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Science Media Centre NZ
Our aim is to promote accurate, evidence-based reporting on science and technology by helping the media work more closely with the scientific community.
The Science Media Centre is New Zealand's only trusted, independent source of information for the media on all issues related to science. Thousands of news stories providing context from and quoting New Zealand researchers have been published as a direct result of our work.
Science Media Centre NZ - Latest News [Page 65]
'I predicted the earthquake' – scientists respond
Tuesday, 1 March 2011, 4:12 pm | Science Media Centre
1 March 2011 Recent media coverage has focused attention on unfounded claims that earthquakes can be predicted by various methods, some involving the moon's influence on tidal forces which may "trigger" large quakes on already stressed fault ... More >>
How long to search? -- a review
Monday, 28 February 2011, 4:01 pm | Science Media Centre
How long to search? -- a review of evidence from Haiti's quake 28 Feb 2011 In an effort to assist New Zealand-based rescue efforts, the journal Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness has published a series of open-access articles reviewing ... More >>
Scientists: new fault but still an aftershock
Friday, 25 February 2011, 10:25 pm | Science Media Centre
As GNS Science seismologists analyse data from sensors around Canterbury, a clearer picture is emerging of what happened beneath the Canterbury plains to trigger Tuesday's devastating quake . More >>
National-scale project may be needed to rebuild economy
Friday, 25 February 2011, 3:29 pm | Science Media Centre
A geographer and former urban planner who has written a book about the aftermath of the devastating 1995 Kobe earthquake in Japan, says New Zealand will likely need to respond with a national-scale multi-faceted project to assist Christchurch long-term, ... More >>
Timing of quake, weakened buildings: resulted in more deaths
Wednesday, 23 February 2011, 10:09 am | Science Media Centre
An unusually large aftershock from the September 4 Darfield earthquake is almost certainly to blame for the devastating quake that struck Christchurch yesterday, according to geologists here and overseas who have studied the seismic data. In the ... More >>
Experts on Christchurch earthquake
Tuesday, 22 February 2011, 9:02 pm | Science Media Centre
Our colleagues at the Australian Science Media Centre gathered the comments below from Australia-based experts in earth sciences: More >>
Science Media Centre Issue 120 Feb 11-17
Friday, 11 February 2011, 4:22 pm | Science Media Centre
We're hiring! One of our media advisors has been snapped up by the science sector which means the SMC is looking for new talent. If you are obsessed with science, news savvy, great with words and interested in how science is communicated, you could ... More >>
Meat 'gassing' - what are the facts?
Monday, 7 February 2011, 5:02 pm | Science Media Centre
News reports within the last day or two have revealed that some of New Zealand's meat undergoes a process called 'gas flushing', in which carbon dioxide and oxygen is pumped into meat packaging to significantly lengthen the meat's shelf-life. More >>
Yasi: nature's devastating power
Friday, 4 February 2011, 2:13 pm | Science Media Centre
In the end it wasn't as severe as it could have been as category 5 Cyclone Yasi spared Queensland's large townships but nevertheless wreaked widespread damage between Cairns and Townsville. As is often the case with looming natural disasters, saturated ... More >>
Bluegreens to discuss environment
Friday, 28 January 2011, 4:29 pm | Science Media Centre
An indication of the Government's environment policy direction in election year may be given tomorrow when the National Party's environmental wing the Bluegreens meet in Akaroa . More >>
Two become one in science shake-up
Friday, 28 January 2011, 4:28 pm | Science Media Centre
Tuesday sees the official debut of the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the merging of science funding and policy roles into one unit as the Government's revamp of the science system continues. The new Ministry is to be launched at Victoria University ... More >>
Queensland floods: the aftermath - experts respond
Friday, 14 January 2011, 2:58 pm | Science Media Centre
Professor Beverley Raphael is from the University of Western Sydney's School of Medicine. She heads a research unit which tackles mental health issues associated with disasters, terrorism and other adversity. As a former Director of the NSW Centre ... More >>
Queensland flood crisis - experts respond
Thursday, 13 January 2011, 11:13 am | Science Media Centre
The most recent flash floods in Queensland, which started on Monday, have now claimed at least 10 lives, and left 56,000 properties without power. Ninety people are still missing, and evacuation warnings have been issued in Brisbane. More >>
New UK consensus on vitamin D - experts respond
Friday, 17 December 2010, 3:56 pm | Science Media Centre
Earlier today, UK health charities launched a consensus position paper on vitamin D covering issues of sun exposure, cancer risk and dietary supplementation, recommending some exposure to midday sun. More >>
Climate talks deal in Cancun - experts respond
Monday, 13 December 2010, 12:44 pm | Science Media Centre NZ
Over the weekend, delegates at UN climate talks adopted the 'Cancun Agreements', laying the groundwork for an extension to Kyoto commitments and reviving fading hopes for an outcome from international climate negotiations. More >>
Lignite and the future of hydrogen
Friday, 10 December 2010, 4:37 pm | Science Media Centre
This week Dr Jan Wright, Parlimentary Commissioner for the Environment, released a report - subsequently backed by academics - condemning moves by Solid Energy and the L&M Group to exploit low-grade lignite coal reserves beneath Southland. Plans ... More >>
"Plenty more earthquakes" to come
Friday, 10 December 2010, 4:36 pm | Science Media Centre
Canterbury University engineering expert Professor Andy Buchanan wasn't mincing his words in this week's Science Media Centre media briefing - he considers it a "fluke" that no one was killed in September's 7.1 quake in Canterbury. More >>
Attack on fur seal colony - expert responds
Monday, 6 December 2010, 1:43 pm | Science Media Centre
23 New Zealand fur seal pups and adults were found clubbed to death this morning at Ohau Point, near Kaikoura. The Department of Conservation has issued a press release with further details of the incident. (Contact the Science Media Centre to have a ... More >>
Kyoto focus in Cancun climate talks
Friday, 3 December 2010, 4:46 pm | Science Media Centre
Predictably fraught negotiations appear to have dominated the COP16 climate summit in Cancun, Mexico, as representatives from 190-odd countries try to come to agreement on how to lower greenhouse gas emissions. The overall goal of the conference is to ... More >>
International Year of Biodiversity, is drawing to a close
Friday, 3 December 2010, 4:07 pm | Science Media Centre
This year's targets for global biodiversity conservation -- the culmination of UN efforts emerging from the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 -- have largely failed. More >>
