The Invisible Observer is a newsletter created by Scale Free Network, art-science collaborative.

Issue No.5 — July 2015

The Invisible Observer is a newsletter created by Scale Free Network.
It focuses on our exploration of invisible microscopic worlds and collaborative adventures in the world of art, science and publishing.

Zobi and the Zoox:

Shortlistings, Teaching Notes & and Puggle Award

Book Two in our Small Friends series, Zobi and the Zoox has recently been shortlisted for both:
the Environmental Award for Children's Literature (EACL) and,
the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Award.
We are really honoured to have made it to the category of 'finalist' in these two Australian literary awards. Former winners include: Tim Winton, Colin Thiele, Paul Jennings, Jeannie Baker, Graeme Base & Mem Fox. We'll let you know how we go!

We have just finished creating new education resources for teachers and parents.
Our Teaching Notes contain: a Quiz; Q&A discussion points; Writing and Art Activities; and relevant Australian Curriculum links. These will be available free of charge.

Parents and Teachers - WE NEED YOUR HELP!

The Wilderness Society has announced the new Puggle (Children's choice) Award,
alongside two other competitions for children.
Please encourage any and all Prep-Year 6 children to vote (for Zobi and the Zoox) here: http://www.eacl.org.au/vote/ by Friday 17th July!

THE
INVISIBLE WAR:
FUNDING SUCCESS

Funding Success!!
We are thrilled to have been awarded grants from both the Australia Council for the Arts and Creative Victoria to support the creation of The Invisible War.

These funds have already supported some of our travel to France and the UK to research the science of dysentery and the experiences of Australian nurses and soldiers in WWI - both prominent aspects of our new digital graphic novel. Look right (to column titled The Invisible War - Research Phase) for more details on our reconnaissance operation.

We're also excited that these new funds will allow us to create a bigger and better book - due for release in March 2016.

Next stop...the International Society for Symbiosis conference in Lisbon!

IPPY:
OUR FIRST EVER BOOK AWARD!!

The Squid, the Vibrio & the Moon has won an award at the US Independent Publishers (IPPY) awards.

We entered our new eBook in the BEST CHILDREN'S ILLUSTRATED E-BOOK category and we are really happy to announce that we won a bronze medal!!

You can purchase our award-winning eBook through the iBookstore and GooglePlay.

Special thanks to everyone who supported our eBook launch in May, especially our social media manager Cameron Baker. We made it to #3 in Apple's Top 100 Free E-Books for Children!

THE
INVISIBLE WAR: RESEARCH PHASE

Ailsa, Briony and Gregory have spent much of June in France and the UK undertaking research for upcoming graphic novel, The Invisible War.

Our research destinations have included:
- Museé Somme 1916 and Historial de la Grande Guerre in Picardie
- war poet Wilfred Owen's memorial by the Somme river (pictured with Ailsa above),
- the Australian memorial at Villers Bretonneux,
- former site of the 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen Racecourse,
- key ANZAC battle locations in the Somme regions such as Pozières,
- The Pasteur Institute in Paris where we met with microbiologists Philippe Sansonetti & Laurent Debarbieux to talk Shigella and bacteriophages
-the Wellcome Trust Library in London

'Of all the Inventions none there is Surpasses,
the Noble Florentine's Dioptrick Glasses.
For what a better, fitter guift Could bee
in this World's Aged Luciosity.
To help our Blindnesse so as to devize,
a paire of new & Artificial eyes.
By whose augmenting power wee now see more.
than all the world Has ever dounn before.'
Extract from: 'In commendation of ye microscope' Henry Power, 1664