2023 National Science Week

To celebrate National Science Week (12-20 August) this year we partnered with QUT, The University of Queensland and Griffith University to deliver a Queensland Future Conservations breakfast briefing at Parliament House.

Leading experts from the three universities and industry spoke to this year's theme, Innovation: Powering Future Industries with a focus on what Queensland is doing to transition to a low carbon future.

The first speaker, Dr Ruby Michael (Griffith University), presented on Re-Building Soil and Plant Ecosystems, emphasising the many benefits of greening our cities and infrastructure.

Associate Professor Joshua Watts (QUT) spoke on Building Better Batteries, highlighting the opportunities that Queensland has to value add, innovate and lead battery research and testing nationally.

The last presenter, Associate Professor Esteban Marcellin (The University of Queensland), spoke about Enabling the Bioeconomy: a Path to Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Queensland, where he explored the state’s unique potential to produce sustainable aviation fuels for both local and international markets.

The university researchers were then joined by their industry partners Professor Peter Talbot (Feline Pty Ltd), Mr David Johnston (Jet Zero Australia), and Mr Chris Baker (Sunshine Hydro) for a Q&A panel session discussion.

Following the briefing, attendees were joined by more than 60 Year 9 students plus teachers from 16 schools to browse display stands that included renewable energy, carbon farming and embedding carbon-neutral initiatives in schools.

Later in the morning, the students moved to QUT for informative sessions with the university's Dean's and Westpac Scholars who spoke about what sparked their interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects, their experience at university, and their aspirations for the future.

As well as events at Parliament House and QUT, we coordinated the Meet a scientist in schools program, where 15 scientists spoke to students at a school of their choice about their research and careers, inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals.

National Science Week was celebrated across the state with more than 200 STEM-based events and activities including:

• a STEM Fair at the Queensland Children’s Hospital School
• Exploring STEM in the Mary River, a forum in Gympie about land and water management
• Street Science shows at the Ekka.