National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology. Running each year in August, it features more than 1000 events around Australia, including those delivered by universities, schools, research institutions, libraries, museums and science centres.
This year, our Macquarie researchers from the School of Natural Sciences hosted a number of events and experiences for a wide range of audiences including children to adults, and science amateurs to professionals all in the name of putting a spotlight on the significance of science and technology.
Building knowledge around synthetic biology
The Joint Academic Microbiology Seminars (JAMS), the Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology CoESB) and Synthetic Biology Australasia (SBA) participated in National Science Week, hosting booths to teach young children about synthetic biology and microbiology in our everyday lives.
Organisers from Macquarie, Dr Lucie Semenec (JAMS representative), Belinda Fabian (CoeSB representative) and Rashika Sood (SBA representative) led the activities during the entire week, alongside 36 volunteers.
Volunteers from Macquarie included: Iniga George (CoESB), Alescia Cullen (CoESB), Bhumika Shah (CoESB), Vaheesan Rajabal (CoESB/JAMS), Sam Clay (CoESB), Estefania Giannini (CoESB), Pamela Tsoumbris (CoESB), Fengji Wu, Edward Archer, Jessica Liana, Jariya Chanachai and Vanessa Goncalves.
In total, 2,476 visitors stopped by the booths over the whole of science week.
The JAMS booth hosted a range of activities to excite the senses including a display of plush microbes, handheld and standing microscopes, a fermented foods smelling station, a tasting station teaching kids about the microbes in kombucha, and a UV lightbox displaying synthetic microbes expressing fluorescent proteins.
The CoESB booth displayed their unique and fun “Save the Reef” Microbial Hero game and as prizes they handed out artistic microbial stickers and badges (with a badge making machine at the booth) that were designed by the CoESB outreach committee.
The Indigenous Science Experience
The National Indigenous Science Education Program (NISEP) had a fantastic week of activities for the Indigenous Science Experience @ Redfern, which was funded by a National Science Week grant. Led by Associate Professor Joanne Jamie from the School of Natural Sciences, the week started with a beautiful webinar Harnessing Knowledge of the Land and the Sea on 15 August, with Deb Breckenridge and Aunty Glenda MacPhail from Yaegl Country, Sarah and James Thomas from South Coast Seaweed, and Fionnuala Quin from Kelpy.
This was followed by three days at Redfern Community Centre with primary school students from Glebe, Darlington, Plunkett Street and Jarjum from 17-19 August that included activities around Science of Sound, Aboriginal tool making, birdlife and customarily used plants and seaweed, with NISEP school students of Mt Druitt Campus of Chifley College and of Casino and Maclean High Schools in northern NSW, assisting in leading events along with Macquarie students and other activity providers.
The team also held a webinar on Indigenous History and Artefacts by Uncle Paul Craft on 18 August, and online weaving workshops with Renee Cawthorne on 21 August. The most significant event of the week, the Indigenous Science Experience @ Redfern Community Day, offered a wide range of Indigenous and Western STEM activities for locals to drop in and experience on 20 August. Activity providers included First Nations STEM and cultural educators, and NISEP school students. The team were delighted to also have Aunty Donna Ingram, Australia's Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley and the Honourable Tanya Plibersek opening the community day.
Associate Professor Joanne Jamie (far left) with incoming Faculty of Science and Engineering Executive Dean Professor Lucy Marshall (far right) and volunteer Latifah Orlando.
Organic chemistry for pre-schoolers
Dr Lindsay Parker and Zahra Khabir from the School of Natural Sciences visited our on-campus preschools, Banksia Cottage and Gumnut Cottage, to teach the youngsters all about organic chemistry. Around 60 pre-schoolers took part in the experience, learning about the periodic table and neuron making.
Science in the Swamp
The sun was shining as Centennial Park transformed into a pop-up village of scientific delights. With food trucks and plenty of fun activities and entertainment, the day was a raging success! Led by Dr Lindsay Parker, PhD students from the School of Natural Sciences Mina Ghanimi fard, Vanessa Goncalves and Sandhya Verma showcased their knowledge in diamonds and neuroscience, spider brain microscopy and building chemistry molecules for the 10,000 people in attendance.
Uncovering the diversity of a career in STEM
Associate Professor Michelle Power from the School of Natural Sciences featured in a virtual panel discussion as part of Virtual Excursions Australia’s SciFest 2022, the largest live virtual science excursions event in Australia. During the session, students were able to learn more about the career journeys of Associate Professor Power and the other presenters and engage in a Q&A session with the panellists to understand what they love most about their jobs.