Science in Parliament

Advances in science are changing our lives at all levels - economic, social and environmental. The annual Science in Parliament (SIP) program brings scientists and Members of Parliament (MPs) together to discuss the impact of science and research on Queensland's future.

Now in its ninth year, SIP is the longest-running science communication program for state MPs. It is co-hosted by the Premier and Speaker of the House.

Past Science in Parliament events

2011 program

Premier's Science and Innovation Reception: Held in November, the reception hosted around 500 MPs and members of Queensland's science, research, commercialisation, education and innovation communities. The reception included presentation of the 2011 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Awards and the Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowships.

Hot Topic Briefing – Understanding Floods: More than 60 MPs, students and members of the science, industry and technology communities attended this briefing in November 2011. The audience heard from three experts, Professor Roger Stone (Central Queensland University), Toby McGrath (Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd) and Tony McAllister (BMT WBM), as they drew from the recent report Understanding Floods: Questions & Answers to discuss in practical terms what weather we will face this summer, the impacts of floods and what the Government can do to do to better equip Queensland for future flooding.

We appreciate the following departments for their support of Science in Parliament 2011:

The Premier and Cabinet
Communities
Education and Training
Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
Environment and Resource Management
Queensland Health

Thank you to the following organisations for their assistance with Science in Parliament 2011:

University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba
BMT WBM, Brisbane
Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd, Brisbane
CSIRO
The Australian Institute of Science and Policy

2010 program

Premier's Science and Innovation Reception: The reception hosted around 700 MPs and members of Queensland's science, research, commercialisation, education and innovation communities. The reception included presentation of the 2010 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Awards.

Hot Topic Briefing - New technologies: Changing the economic map of Queensland: Over 70 MPs and members of the science, industry and innovation community attended this briefing. It involved presentations from John McGagh (Rio Tinto), Dr Clinton Fookes (Airports of the Future, QUT) and Professor Terry Caelli (National ICT Australia).

Hot Topic Briefing - Energy: Queensland's future: The briefing brought together over 75 MPs, scientists and industry professionals to discuss Queensland's energy future. It included presentations from Kelly Thambimuthu (The University of Queensland), Ross Paul (Bakers Alternate Energy), Peta Ashworth (Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies, CSIRO).

Listen to the podcasts from the briefing (supplied by Education Queensland) by:

2009 program

From publication to policy: how science shapes our future

The full-day program was held during National Science Week. More than 210 scientists, innovators, students and teachers joined us at Parliament House to discuss key areas of Queensland's future through:

a series of working lunches, also attended by 33 MPs, that addressed the current inquiries of three Parliamentary Committees
face-to-face meetings arranged between 29 MPs and 58 scientists and innovators
dynamic and interactive forums.

Past programs

2008 – Premier's Science and Innovation Reception
2008 – Hot Topic Briefing - Bypassing blow-outs: Keeping a lid on Queensland's health costs
2008 – Hot Topic Briefing - Ultra-small particles, mega impacts: Queensland's future with nanotechnology
2007 – Celebrating Queensland’s science successes
2006 – Premier’s Science and Innovation Reception
2005 – Collaboration, communication and critical mass
2004 – Queensland in 2025 - through the eyes of science
2003 – Biodiscovery

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