FAQ for the Australian poll gene test

I have been closely involved with the launch of the poll gene test for Australian cattle in 2010 and communicating the results of testing the product in commercial cattle herds. The Australian poll gene test has been developed for cattle in Australian production systems and works very well in Brahman but is also being used across breeds. I put together this FAQ as part of communicating the outcomes. The FAQ is part of a suite of information on the poll gene test developed by the Beef CRC. A two-page fact sheet has also been developed.

LabTube TV is here

Have you checked out LabTube TV yet? LabTube is an online space where scientific or biomedical videos can be shared with the wider community.

JK OK!

Janine King and Jackie Kyte (aka JK Connections) are well known to many as highly efficient event organisers in the agricultural and livestock production and research sectors. We recommended an update to their branding to ensure it worked well in web and email formats. The JKs wanted a very simple, fully functional HTML site – and here it is.

JK Connections new logo:

JK’s old logo (right): 

Edvantage viewer – one page web design

Here is a one-page web design concept Aaron is working on with Turnstile Web. The menu items all link you to the specific content that is also viewable on the home page by scrolling down the page. Neat concept that works for this educational children’s book company.

Black is the new black

 We are pleased to work on the Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation(ARCAA) annual review document. Check out our cover concept.

Conference explores brave new world of designer animals

Sustainable food production, animal welfare and the brave  new world of designer livestock breeding were the focus of a major  international conference hosted jointly by the Beef, Dairy and Sheep  Cooperative Research Centres held in Melbourne on 2-5 May 2011.

The Applied Genomics for Sustainable Livestock Breeding conference was funded as part of the Sir Mark Oliphant Conference Series through the Australian Academy of
Science and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering,
to stage strategically significant international conferences in Australia on
high priority, cutting edge, multi-disciplinary themes. Over 360 delegates from
23 countries attended. Conference outcomes included new international
collaborations that build on the CRCs’ existing international genomics
collaborations and consensus across livestock industries in Australia on the
best ways to implement new genomic technologies.

The conference attracted approx 400 participants from 23 countries, with 20 sponsors.

Listen to Genomics to improve livestock productivity - an ABC radio Bush Telegraph interview with conference host, Professor Mike Goddard, 4 May 2011.

View and search video presentations from the conference here.

The conference dinner at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was a highlight of the event. View conference photos here.

Open science and open Government

I recently organised an Open Science event, on behalf of the CSIRO Staff Association, featuring leaders in this field including Dr Terry Cutler, Professor Anne Fitzgerald and Dr Stefan Hajkowicz.

Julian Assange versus Rupert Murdoch

Nano gold

A new animation illustrating how gold behaves at the nanoscale.

The sun goddess

Angeles Duran, a 49 year old Spanish woman, claims to own the sun – and she plans to start charging users for its warming rays. You go girl!