A few moments from Science Meets Parliament 2026 📸🇦🇺
Australia’s national supercomputing teams from NCI & @pawseycentre.bsky.social at Parliament House, connecting with leaders and showcasing how HPC infrastructure underpins research, innovation & real-world impact.
#SMP2026
Head beekeeper taking a selfie with the scientists
Scientists enjoying honey
Bees clustering out the front of their hive
Every year Science Meets Parliament #SMP2026 brings together researchers, politicians, and media to share ideas - and the tour of the Parliament #bees is one of the hottest tickets!
Loved talking to everyone about how #beekeeping starts conversations around landscapes, climate and food security!
I had a great time representing UNSW Science at Science Meets Parliament #SMP2026 in Canberra, from friendly meetings with parliamentarians to learning about all the ways everyone can have their say in our democracy. A great opportunity to learn and share.
His advice for #SMP2026 attendees: identify the problem, work out a solution, work out cost 💵, who pays for it, and who needs the solution. Talk to the people who really need it and the politics will follow. Also, there's always more benefit that you may realise - share that story - and follow up!
Closing #SMP2026 with a conversation with Prof Hon Bill Shorten. He highlights that it is important to create safe spaces for true discussion to happen between people who disagree, without necessarily having to destroy each other. Considers that Universities could play that role.
We are now in the Collaborating with Community session at #SMP2026. Listening to the insights from Prof Joanne Jamie and A/Prof @azurehermes.bsky.social on their work engaging with Indigenous communities to design and conduct research relevant to them.
Now at #SMP2026, panel flags clean energy, supply chain resilience, and plastic pollution as some of the key priorities under the #AmbitiousAustralia R&D framework.
Building coalitions and trust in science is crucial to creating sustained influence networks that can drive real impact.
The front entrance of Australian Parliament House against a blue sky with cloud illuminated from below. The white stone building with square arches support and frame a metal outline of the Australian coat of arms.
On to day two of Science Meets Parliament, and "productivity crisis" is being thrown around lots, but in quite varied contexts.
Does someone want to unpack what this means?
#SMP2026
#auspol
Summary thread 🧵 on this morning's Parliamentary Forum at #SMP2026, an informative discussion with 🇦🇺 MPs (Mascarenhas, Webster, Faruqi) & Senators (Pocock, Kovacic) on what Science means to them and their party. Discussion chaired by Prof @renaeryan.bsky.social
Day 2 of #SMP2026 started with an excellent parliamentary forum & now we have a #UNSW Sydney sponsored session on Science in the Media. Thank you to the Australian Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology @asbmbaus.bsky.social for the opportunity to be here. @unswbabs.bsky.social
Did you know that kelp forests cover 1/3 of the 🌎's coastlines & support millions 👣? Did you know they are disappearing?
Dr Aaron Eger from @unswbees.bsky.social, tells us about his advocacy and research work to understand and protect kelp forests at #SMP2026
Find out more: kelpforestalliance.com
The panel also discusses how diversity increases resilience in different contexts and that can go beyond gender or cultural background - diversity of skills in government is also needed. A call for scientists to consider stepping into government roles. What each of us does matters.
#SMP2026
Substantial concern about algorithms seeding social division & misinformation. We need to communicate to the wider public why science is important & why investing in STEM is worthwhile. The panel is also discussing how to bridge the innovation gap via ⬆️structural support ⬇️undue regulation
#SMP2026
In order to change the status quo we need to be bold and courageous to advocate for an idea that might be important yet not popular. It's easy to just do 'same old' but hard to strive for true innovation. We are called to be more visible in social media in an effort to fight disinformation
#SMP2026
As scientists, we should strive to communicate how research investment will create a return for Australia. Every dollar invested in R&D, results in an average return of $9, with 70% of that return via an increase in productivity. Another key challenge is fighting misinformation.
#SMP2026
The panel advices to be willing to step up and advocate for the issue you are tackling or the idea you have. Become advocates, be activists, be persistent. Communicating effectively with politicians involves making the effort of conveying your point compellingly and succinctly.
#SMP2026
The panel also advises to take people on a scientific journey, do not assume they know what you are talking about. Also be able to relate your expertise to the issues faced by a representative's electorate. Present visual, accurate and easy to interpret visual data to convey your point
#SMP2026
Starting Day 2 of #SMP2026 with a call to scientists to become involved in guiding government priorities. Also, lots of discussion on 🇦🇺's dependency on supply chains and how STEM can help reduce dependency & increase resilience. Panel aware such advancements require adequate funding & less admin.
Change is coming…. Love it when our sector gets together. 🙌🏼🥂👩🏻🔬🔬🧫🧬👩🏽💻💊🔭👨🏼🔬⚗️🦠
#ChangeMaking #STEM #SmP2026 #Science #Innovation
Really appreciated meeting Meryl Swanson MP today to discuss how Australian Biophysics research at ANSTO can help with her electorate's PFAS contamination problem.
#SMP2026
@aus-soc-biophys.bsky.social
You are coming to the #SMP2026 bee tour right?
Me standing in front of the Australian Parliament House
A snacko on a plate in the event hall for SMP2026
A drone honeybee on the doorsteps of Parliament House
Fantastic first day at #SMP2026! Met new friends and old and, while I won’t attend the beekeeping tour, I met one of @jagungal.bsky.social’s mates on the way in ;)
Photograph of an embroidery hoop with a cross stitched pixelated face. A screen with the stitch pattern is in the background.
Lovely day at Science Meets Parliament! Many connections (and pages of notes). Also #crossstitch to keep myself focused.
#smp2026 #superstarsofstem
Scientists gathered in a room in Parliament during Science Meets Parliament 2026
We are now getting a refresher on 🇦🇺's Parliamentary and Government structures
Parliamentary inquiry submissions can be made as part of an institution but ANY individual can make a personal submission! This means we can all contribute & help inform bills related to our scientific expertise
#SMP2026
- Have scientifically literate execs in the boardroom
- Understand how stakeholders understand the world and what they value
- Find not the scientific questions you are interested in, but the right questions to answer that matter to stakeholders
#SMP2026
Our first panel is Science Meets the Economy - Bench to Boardroom.
Key messages:
- Who needs the answers doesn't know the answers exist - find them & engage with them
- The future is deeply uncertain, one way to approach it is to create it -> opportunity in Blue Sky research
#SMP2026
I am at Parliament House & happy to be representing the Australian Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology @asbmbaus.bsky.social at #SMP2026. I am looking forward to connecting with politicians & getting a different perspective on communicating the impact of science @unswbabs.bsky.social
This is partly in response to the newly released "Ambitious Australia" report (government investigation into R&D across Australia).
#auspol
#SMP2026
Worth reading the report, which identifies 6 elements to improve how STEM research supports industry and economy.
www.industry.gov.au/publications...
Female scientist smiling while looking at the camera with Australian parliament in the background under a cloudy sky
Excited to be at Science Meets Parliament #SMP2026! >400 of us discussing with parliamentarians how science can help us solve key challenges for 🇦🇺 & the 🌏
Here to share how #RNA technology can help us protect 🇦🇺's livestock, agriculture & biodiversity 🧬🌾🐄
@unswrna.bsky.social @unswbabs.bsky.social
