The Open Desk

Margie Beilharz

Freelance editor and writer in science, environment, education, health

Note: I am not taking new clients

Category: Uncategorised

  • Making molecules crystal clear

    Crystallography is one of those mysterious scientific techniques you hear about – and 2014 has been the International Year of Crystallography. But what is it really? CSIRO have posted a great explanation of how we can bounce X-rays off crystals to see the structure of the component molecules when they are too small to be…

  • Redesign

    I hope you like the new design. I’ve changed to a new WordPress theme called Editor – it seemed appropriate, and I like the look of it.

  • The good and bad of global recycling

    Soon I’ll be reviewing Adam Minter’s new book Junkyard Planet for Science Book a Day – just waiting for that parcel in the mail! George Aranda has already posted a synopsis and book trailer – they’re new thing, have you noticed?

  • Decoy nest protects young yellow-rumped thornbills

    These little brown birds, seen flitting around woodlands and occasionally my garden, are clever architects whose nest deceives potential predators. I discovered this after I chose to write a piece on the yellow-rumped thornbill for the Bimblebox 153 Birds Project—a conservation meets art project highlighting the bird species recorded in Bimblebox Nature Refuge in Queensland, which is…

  • Yellow-rumped thornbill: Bimblebox Art Project

    This is the text of my audio piece on the yellow-rumped thornbill for the Bimblebox 153 Birds Art Project, which is touring around Queensland to raise awareness of the Bimblebox Nature Refuge, which is threatened by coal mining. 153 species of birds have been spotted in the reserve. Yellow-rumped thornbills (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) are endemic to Australia and widespread, particularly…

  • Ten or more of just about everything science communication

    You know how blogs posts/tweets etc entice you in with a number in the heading (ten best …, five tips on …)? Here’s even better: a compilation of lists and articles on all aspects of science communication from this week [update – old link removed], put together by Kirk Englehardt, Director of Research Communication and Marketing at Georgia Institute of…

  • Write for conservation, and art

    I’ve picked the yellow-rumped thornbill to write about for the Bimblebox 153 Birds Project. 153 because they’ve recorded 153 bird species at Bimblebox Nature Reserve in central western Queensland (although their website now says 154). The privately owned high-biodiversity remnant woodland reserve is now under threat

  • Uncertainty in the mail

    I had a nice parcel in the mail today — Michael Brooks’ new book At the edge of uncertainty: 11 discoveries taking science by surprise. I’ve offered to review it for Science Book a Day, a project run by George Aranda (aka PopSciGuy), so I’ll read it with my notebook by my side. The book’s premise is to look…

  • Hello world

    Hello World.