National Science Week 2025 – Launch at Questacon

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Guest Information

• Related Resources and Links

• Episode Summary

• Key Takeaways

• Notable Quotes and Examples

• Detailed Episode Breakdown

• Social Media Highlights

• Wrap up

Introduction

Welcome to a special episode recorded live at Questacon for the official launch of National Science Week 2025!

This year, National Science Week is bigger and more exciting than ever. The festival runs from Saturday 9th August to Sunday 17th August 2025, but as always, the celebration of science stretches far beyond the official dates. The launch event, held at the iconic Questacon—Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre—brings together esteemed scientists, innovators, community leaders, policymakers, and young people, all united in their passion for science and technology.

Listeners will hear from Questacon’s Executive Director Joe Wya, Auntie Violet Sheridan, Australia’s Chief Scientist Professor Tony Hay, Minister for Industry and Science (via a recorded message), and a panel of trailblazing inventors and researchers. The discussions highlight the importance of STEM in shaping Australia’s future, celebrate First Nations knowledge, and spotlight stories of creativity and breakthrough. The episode closes with a signature Questacon science demo that’s sure to inspire curiosity in all ages.

So grab your notebook—or your lab coat—and join us for a unique behind-the-scenes look at how Australia is celebrating science, innovation, and community.

Guest Information

Special Guests

• Joe Wya
  Executive Director, Questacon – Host and Opening Remarks

• Auntie Violet Sheridan
  Nunawol Elder – Welcome to Country and reflections on First Nations science

• Professor Tony Hay
  Australia’s Chief Scientist – Keynote Address

• The Honourable Tim Ayres
  Minister for Industry and Science (Recorded Message)

Panelists

• Dr. Angeline Achariya
  Food Scientist & Agri-Food Innovation Leader

• Associate Professor Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch
  Eco Engineer & Indigenous Knowledge Innovator (Monash University)

• Grace Lethlean
  Chemical Engineer, Inventor, Digital Health Champion

Related Resources and Links

• Questacon – National Science and Technology Centre

• National Science Week Official Website

• Inspiring Australia Initiative

• Science and Technology Australia

• Gilmore Space Technologies

• Beanstalk AgTech

• RMIT Research – Gut Microbiome

• Monash Indigenous Knowledges

• Ant Health

Episode Summary

Recorded live at Questacon, this energizing episode marks the official launch of National Science Week 2025, bringing together some of Australia’s brightest minds and most passionate science advocates.

Joe Wya welcomes audiences with a sense of excitement, underlining Questacon’s key role in coordinating Science Week. The event begins with a heartfelt Welcome to Country from Auntie Violet Sheridan, who shares her journey from school science skeptic to enthusiastic advocate, celebrating the intersection of culture and discovery.

Professor Tony Hay, Australia’s Chief Scientist, takes the stage to reflect on the immense value of STEM in society, emphasizing themes of productivity, resilience, teamwork, and Indigenous knowledge systems. Viewpoints from both policy and practice are spotlighted, with the Hon. Tim Ayres (Minister for Science) sending a special video message celebrating the record-breaking number of over 2,200 registered events across Australia, highlighting everything from space farming to eco-forensics.

The event then shifts to a lively panel featuring Dr. Angeline Achariya, Associate Professor Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch, and Grace Lethlean. Each panelist shares real-world case studies and practical reflections, from innovative drought solutions and Indigenous knowledge in material engineering, to game-changing health technology that predicts postpartum hemorrhage and analyzes gut health.

The conversation is always grounded in Australia’s reality: the challenges of commercialization, the importance of engaging with local communities, and the need to better protect and elevate First Nations’ scientific knowledge. There’s discussion of policy, infrastructure, STEM communication, and inspiring the next generation of scientists.

True to Questacon tradition, the launch wraps up with a hands-on science demo—complete with lab coats, audience safety instructions, and a rousing group chant—reminding everyone that science is all around us, every second of every day.

Key Takeaways

• National Science Week 2025 celebrates a record number of events—more than 2,200 across Australia—reaching a wider audience than ever.

• Elevating First Nations knowledge systems is a core national priority, and Indigenous science is increasingly recognized as foundational, not additive.

• Success in STEM depends on practical collaboration between researchers, industry, and community, with commercialization being a vital bridge to real-world impact.

• Communicating science, especially through hands-on events and outreach, is crucial for inspiring the next generation and enhancing public trust.

• Building Australia’s future STEM capability requires courage, protection of Indigenous knowledge, and stronger national infrastructure for prototyping and scaling up innovations.

Notable Quotes and Examples

“Our vision is Australians are inspired by science and technology and the opportunities it creates for the future.”
– Joe Wya (00:00)

“Because my people were the first scientists… I was told about the boomerang. If you see how the boomerang works, that was very special.”
– Auntie Violet Sheridan (07:30)

“Achieving some brief flight time was a promising first test. It’s part of the innovation cycle… experimenting, analyzing, failure testing, learning and building on initial achievements.”
– The Honourable Tim Ayres (Minister for Science) (11:20)

“Indigenous knowledge is finally starting to get recognized as foundational scientific knowledge… This isn’t something that is relatively new, it’s something that’s been around for a very long time.”
– Prof. Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch (31:10)

“No science is there without the people who actually use it. And that is the community – the humans that we try and make their lives better.”
– Dr. Angeline Achariya (34:55)

Detailed Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Welcome & Opening

Joe Wya, Executive Director of Questacon, greets a packed room, setting a warm and inclusive tone. He highlights Questacon’s long-running leadership in Science Week, which now enters its 29th year as one of the oldest science festivals at a national scale.
Important logistics, safety info, and acknowledgments of key dignitaries, including Professor Tony Hay (Chief Scientist), Auntie Violet Sheridan (Nunawol Elder), and ACT politicians, round out the welcome.

06:36 – Keynote Addresses

Auntie Violet Sheridan delivers a heartfelt Welcome to Country. She reflects on her relationship with science—how her views changed through collaboration with scientists at Questacon and her pride in Indigenous contributions to science. Her story about the mysterious “invention” from a young scientist is met with laughter and intrigue.

This segment also shows the event’s commitment to reconciliation and the celebration of Australia’s oldest continuous cultures.

Joe Wya follows with significant news: every state and territory now has First Nations knowledge events registered for Science Week.

The Hon. Tim Ayres, via video, celebrates Science Week’s widespread reach and recent milestones like Australia’s launch attempts in space tech. He emphasizes the role of STEM in building a better, more equitable Australia and urges everyone to engage in local science events.

Professor Tony Hay speaks candidly and energetically on how science drives productivity, protects the environment, and underpins Australia’s future. He highlights the upcoming Prime Minister’s Prize for Indigenous Knowledge Systems and encourages young people to consider science degrees, fueling future leadership.

19:29 – Expert Panel Begins

Moderator introduces three exceptional panelists:

• Dr. Angeline Achariya discusses her work as a “commercial and science bridge builder,” especially in food and agritech innovation. She stresses the challenge of bringing great research through the “valley of death” to real-world impact, citing her involvement in a venture studio model that has helped build new companies tackling issues like drought resilience.

• Associate Professor Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch explores how Indigenous knowledge and cutting-edge engineering are used to create more sustainable infrastructure—like using coffee waste to make greener, stronger concrete. He points out the long-overlooked depth and empirical value of Indigenous science, essential for Australia’s innovation future.

• Grace Lethlean shares rapid-fire case studies, including a wearable AI device that predicts postpartum hemorrhage—saving lives in maternity care—and a swallowable sensor that analyzes gut gases, transforming both patient care and research. She underlines the importance of commercialization and infrastructure for turning local discoveries into global solutions.

The panel then faces the “magic wand” question: what would they change to make Australia’s innovation ecosystem stronger? Their wishes include:

• Investing more in commercializing homegrown science.

• Stronger protection for Indigenous intellectual property and knowledge.

• A national, sector-agnostic prototyping and scale-up infrastructure for accelerated translation from research to real-world use.

34:50 – Community in Science

The panelists discuss how critical science communication and community engagement are—not as an afterthought but as a step woven throughout the innovation journey.
They share personal stories about how exposure to science in schools and industry made a difference in their lives and careers and stress the need to inspire courage in young Australians to pursue STEM.

“Whenever we haven’t engaged [the community], we’ve actually failed… It’s about co-creating with farmers, researchers and industry to bring something to fruition.”
(Dr. Angeline Achariya, 35:15)

39:16 – Event Highlights

As the event draws to a close, the host spotlights just a few of the more than 2,200 events registered for Science Week 2025, such as:

• Remote Indigenous school mapping animal life in Northern Territory billabongs using underwater cameras.

• Crime science experience at Questacon, where visitors can step into the shoes of an Australian Federal Police expert.

• Adults-only evening in Hobart exploring the science of love and dating.

There’s heartfelt appreciation for the Science Week team and organizers, with a special nod to Alice Ryder, National Science Week Manager.

41:44 – Science Demo Finale

The episode closes on a quintessential Questacon note—a big, messy, and delightful air science demonstration led by Alice and Pat, featuring full audience participation and protective gear for the brave souls in the front row.

The demo underlines the episode’s theme: science is everywhere, every day, and best experienced together.
All join in for a cheerful countdown, launching Science Week with the unified call: “Happy National Science Week!”

Social Media Highlights

• “National Science Week is breaking records with more than 2,200 events nationwide—get out there and find one in your community!”

• “Indigenous science isn’t new—it’s foundational. Proud to see it front and centre across Australia’s STEM agenda.”

• “From wearable sensors to sustainable concrete, Aussie innovators are solving big problems for today—and tomorrow.”

• “Every great science story starts in the community. Who knows where your next school visit or festival could take you?”

• “Happy National Science Week! Remember: science is everywhere, every day.”

Wrap up

Don’t just listen—get involved! National Science Week 2025 is your invitation to explore, ask questions, and engage with science happening all around you.

• Find a local or virtual event: Head to scienceweek.net.au to explore events for all ages and interests.

• Share your experience: Tell friends, family, and your school or workplace about the things you learn.

• Support Australian science: Encourage policy changes, community events, and better protection for Indigenous knowledge.

• Start a conversation: Whether it’s with a teacher, parent, or workmate, swapping science stories inspires curiosity and future innovation.

Make Science Week 2025 your launchpad for a lifelong journey in science. And as they say at Questacon—every day is a science day!