Michael JensenThey might be Tall Poppies but no-one knows it
September 21st 2008 12:12
Ironic that I'm promoting AIPS when they won't promote their own winners
Except, apparently, the organisers of the Tall Poppy Campaign. The web site says "The Tall Poppy Campaign was created by the Australian Institute of Policy & Science to recognise and celebrate Australian scientific and intellectual excellence and to encourage younger Australians to follow in the footsteps of our outstanding achievers... The Young Tall Poppy Science Awards which are held each year in different states. Award winners are engaged in an education program to foster a stronger interest in science in schools and the broader community"
That's nice, and it's not like they're the only ones trying. But I bet you didn't know the awards existed in the first place. I'm even more sure that you won't know these "outstanding achievers" are.
That's right - on 11 September they announced the winners. But who heard about it? No-one really because they didn't tell anyone outside the awards dinner. Their names are not even listed on the Tall Poppies web site, and it's ten days later.
The only reason I know about it is because yesterday I had coffee with an old friend called Ian who happened to be one of those winners. He tells me that on the night he got a very nice vase and had dinner with a lot of other interesting people. But that's it. At least Monash University tried to tell the public about it, but not the Australian Institute of Policy and Science.
I've been asking around through other circles have heard that the Institute's attitude is that no-one would be interested anyway so what's the point in trying to get media attention?
This is just unfathomable! I have never heard of an award that hasn't at least TRIED to get some attention, even if it's just local newspapers. It costs nothing but time and one person's energy. It suggests either a strange sense of strategy, a staggering lack of effort or incredible disorganisation. But perhaps more importantly, it's disrespectful of the researchers who have entered and who in the coming year will be prepared to spend time in schools with students talking about their science.
So I say congratulations to Dr Brendan Jenkins, Dr Natalie Borg, and Dr Ian Wanless from Monash University, but sadly no-one else because we just don't know who they are.
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