven through each episode is music originally composed and performed by an incredible lineup of Tasmanian musicians. Sci Art Walks will be released as part of National Science Week this month, and people will be able to stream or download the episodes free, and from anywhere in the world. We hope the project will encourage people to get away from their screens and out exploring some of Tassie’s beautiful natural environments. But even if you can’t make it to the suggested walking location, we think the episodes are best listened to while basking in the fresh air. Access Sci Art Walks via www.beakerstreet.com.au

Where can people experience the walks?

We have suggested walk locations all around the state - we’ve done our best to cover every corner of Tasmania. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to make a road trip out of it, including a few walk locations, and maybe visit somewhere new. Or perhaps you’ll rediscover your own backyard.

And there’s also the photography prize...

Entries for the competition are now closed but you can visit the exhibition of finalist photographs, on show at TMAG from 23 August - 13 September. While there, you can vote for your favourite photo to become the People’s Choice Winner.

Why are science festivals like Beaker Street important?

An understanding and appreciation of science is essential for an equitable, well functioning society. These days, the importance

THE SCI ART WALKS PROGRAM

SPEAKER

Professor Barbara Holland Professor Gretta Pecl

LOCATION

Cataract Gorge, Launceston Wineglass Bay walk, Freycinet

Dr Andy Flies

First Dog on the Moon David Walsh Andry Sculthorpe, Billy Payton Clark Dr Jennifer Lavers

Christine Milne, Bob Brown, Tabatha Bader, Todd Dudley Cathy Byrne and Simon Grove Cradle Mountain

Cockle Creek to South Cape walk GASP! track, Grenorchy Knocklofty Reserve, Hobart

The Nut, Stanley

Lake Pedder

Remarkable Cave to Crescent Bay

of science is clearer than ever, with our hopes of eradicating Coronavirus and combating climate change (just to name a couple) pinned on the work of scientists. But sometimes scientists get put on a pedestal, and they can seem unapproachable or unrelatable. Beaker Street Festival aims to break down barriers between scientists and the public.

What’s your favourite science fact?

I just learned this from our Sci Art Walks episode featuring Dr Cathy Byrne, Tasmania’s resident moth expert: Moths have the best sense of smell of any animal on Earth, and they use this to find mates. Females “call” to males by releasing pheromones, and the males can pick those up from huge distances. In the silk moth, for example, the male can detect one molecule of pheromone released by a female from 10km away. So if a female silk moth in Hobart was looking for a partner, a male silk moth in Kingston could smell her pheromones and fly straight to her!

Do you have a hidden Hobart science secret?

Yes! The Evolve Spirits Bar at MACq 01 Hotel has the most incredible, underappreciated collection of fossils on display. They belong to an unnamed collector and are housed in all manner of museum cases, which serve as everything from huge displays (like the cave bear skeleton in the middle of the bar) to the tables you can sit your drinks on top of.

MUSICIAN

Brian Ritchie Michael Fortescue

Emily Sanzaro

Emily Sheppard Zac Henderson TBC

Maggie Abraham

Julius Schwing and Tilly Martin

Warren Mason and Ben Salter

THEME

Maths and Evolution Climate change and effects on east coast marine diversity Developing a vaccine for devil facial tumour disease Exploring Tasmania’s wild environments Risk Aboriginal fire practices

Mutton birds and conservation, threats from ocean plastics The ecological challenges of restoring Lake Pedder Seeing the world from a naturalist’s perspective

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