A record-breaking Science Meets Parliament

Science Meets Parliament 2024 was our biggest yet – with the largest number of in-person delegates ever, and we have you to thank for making it the success that it was!

A huge thank you to all the delegates, speakers/panellists, Parliamentarians, Australian Parliament House staff, our Superstars of STEM and the exceptional CSIRO volunteers – your energy, enthusiasm and input made this event spectacular! Thank you to everyone for sharing your passion and knowledge – from presenting on-stage to small conversations over coffee and in crucial relationship-building meetings with Parliamentarians.

We had over 360 delegates, more than 90 Parliamentarians taking part, 81 scheduled meetings with MPs and Senators, and a record-breaking 540 attendees at the gala dinner in the Great Hall at Australian Parliament House. More than half of attendees were early-career researchers, 60 per cent of delegates were women, and 3.5 per cent were First Nations STEM professionals.

We had more than 50 speakers, including eminent scientists, Parliamentarians, and some of Australia’s best science communicators and changemakers. Our speakers covered a broad range of topics across 15+ sessions. This included sessions on science and evidence in public policy, elevating and investing in First Nations Knowledges as a priority, forging deep partnerships of trust between non-Indigenous and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and how to get science stories into the media.

Science Meets Parliament was mentioned and featured in four segments with Nate Byrne on ABC News Mornings live from Australian Parliament House. Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley, Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic, Quandamooka mathematician and STA Board Director Professor Chris Matthews, and the wonderful STA Superstars of STEM, highlighted some of the issues facing Australia and our nation’s STEM sector, and spoke about the importance of science in tackling these issues, and SMP in bringing together scientists and policymakers.

Both the Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic and Shadow Minister for Science Paul Fletcher highlighted the importance of SMP, the crucial role R&D plays in our nation, and the work that Australia’s scientists and technologists do, in their opening and gala dinner addresses.

A sincere thank you to all MPs and Senators, including Minister Husic and Shadow Minister Fletcher, for their generosity in taking meetings with our STEM professionals.

In addition to the many Parliamentarians who showed their support for #SMP2024 through taking part in the program, support for Australia’s scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians, Science Meets Parliament and the work that Science & Technology Australia does, was praised across Parliament throughout the week. This included a motion from Zaneta Mascarenhas MP in the House of Representatives and Senator David Pocock’s statement in the Senate.

A massive congratulations to STA President Professor Sharath Sriram on his National Press Club address.

You can also read Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley’s speech from the SMP gala dinner.

We look forward to seeing you all at #SMP2025 to celebrate our 25th Science Meets Parliament!

A massive congratulations to the Science & Technology Australia staff team for pulling off such a fantastic event – the logistics, the moving parts, the people, the jam-packed program, the list goes on. Thanks to Dr Sandra Gardam, Lucy Guest, Dr Sarah Tynan, Martyn Pearce, Mike Teece, Jodie Haigh, Tristan Scotcher, Carly Davey, Hari Konchada, Helia Homayouni, Shannon Wong and Mariana Oksdath. And a big thanks to STA President Sharath Sriram and the rest of the STA board – Jas Chambers, Mark Stickells, Professor Chris Matthews, Dr Kathy Nicholson, Dr Lila Landowski, and Dr Jiao Jiao Li – for all your support of the STA staff team and this event.

A huge thanks to all our amazing Partners who make this event possible, including Science Meets Parliament’s foundation partner the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

Science Meets Parliament 2024 is supported by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources through the Inspiring Australia Science Engagement Program.

Related Articles