RRI Researchers visited Canberra last week as part of Science meets Parliament (SmP), an annual event organised by Science & Technology Australia.
Attracting 200 of Australia’s top scientists across all disciplines, SmP aims to help researchers understand how politics, policymaking and the media work, and provides an opportunity to look at their science from an alternate point of view. Over 100 federal parliamentarians took part in the event, taking one-to-one meetings with scientists, attending debates and dinners, and having informal discussions.
Attending from the RRI were Dr Hannah Brown (representing the CNBP) and Dr Melanie Sutton-McDowall (representing The Society for Reproductive Biology) where their time was spent networking, meeting politicians and better understanding ways of improving communication of science to media, policymakers and parliamentarians.
An undoubted highlight for Dr Hannah Brown was getting the chance to meet with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to discuss her science. In addition, both Melanie and Hannah met a wide number of parliamentarians throughout the two day program (both formally and informally), including Minister Christopher Pyne, Assistant Minister Karen Andrews, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and MPs Terri Butler, Adam Bandt, Andrew Southcott, Andrew Laming and Melissa Parke.
A Behind the Scenes video produced by the RiAus features RRI talent, with researchers Mel and Hannah figuring prominently.