2025 Science Meets Parliament
Her Research Matters (HRM) were pleased to sponsor a small group of members to attend the Science Meets Parliament (SMP) event organised by Science & Technology Australia. For several years, HRM has been sponsoring members to attend the two-day event filled with engaging panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities. This year, Dr. Garima Sharma, Dr. Gopisankar MG, Dr. Melanie Lloyd, and Dr. Bui San Thai, were selected from a number of talented applicants to fly to Canberra to learn about the connection between science and the Australian government, and strategies for our research to reach the broader community. They shared some of their insights with us to increase our understanding of the intersection between science and policy.
“Attending Science Meets Parliament 2025 was a transformative experience, providing invaluable insights into policy advocacy and science communication”, said Garima. “The event underscored the importance of advocating for increased R&D funding and the active involvement of STEM scientists in shaping National Science and Research Priorities. It brought together scientists from diverse fields and parliamentarians to break barriers and create a platform for effective engagement.” Gopisankar also shared his positive experiences, stating that “it was a great privilege to attend the Science Meets Parliament session, which also marked it's 25th anniversary. It was an exciting gathering of real problem-solvers from across Australia. The main theme of the conference focused on science communication with parliamentarians.”
They also both shared some key learnings from the experience, which they shared with the HRM community at our International Women’s Day Event in 2025. Garima enjoyed learning about “the power of connecting research with community benefits, clearly communicating science to decision-makers, knowing your ask, and building trust for effective negotiation. We had the opportunity to hear from Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science, who acknowledged the gap between Australia's scientific prowess and the commercialisation of innovations. This experience has left me motivated and eager to learn more and contribute to science advocacy and policy. “ Gopisankar also gained insight from one of the several panel sessions, where he learned that “the majority of the general public is not fully aware of what scientists do, and it is our responsibility to improve this through communication. This can be achieved by finding common ground and establishing a two-way connection through the art of storytelling.” He also further emphasised that it is important not overcomplicate our findings, and that “it is not the methodology that usually drives change, but the connection created through storytelling. It is essential to work on something you are passionate about so that the flame of enthusiasm never dies out.”
Overall, our attendees found their participation at SMP 2025 extremely invaluable. Not only did our attendees benefit, but also our members who were able to learn from their experiences and learnings at the event. HRM collectively would like to thank everyone who generously supported our members to attend and engage in another Science Meets Parliament event this year.
Our Science Meets Parliament attendees at Parliament House in Canberra, from left to right:
Dr. Garima Sharma, Dr. Gopisankar MG, Dr. Melanie Lloyd, and Dr. Bui San Thai