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THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING STEM IN QUEENSLAND
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Queensland had an amazing National Science Week this year, with over 317 events registered on the official National Science Week website.
Highlights include:
An early start to National Science Week in Queensland with the Gympie STEM hub sponsoring a Twilight STEAMzone twilight science market with Scientists Encounter at Rainbow Beach. More than 20 scientists joined as part of the bioblitz being held over the weekend of August 3. Participants were able to engage with the scientists and there were more than 20 science themed stands to explore with themes including entomology, mycology, wildlife photography, Dr Suzie Starfish book readings, a science themed costume competition and much more. Over 300 people joined this celebration of science. Our other Queensland STEM hubs hosted or facilitated a variety of exciting events including the science of brewing (Gladstone), catapult competitions at the Medieval Festival (Townsville), Amaroo bioblitz (Toowoomba) and and Illuminate FNQ Festival (Cairns).
Our first Outback launch of National Science Week in Cloncurry hosted over 200 people at a mini STEM fair hosted by the Shire Council at the Cloncurry Community Precinct. The fair was opened by the local Deadly Dancers group and a special keynote by Colin Saltmere AM. Participants had access to VR experiences with Professor Tech, mining science with Dugald River MMG and Harmony Eva mines plus special presentations by the Sustainable Minerals Institute, the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and the National Indigenous Science Translation Centre.
Other special activities by national grant recipients included the Sound of Symmetry (combing mathematics and music), 3D printing pills (so convenient), biodiversity and conservation on Minjerribah (north Stradbroke Island) and farming integrating traditional and modern science in the Torres Strait.
Local Queensland Seed Grant recipients included the team from iLaunch in Springfield and Toowoomba (space technology), robotics with Little Alphas in Robina, Playmatters in Townsville, Future Science Talks in Cairns, Townsville and the Gold Coast, Professor Tech in Cloncurry, CoralWatch (Brisbane) and Soapbox Science (Brisbane). There were many more exciting events happening across Queensland, and if you missed out this year – don't worry we are already planning for 2025! | |
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SPOTLIGHT: ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JOY WOLFRAM
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We recently caught up with Associate Professor Joy Wolfram, winner of the Queensland 2024 Young Tall Poppy Science award. Joy is an immunotherapist and extracellular vesicle researcher at The University of Queensland.
Q. Congratulations on winning the Young Tall Poppy award. Can you tell us about what this award means to you?
A. The awards are hosted the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS) in partnership with the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation and are a fantastic opportunity for early- to mid-career researchers to connect with policy makers and the public. This really helps to platform our research and engage policy makers to support and fund these life-saving techniques and make them available to patients sooner.
Q. You've had some great STEM experiences. Can you tell us a little about one of your defining moments that helped you choose a career in research?
I was very fortunate to do my schooling in Finland, which has an excellent public school system. I've always been very curious, and when I saw a bacterial culture our local vet grew I was very keen to do the same. The vet was very encouraging and gave me some basic materials and instructions. My parents were shocked to see what was living in our fridge! My parents were also very supportive of this curiosity and supported me with a microscope and other equipment. My interest in immunotherapy and cancer treatments was driven by experience with loved ones, and my friend Rebecca, who passed away at a very young age due to breast cancer. I feel passionately that we have a bigger purpose than ourselves, and it is good to be able to give back to society.
Q. Inspiring! So what are you plans for the future?
I am very keen to expand our collaborations with clinicians and make our research available to more patients, to help with their treatment. Nanomedicine and extracellular vesicle therapeutics have the potential to be 100 times more effective than conventional methods. We also need to seek funding and government support to make these treatments available sooner.
Q. And finally, any advice for women and girls thinking of a career in STEM?
I believe in working hard, finding a bigger purpose, being curious, and making your perspective heard in STEM careers and research. We only have one life, so it is important to do things that will benefit society today and into the future.
Thank you Associate Professor Wolfram! Your work is truly inspiring and we look forward to catching up with you for an update in the future! | |
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GRANT OPPORTUNITY: NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK 2025
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Mark your calendars now! National Science Week will be held from 9 to 17 August in 2025. National Science Week provides the opportunity for community participation in high-profile science engagement activities across the nation.
Open now, to individuals and organisations, the 2025 grants are designed to:
- Inspire wide community participation in STEM
- Provide an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of Australian scientists to the world of knowledge
- and encourage an interest in science pursuits among the general public and younger people through new and innovative ways.
The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are to:
- Increase national and international interest in Australian science
- Improve critical engagement with key scientific issues by the public
- and increase inspiration drawn from science and improve the value of science as perceived by the public.
The grant amount will be up to 100 per cent of eligible project expenditure.
- The minimum grant amount is $2,000.
- The maximum grant amount is $20,000.
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SUPPORT INSPIRING AUSTRALIA QUEENSLAND TO DO MORE!
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We've teamed up with The University of Queensland to establish an Inspiring Australia Queensland fund to assist with our Inspiring Australian mission and vision and facilitate engaging STEM events and activities available for more Queenslanders, no matter where they live.
We are inviting enthusiastic STEM supporters to join us and be
part of a fun team as a Giving Day Ambassador. All materials are provided and supported by an expert team.
All funds will be matched during the Giving Day period (effectively doubling your impact) and 100% (no administration fees) will go towards Inspiring Australia Queensland mission aligned objectives such as; Regional STEM Hubs, Inspiring Queensland Ambassadors and seed grants for individuals and organisations wanting to host amazing STEM experiences during the year and in National Science Week. | |
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CONNECT WITH OUR IAQ AMBASSADORS
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Dr Mariel Familiar Lopez
Environmental Scientist | PhD, Wildlife Biology | Science Communicator
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Dr Katrina Wruck
Scientist | Research Entrepreneur | Consultant | Speaker | STEM Enthusiast
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Dr Christina Zdenek
Postdoctoral Researcher UQ | Australian Reptile Academy | Palm Cockatoo Project
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Acknowledgement of Country
Inspiring Australia Queensland, at The University of Queensland (UQ), acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which we operate. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country. We recognise their valuable contributions to Australian and global society.
CONTACT US
 inspiringqld@uq.edu.au
 The University of Queensland, Room 111 JD Story Building, 4072 |
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