Sustainability and Science Showcase

The Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist and the Brisbane Sustainability Agency are hosting a Sustainability and Science Showcase at the Queensland Museum to highlight the latest research, actions and ideas to help Queenslanders do their bit to protect the planet.  

What is it?  

The Sustainability and Science Showcase will share the latest research, actions and ideas for saving our precious planet on Sunday 19 June at the Queensland Museum:   

• Find out practical tips on how to be sustainable and why it matters.  

• Hear from innovators of eco-friendly solutions and community sustainability experts.   

• Discover Queensland citizen science projects and leading scientific research.  

• Learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and pledge to take climate action and build sustainable cities and communities.  

Click here for the full Sustainability and Science Showcase program.

The Sustainability and Science Showcase celebrates the global Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress 2022 (SRI2022) taking place in South Africa from 20-24 June and the Oceania Satellite event held in Brisbane on 29 June – 1 July to foster sustainability knowledge and practice around the world.   

Who will be there?  

Inspiring speakers will be sharing their insights on using innovations in science and sustainability to protect our planet.

You will also get the chance to meet some of Queensland’s leading organisations, researchers and businesses who are at the forefront of research and community education. See the list of exhibitors here.

There will be exciting hands-on activities and workshops for the whole family to take part in including:  

• making a bird feeder
• creating an insect leaf artwork 
• planting a tomato seedling to take home
• meeting native wildlife at the Geckoes Wildlife exhibit
• joining the Queensland Chief Scientist and bird expert for an early morning bird walk.

Forum topics

Forum 1: Contributing to a sustainable city, starting with your home and backyard

Learn how small steps in your own home can build a sustainable future

Hear from the following speakers:

• Renae McBrien, Tarragindi Community Garden founder and resource recovery advocate 

• A/Prof Carol Richards, food and agriculture scientist at QUT specialising in sustainable food systems. 
• Les Barkla, Redcliffe Repair Cafe founder, a community approach to repairing and reusing items to avoid landfill. 
• Brett McKenzie, CEO Sustainable Pty Ltd., creating sustainable homes and retrofitting current homes to be more sustainable. 

Dr Karen Hussey, Department of Environment and Science is the moderator for this forum. Dr Hussey is an expert in climate change and water and energy security.  

Time and venue 

This forum will take place at the Queensland Museum Theatre (Level 2 – entry on the Whale Mall level) from 11am-12pm on Sunday 19 June 2022. 

Forum 2: Protecting our world

Backyard biodiversity, green communities, what you can do you protect the planet and all its inhabitants.   

Hear from the following speakers:

• Dr Tim Heard, Sugarbag Bees beekeeper, entomologist and former CSIRO research scientist  
• Ellen Porter, Conservation Volunteers Australia Project Officer who will discuss restoring wetlands, koala habitats and marine environments  
• Scott Chaseling, Brisbane Sustainability Agency’s Principal Program Officer of the Oxley Creek Transformation Project  
• Liz Gould, Principal Scientist at Healthy Land and Water and active citizen scientist  

Prof Hugh Possingham, Queensland Chief Scientist is the moderator for this forum. Prof Possingham is an ecologist, conservation scientist and mathematician with a passion for citizen science, especially bird watching. 

Time and venue 

This forum will take place at the Queensland Museum Theatre (Level 2 – entry on the Whale Mall level) from 1pm-2pm on Sunday 19 June 2022. 

Bird Walk with the Queensland Chief Scientist

Join the Queensland Chief Scientist Professor Hugh Possingham – a conservation biologist and passionate bird watcher, for a fun and educational bird walk.

Wander along the South Bank gardens and the Brisbane River, listen for bird calls and be on the look out for many different types of Queensland birds. Hugh will inform and entertain you with tales about our featured friends who call Brisbane home. If lucky, we might see one of the three species of tern that fly up the river in the winter, or a striated heron that breeds in the mangroves. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars!

Time & venue

Meet at the Wheel of Brisbane (Russell St, South Brisbane) at 7:15am for a 7:30am start. The walk will conclude by 9am.

Exhibitors

Some of Queensland’s leading organisations, researchers and businesses who are at the forefront of research and community education will be sharing their practical tips for leading a more sustainable life and protecting the planet…