Sharing our YSAs’ stories

In celebration of reaching over 100,000 people since 2012, we are sharing some of our Young Science Ambassadors’ favourite moments in the program. Here are three stories written by Young Science Ambassadors about their Wonder of Science adventures! We hope you enjoy them!

David Sutton – Queensland University of Technology

A YSA since 2018, David has travelled across the state for Wonder of Science and is among our most active ambassadors. David is an experimental laser physicist researching micro-scale 3D printing of metals through light-driven chemical reactions:

“In 2021 I had the opportunity to visit Year 11 and 12 students in Cairns considering their path following school and into university. I was asked a question about Aerospace Engineering which is outside my field, but through working with fellow YSAs from the UQ Hypersonics group in the past, I was able to direct this student to look at UQ if she was interested in pursuing it further and she said she had no idea she could do it in Queensland. It was wonderful knowing that she had a new idea about what she could be after school just by being able to ask a fairly simple question.

When visiting students in different regions it’s always amazing to see the skills that some of these students possess that are well outside what you might expect for school students. Many Year 6 students have welded their own seismographs together in the Darling Downs for example, and students in and around Brisbane have created entire 3D modelled projects that show how a sustainable village might operate in the future to help deal with the realities of climate change.”

Tatiana Briody – The University of Queensland

A YSA since 2022, Tatiana is a PhD candidate with the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) at the University of Queensland and investigates the benefits of gene editing in improving resilience to infection in cattle. Here she speaks about her favourite WoS moments, including conferences and developing a lab tour for our Gen-STEM mentoring program:

TATIANA FACILITATING THE GEN-STEM LAB TOUR AT UQ - Find out more about Mentoring Programs HERE

“Gladstone Young Science Ambassador Trip – I got the opportunity to fly to Gladstone with the Wonder of Science program as part of one of the first visits to the region since the pandemic. Many teachers were away sick, and those that were left had twice as many students to teach; and yet, they made us feel welcome and prioritised the YSA visit, ensuring all the students were able to engage with the lesson and meet us. It left me with a feeling of gratitude for our teachers and pride in the WoS program to be able to bring these experiences to regional and remote students.

Miles Regional Conference – my first trip as a YSA was to the Miles Regional Conference and it was full of excitement and colour and kids in cow onesies and I loved every part of it. I was impressed by the passion and innovation students brought to their projects, and the curiosity they had for each other’s work. In particular, the students’ questions for my own project led to me to think about the implications of my research in a different way and I left the experience reinvigorated in my work.

Gen-STEM lab tour at the University of Queensland – I had the privilege of working together with Alex and others from the 2023 Gen-STEM program to organise a tour of my own lab for our Year 7 mentees. The tour involved showing the girls where I work, the kinds of tools we use and hearing from a senior female researcher at our institute. The students got to dress up in lab coats and goggles and practice using pipettes - just like we do - giving them the chance to actually see what a career in STEM could look like for them.”

Zheng Jie Chia - The University of Queensland

New to Wonder of Science this year! Zheng is a student favourite with his Cabbage DNA workshop at Miles Regional Conference being the talk of the town. Here, he tells a story about his recent trip to Mount Isa:

“On the Mt Isa visit, I was asked how to be a chef by a secondary student. Without much thinking, I told the student that there were culinary art degrees in the universities. However, he was worried he would not have a suitable enough ATAR for university.

ZHENG AT Miles Regional Conference - full conference story here

I told him that he could start with TAFE or study another program at the university first to gain more credit to study culinary arts. Before leaving, I added, “You might change your ambition three years later. You can drive straight to Brisbane or zig-zag through your journey to somewhere you never thought before!”. I am often asked to advise students about pursuing a particular career at the tertiary level. However, it is also an opportunity to reflect on my journey to PhD study. I started with a non-science degree, working in a pharmacy for two years before going back to university again to study a biology-focused PhD; something I never planned seven years ago!

Drawing of Zheng by a Year 7 student.

After the conclusion of a Year 7 visit, I was told to wait after class by another ambassador because someone drew a portrait for me. Being a Young Science Ambassador, I visit schools to give science lessons to students. However, I also learn from students on every WoS visit. On the Mt Isa visit, I saw more than 100 Year 7 students in a week and gave multiple Year 7 lessons, but the portrait reminded me that I am new to every student and keeping an enthusiastic disposition is essential as you never know how deep the impression you give to students will be during these exciting WoS visits. See attached photo—credit to Lexi from Spinifex State College, Mt Isa.

Thank you for allowing me to visit so many great schools!”



David Sutton and ZHENG Jie Chia on a recent trip to Mount Isa.

Gladstone World Science Festival - 2023

We were so excited to share that we were reached 100,000 people since 2012! But here was the event that put us over the line!

Thank you to Joy and Chamodi for helping us reach 100,000 people.

Young Science Ambassador Joy Seitanidou filled in as a Flying Scientist for the World Science Festival Gladstone event. She was accompanied by QUT Young Science Ambassador Chamodi Fernando.

Across the two days they spoke to a total of 3233 students and community members about their research withing the medical field. The scientists also ran STEM activities including a build your own virus activity and an acids and base activity. Joy and Chamodi both had extensive discussions with attendees about what it was that ignited their passion and interest in STEM. They also provided advice on career opportunities in STEM fields. This event also marked 100,000 people reached for Wonder of Science since 2012.

Joy had the following to say about the event: '' Participating in the WSF at Gladstone was a truly unique experience compared to my previous involvement in similar science outreach programs. The festival provided an invaluable opportunity to communicate my research to a diverse audience (spanning ages from 5 to 60+), enabling engaging discussions about the ways scientific advancements can enhance the health and safety of our community. However, my most rewarding moments came from interacting with younger students during the workshop activities, where a seemingly simple task like building a model of a protein ignited curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking among the participants. I am thankful that the Wonder of Science participated in the WSF and I was allowed to be part of it. Now all I am thinking of is when the WSF takes place next year! ''

Young Science Ambassador Chamodi Fernando said: “I am thrilled that all the experience I gained from the WoS program was amazing. I participated in the World Science Festival Gladstone, in which I helped to reach over 100, 000 people as a YSA. I found good opportunities to inspire not only students but also their parents on STEM.”

The Flying Scientists program is provided in partnership with the Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist (OQCS). The Flying Scientists are early-mid career researchers who accompany Young Science Ambassadors into regional Queensland centres for community Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) awareness events. The program has been developed to address the shortage of science-related events convened outside South East Queensland — see the survey reports commissioned by OQCS which highlight this here: Queenslanders’ perceptions of science | Office of Queensland Chief Scientist.