Dandelions, cotton balls and swimming pools – what do they have in common? They are all terms used by Australian experts to explain science to the public. A scientific concept such as density might be explained by comparing, say, a piece of glass with a snow-flake. A description of water management might invoke a drop of a dangerous substance in an Olympic-size swimming pool.

As CRC CARE moves into the 6th year of its 2nd funding cycle, its ‘Minimising uncertainty in risk assessment’ program saw completion of 8 projects, including 3 carryover projects from its first funding cycle. Currently, 4 projects are ongoing, with most likely to be completed in the next 1–2 years.