Oliver, Carol

Summary

Carol Oliver is a Science Communicator, Researcher and continues to make significant contributions to Science Education both nationally and internationally.

Details

Since 2002 Carol Oliver has held multiple roles at the Australian Centre for Astrobiology (ACA) becoming the Deputy Director in 2012, and Postgraduate Coordinator (Candidature) for the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES) at the University of New South Wales in 2017. Before her career at the Australian Centre of Astrobiology Carol Oliver worked as a Journalist, focusing on science and finance news, for multiple mainstream media outlets. In 2003 she completed a research masters in science communication at the Central Queensland University, and then a PhD, exploring communication astrobiology with the public, at the University of New South Wales in 2008.

Carol Oliver played a key role in the establishment of The Mars Lab alongside the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Sydney and the Australian Centre for Field Robotics, University of Sydney. The Mars Lab provides a scientific stimulation of the Martian Landscape and facilitates research by high school students, university students and academics. Carol Oliver also led the development of the Smart Science Initiative that provides educational science modules for Australian High Schools.

In addition to these projects Carol Oliver is a member of multiple professional organisations and has served on numerous committees including the Australian Academy of Science's National Committee for Space and Radio Science, the NASA Astrobiology Institute Advent of Complex Life, Chair of the International Academy of Astronautics Study Group Future Directions in Space Education and the co-Chair of the Australia - American Fullbright Symposium. In 2014 Carol Oliver received Australia's Academic and Research Network (AARNet) Award for Excellence for her work on The Mars Lab.

Chronology

Career event - Secretary, SETI Permanent Study Group and Deputy Char of the Post Detection Taskgroup, International Academy of Astronautics (AAI)

Career position - Future Directions in Space Education Study Group, International Academy of Astronautics

Career position - Public Outreach Working Group, Australian Decadel Space Plan Steering Committee, Australian Academy of Science National Committee on Space Science

Career position - Team Member, Foundations of Complex Life Research Project, NASA Astrobiology Institute

Award - Elected Member, International Academy of Astronautics

Career position - Senior Research Fellow, Palaeontology, Geobiology and Earth Archives Research Centre (PANGEA)

1966 - 1967

Award - American Field Service Scholarship

1968 - 1971

Career position - Journalism apprenticeship, Hornchurch and Upminster Echo Newspaper

1971 - 1972

Career position - News Reporter, Havering Recorder newspaper

1972 - 1976

Career position - Features editor, Lincolnshire Standard Newspaper Group

1976 - 1979

Career position - Sub-editor and later deputy chief sub-editor, Portsmouth News

1979 - 1988

Career position - City, news and science reporter, Independent Television News

1988 - 1990

Career position - Personal Finance Editor, 'Your Money', Oracle Teletext Service

1990 - 1994

Career position - Freelance journalist specialising in science and personal finance

1994 - 2002

Career position - Science Journalist, University of Western Sydney

1994 - 2002

Career position - Science Journalist, producers 2SER radio science show Discovery

2002

Award - Fulbright Symposium

2002

Career position - Co-Chair, Australian-American Fullbright Symposium, Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

2002

Career position - Local Organising Committee, 2002 International Bioastronomy Conference, Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

2002 - 2007

Career position - Assistant Director, Management and Outreach, Australian Centre for Astrobiology

2003

Education - Master of Science Communication, Central Queensland University

2003 - 2005

Career position - Co-Chair, NASA Astrobiology Institute Science Communication Focus Group

2006 - 2007

Career event - Australian Representative, International Astronautical Congress

2008

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of New South Wales

2008 - 2010

Career position - Science communication specialist, Australian Centre for Astrobiology

2010 - 2012

Career position - Senior Research Fellow, Australian Centre for Astrobiology

2012 -

Career position - Deputy Director, Australian Centre for Astrobiology

2016 -

Career position - Postgraduate Coordinator (Candidature), School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), University of New South Wales

2017 -

Career position - Education Focused role, Australian Centre for Astrobiology

Related entries

Published resources

Resource Sections

• 'Public Profile', in Australian Centre for Astrobiology, University of New South Wales, Dr Carol Oliver, University of New South Wales, https://www.aca.unsw.edu.au/profile-main/33. Details
• 'Carol Oliver', in Foundations of Complex Life, Foundations of Complex Life, The MIT NASA Astrobiology team, http://www.complex-life.org/team/carol-oliver/. Details
• 'Membership of the Study Group 6.2 Future Directions in Space Exploration Education', International Academy of Astronautics, 2006, http://iaaweb.org/iaa/Scientific%20Activity/Study%20Groups/SG%20Commission%206/sg62/sg62membership.pdf. Details
• 'Carol Oliver', in Australian Academy of Science, Australian Academy of Science, 26 May 2016, https://www.science.org.au/curious/person/dr-carol-oliver. Details
• 'Dr Carol Oliver', in People, Paleaentology, Geobiology and Earth Archives Research Centre (PANGEA), Paleaentology, Geobiology and Earth Archives Research Centre (PANGEA), University of New South Wales, 31 July 2017, http://www.pangea.unsw.edu.au/people/academic-research/carol-oliver. Details
• Oliver, Carol, 'Dr Carol Oliver', http://www.carololiver.org/. Details