Hemp oil, sexism in science and planning public engagement

Friday, 12 June 2015, 5:00 pm
Column: Science Media Centre

SMC Science Deadline: Hemp oil, sexism in science and planning for public engagement

Now is the time to get engaged

This week saw researchers and comms managers from across the science system come together to share ideas for better communications and public engagement.

The Wellington-based event aimed to bring together directors and communications staff representing the National Science Challenges and Centres of Research Excellence (CoREs) to work out where collaboration on public engagement efforts are possible - and to hear from experts in everything from science communicaton research and Mātauranga Māori to social media and science education

With several new CoREs getting underway, most recently, the University of Canterbury-based QuakeCore, and the Challenges beginning to establish their comms and engagement plans, the discussion focussed on how all players can avoid "reinventing the wheel" by sharing ideas and resources and teaming up on projects where appropriate.

Useful resources, presentations and documents from the day have been summarised in this Trello board.

And it is hoped the meeting will be just the first step in enhanced collaboration effortsd across the sector, with feedback gathered by the SMC suggesting appetite for a similar annual event and ongoing networking and collaborating opportunities to maximise public engagement efforts. Contact the SMC for more details.

Hemp oil drug approved

An unproven treatment has received one-off approval in New Zealand in a last ditch effort to help a Wellington coma patient suffering ongoing seizures.

Importation of Elixinol, a hemp-derived medication containing cannabidiol (CBD), was this weekapproved on compassionate grounds by Associate Minister of Health Hon Peter Dunne, for the treatment of patient Alex Renton.

The Minister said that “despite the absence of clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of CBD in patients with Mr Renton’s condition status epilepticus, my decision relies on the dire circumstances and extreme severity of Mr Renton’s individual case”.

Commenting on the announcement, Assoc Prof Michelle Glass, head of the University of Auckland’s pharmacology department, refuted claims that this was a foot in the door for medicinal cannabis.

“It is important that people recognise that this is not the case,” she cautioned.

“What has been approved is oil made from industrial hemp, which is not marijuana, it is not a drug that will make the user experience any of the “high” generally associated with cannabis based products.”

Despite a lack of clinical evidence for the treatment, Assoc Prof Glass was generally supportive of the approval.

“This is really a tragic case, and given that this is a compound which appears to be well tolerated, it is certainly worth a try, we can only hope in the future that there will be stronger clinical evidence as to what composition and dose of medicine is most likely to succeed.”

Dr John Ashton from the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Otago, also noted there was some evidence, largely anecdotal, that CBD may help reduce seizures in specific kinds of hard-to-treat childhood epilepsy.

“However, there is no evidence that CBD can treat status epilepticus nor encephalitis, so this is uncharted territory,” he said.

Read more expert commentary on more on the Science Media Centre website.

Quoted: New Zealand Herald

"In natural ecosystems, you find the rarest species in the areas with the highest biodiversity - the same applies to innovation."

Dr Shaun Hendy, Director of Te Punaha Matatini, commenting on how innovation is driven by variety rather than people numbers

Palmy science video workshop

Learn the basics of using short videos to explain your science in this day-long free Science Media SAVVY workshop.

Great short videos can be produced using the high-definition camera built into your smartphone or tablet. How can you harness this technology to bring your science to life and what are the best ways to shoot, edit and distribute your video content?

The Mohawk Media team and Massey’s own in-house videographers will answer all of your questions, give you some hands-on demos and introduce you to great tools that will help you in the video production process.

This workshop is free to attend, but is limited to 20 places – university and CRI researchers get top priority, but we welcome applications from people working in science-related fields in regional councils, NGOs, private research firms etc.

This is a competitive application process – the best applicants will be selected based on the video concepts outlined in the application form.

WHERE: Massey University
WHEN: 9am – 5pm, Thursday July 2, 2015
PRICE: Free – by invitation only – apply below (applications close June 24)

APPLY HERE

The workshop will cover:

• Video – the medium of the moment – why it is so powerful?
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• The best science videos and why they went viral
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• Scripting and storyboarding short videos
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• Finding images and footage to make your video
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• DIY video – harnessing your smartphone to make great videos.
•
• Software and tools you can use to get the best out of video
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• Go Pro – working with professional videographers to take video to the next level
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• Finding Funding – from grants to crowdfunding
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• Your video project – we will workshop your concept for an science video into a script, giving you expert feedback.

Science sexism storm

Nobel prize winner and UK Royal Society Fellow Sir Tim Hunt has caused controversy by saying labs should be segregated along gender lines.

Researchers and other professionals across the globe were up in arms following Sir Hunt's remarks at the World Conference of Science Journalists in South Korea this week:

"Let me tell you about my trouble with girls … three things happen when they are in the lab … You fall in love with them, they fall in love with you and when you criticise them, they cry."

Although Hunt apologised afterwards, he still stood by his assertion that mixed-gender labs were disruptive.

Consequently, the Royal Society of London has released a statement distancing itself from Hunt and he has now resigned from his post as honorary professor at the University College of London.

Dr Siouxsie Wiles at the University of Auckland comments in her blog post on the issues relating to Hunt’s remarks.

“Sir Hunt has made the classic mistake of thinking he has apologised when he hasn’t.” she says.

She adds that the Royal Society also needs to act beyond just distancing itself: “Give all your Fellows and Council training to recognise ALL their unconscious biases and to see that they are unjustified.”

Other female scientists have also responded in animated ways using the Twitter hashtag campaign #distractinglysexy.

Read more and see media coverage at the Science Media Centre website.

Policy news & developments

Submissions sought on new herbicide: The Environmental Protection Authority is calling for submissions on an application for the herbicide GF-2687 containing halauxifen methyl and florasulam - ingredients that are new to New Zealand.

$500,000 boost to help rural mental health: A $500,000 funding boost has been injected into supporting mental health initiatives targeted at rural communities.

One-off use of Cannabidiol product ‘Elixinol’ approved: The Government has approved on compassionate grounds the one-off use of Elixinol, a cannabidiol product from the United States to be administered by clinicians treating Wellington patient Alex Renton.

New from Sciblogs

Some of the highlights from this week's Sciblogs posts:

Science and social media in New Zealand - Ken Perrott expresses his thoughts on the SMC Social Media Snapshot.
Open Parachute

Natural Curiosity - Mark Hanna tells us about a project he's set up in response to this week's #SciCommNZ chat
Honest Universe

Consider this rare beast, the scientist-communicator - Grant Jacobs discusses the pros and cons of being a scientist who spends a significant amount of their time communicating their work.
Code for Life

My 2c worth on latest sexism in science debacle - Sir Tim Hunt has dug himself into a chauvinist hole - but his 'apology' and the Royal Society's response aren't adequate, argues Siouxsie Wiles.
Infectious Thoughts

Data mining medical trials – a ‘game changer’ - Lynley Hargreaves asks Suetonia Palmer about her latest research that identifies which drug combinations best protect kidney function.
Infrequently Asked Questions

Upcoming events

Please see the SMC Events Calendar for more events and detail

• Alcohol and cancer conference - 17 June, Wellington. Alcohol Action NZ and the Cancer Society of NZ co-host host this first ever New Zealand meeting on alcohol and cancer.

• Science Public Lecture Nelson - 17 June, Nelson. Two lectures by VUW scientists, titled "A crisis in the pharmaceutical industry: Should we care?" and "Genes, gene therapy, and gene patenting".

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