Raise your glass to Australian science

The 2018 global Pint of Science festival is taking place next month, and Australian science enthusiasts are encouraged to join in the celebrations by paying a visit to their local pub.

Originating in three cities in the UK in 2013, the Pint of Science festival has since grown to cover nearly 300 cities in 21 countries around the world. Australia’s east coast will kick off the festivities for 2018, with pubs across the country set to host some of our brightest minds from 14–16 May.

“We want to show Australians all the interesting research happening right here in our own backyard,” said Pint of Science Australia Co-Director Jirana Boontanjai.

“Pint of Science is all about having researchers connect with their local community in a familiar, relaxed setting — the pub. We strongly promote diversity in our festival and are proud to feature speakers from a range of disciplines, career stages and genders.”

The 2018 Pint of Science Australia festival is powered by CSIRO, which has helped the organisers build what Boontanjai describes as “a fantastic program of talks showcasing the world-leading research that happens right here in Australia”. Talks will cover a range of scientific disciplines that impact our daily lives, including biotechnology, astronomy, climate science and ecology.

For example, CSIRO’s Michelle Colgrave, a leader in molecular analysis of agriculture and food, will be speaking in Brisbane about what really is in your pint of beer. Dr Brad E Tucker, astrophysicist and cosmologist at Mount Stromlo Observatory, Australian National University, will meanwhile talk about his work using space telescopes to find stars as they explode. The festival will also have an artist in residence, Dan Power, who has created an original design to commemorate the festival (pictured below).

Image ©Dan Power.

“This will be our biggest festival so far, with more talks and events than ever before,” said Boontanjai. “But we’re still growing, and in the future we hope to put even more science on tap in local pubs across Australia.”

Pint of Science events will be held in 32 pubs in 16 locations across Australia, from capital cities to regional centres and rural towns. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://pintofscience.com.au/.

Top image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/william87