From revolutionising the mining industry with gold-detecting X-rays to the production of life-saving nuclear medicines, this panel of experts breaks down the stereotypes of nuclear science, shares their unusual career journeys, and discusses how nuclear physics is a powerful tool for global health, security and industrial innovation.

Host: Elvira Copur (Membership Manager at ATSE)

Moderator: Dr James Tickner FTSE (Co-founder and CTO of Chrysos Corporation)

Guest:

• Meg Hennessy - Licensing Officer at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Nuclear Medicine

1. Careers in nuclear physics

• Just as electricity has multiple uses, nuclear science has two main branches [05:24].
• It’s not just theoretical "atom smashing" at CERN and DESY, there’s applied science that solves real-world problems [09:12].
• Understanding the intersection of engineering and medicine as a career passion [15:25].

2. Innovation in industry & medicine

• Toxic chemical processes in mining being replaced with high-energy X-rays [03:26] - https://chrysoscorp.com/photonassay/.
• Nuclear isotopes are used to diagnose and treat serious illnesses [20:28].
• The reality of working at Australia's only nuclear reactor [26:11] - ANSTO - OPAL Multipurpose Reactor.

3. Global impact & success

• STEM is a global passport that will take you to many countries for work [11:11].
• Challenges of convincing an entire industry to move toward clean, modern technology [37:11].

4. Advice for students & early career researchers [25:01]

• The importance of resilience and opportunities to find dream career pathways later in life.
• Scientists need to be good writers and speakers to persuade others and lead teams.
• Following curiosity is the most important trait for a budding scientist
• It’s important to build networks to succeed as a young professional - https://www.ausygn.org

"Physics is for everyone... find the way your brain works - whether you love living things, the chemical world, or thinking visually—and let that shape your career." - Dr James Tickner

"In science, if you're not winning, you're learning. Every wrong avenue teaches you something new." - Meg Hennessy

• IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship: Global program for women in nuclear science – iaea.org
• STELR Program (www.stelr.org.au): ATSE’s national STEM education initiative for schools
• Elevate Scholarship (atse.org.au/elevate): A leadership scholarship supporting women in STEM, which Vanessa currently holds.
• IMNIS Program (www.imnis.org.au): An industry mentoring network for PhD students.

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNXyH31dnpw

The panel of experts explores the rapidly evolving fields of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. The discussion highlights how these technologies are transforming industries—from life-saving beach safety apps to precision agriculture and disaster management—and emphasises that a career in AI is accessible to anyone with curiosity, regardless of their starting point.

Host: Laura Navarro (STEM Careers Strategy Manager at ATSE)

Moderator: Professor Toby Walsh FTSE (Chief Scientist, UNSW AI Institute)

Guests:

• Dr Vivian (Viv) Roland - Research Scientist at CSIRO and ATSE ICM Agri-Food Award winner
• Sara Mills - Firefighter with Fire and Rescue NSW, PhD Candidate, and Elevate Scholar

1. Non-linear career paths

• Toby [06:09]
• Viv [14:42]
• Sara [25:44]

2. AI for social good: real-world applications

• AI apps developed with Surf Life Saving Australia to identify dangerous rips in real-time [11:37] - UNSW RipEye Project
• Using AI to interpret complex imagery for precision agriculture [16:42] - https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/Articles/2022/January/hairnet-cotton-breeding.
• AI can be used not just for immediate response, but to help communities recover their mental health and infrastructure faster after bushfires [35:17].

3. Debunking STEM myths

• You don't need to be a professional coder to work in AI [40:34].
• Maths can be a language for problem-solving rather than an enemy [27:21].
• Being the top of the class isn't a prerequisite for success in AI [39:51].

4. Advice for Students & Early Career Researchers [36:54]

• Network and connect with people whose work ignites your spark.
• The importance of asking "why" and backing yourself when unconventional opportunities arise.

"AI and robotics are changing how we live, work, and solve complex challenges everywhere from healthcare to agriculture." - Professor Toby Walsh

"Find your spark, nurture your spark, because that's where the magic happens." - Dr Viv Roland

"Practice makes progress, not perfection. Curiosity should guide you to do hard things because that’s where you find out what you’re made of." - Sara Mills

• STELR Program: ATSE’s national STEM education initiative for schools – www.stelr.org.au
• Elevate Scholarship (atse.org.au/elevate): A leadership scholarship supporting women in STEM, which Vanessa currently holds.
• IMNIS Program (www.imnis.org.au): An industry mentoring network for PhD students.

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaWGcpaixq0

The panel of experts discusses Australia's transition to clean, secure, and reliable energy systems. The guests share their diverse career journeys—from chemical and mechanical engineering to offshore wind development—highlighting the critical role of STEM in solving global sustainability challenges and the importance of lifelong learning.

Host: Sarah Gavel (Partnerships and Development Manager at ATSE)

Moderator: Rachelle Doyle FTSE (Energy Advocate & Strategy Leader)

Guests:

• Colin Sheldon - Consulting Manager at Aurecon
• Linden Blair - Head of Power Development (West Coast and Offshore) at Alinta Energy

1. Career paths

• Rachelle [06:40]
• Colin [11:51]
• Linden [20:15]

2. Innovation & technology in the energy transition

• Standards Australia creating safety guidelines for hydrogen strategies [04:27] – https://www.standards.org.au/engagement-events/strategic-initiatives/energy-transition.
• The complex control systems used in sub-sea gas extraction and how those skills apply to offshore wind [26:15].
• Long-term energy storage like pumped hydro is the "next big thing" [41:07] – https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/generation/the-snowy-scheme/.

3. Sustainability & professional development

• The Carbon Literacy Project as a tool for individuals to understand climate impacts [18:33] – carbonliteracy.com
• Volunteer opportunities through “Beyond Zero Emissions” to conduct clean-tech research [18:06] – bze.org.au atse.org.au/imnis

4. Advice for students & early careers [31:38]

• Look at alternative study pathways before jumping to university degrees
• Engage with the professional peak bodies to build networks and stay current – engineersaustralia.org.au.
• Engage in challenges to explore your passions for renewable tech – https://www.solarchallenge.net.au.

"The future will hold jobs that don't even exist today, and STEM is a fantastic career pathway that sets you on that journey." - Rachelle Doyle

"The engineers who've really thrived are those that are actually really creative and can apply creative solutions." - Colin Sheldon

"Through the renewable energy transition, we have a real opportunity to do things differently... and really uplift First Nations people around the country." - Linden Blair

• STELR Program (www.stelr.org.au): ATSE’s national STEM education initiative for schools
• Elevate Scholarship (atse.org.au/elevate): A leadership scholarship supporting women in STEM, which Vanessa currently holds.
• IMNIS Program (www.imnis.org.au): An industry mentoring network for PhD students.

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me91ZM0r2L0

In celebration of NAIDOC Week, the panel explores the powerful intersection between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ Traditional Knowledge and STEM knowledge. They discuss how Indigenous ways of knowing—as the world's oldest surviving scientists and technologists—can solve complex global challenges in health, education and digital technology.

More information about NAIDOC Week, including resources and history for the annual celebration, can be found at naidoc.org.au.

Host: Dr Emma Wensing (Diversity & Inclusion Manager at ATSE)

Moderator: Professor Alex Brown FTSE (Director of the National Centre for Indigenous Genomics)

Guests:

• Dr Rhett Loban - Director of Indigenous Education, University of Technology Sydney
• Nicole Boyd - PhD Candidate & Elevate Scholar

1. Career paths

• Alex [08:02]
• Rhett [13:01]
• Nicole [19:26]

2. Indigenous Knowledge in digital tech & games

• Developing immersive VR to teach Island custom and history through digital storytelling [14:52] – Torres Strait Virtual Reality Project.
• Embedding Traditional Knowledge into the IT curriculum [11:15].

3. "Both ways" of learning in the classroom

• The Goompi pedagogical model to teach maths through indigenous cultural expression [25:42] – https://atsima.com/resources/.
• Using a creative "Pet Dragon" model to teach Mendelian inheritance to remote students, bridging the gap between art and science [23:51] – https://scienceinschool.org/article/2011/dragons/
• How students can learn proportional reasoning and volume by collecting bush medicine [28:11].

4. Philosophy of "listening to Country"

• The Yolngu concept of Ganma, the meeting of salt water and fresh water, as a space where new, intercultural ideas emerge [38:52].
• Scientists need to be respectful of deeply rooted Indigenous Knowledge systems [09:25].

"We have at our fingertips the most deeply rooted knowledge systems... if we are only respectful and quiet enough to listen, we will be gifted the most amazing understanding of the world." - Professor Alex Brown

"Software development is iterative... it aligns really well with Indigenous protocols of community co-design and iterative conversations." - Dr Rhett Loban

"Maths is everywhere. It’s not just a whiteboard; it’s the women sitting in a circle—that is what pedagogy looks like." - Nicole Boyd

• STELR Program (www.stelr.org.au): ATSE’s national STEM education initiative for schools
• Elevate Scholarship (atse.org.au/elevate): A leadership scholarship supporting women in STEM, which Vanessa currently holds.
• IMNIS Program (www.imnis.org.au): An industry mentoring network for PhD students.
• Discover ATSE’s Traditional Knowledge Innovation Award: https://atse.org.au/what-we-do/atse-awards/traditional-knowledge-innovation-award/winners-of-the-traditional-knowledge-innovation-award/

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fvPukpXNvk

The panel of marine experts explores the diverse and creative world of ocean science. Doing things in ocean science you wouldn’t have previously considered, they have tracked the provenance of seafood using geochemistry, and 3D-printed artificial coral reefs. They share how curiosity and a "STEAM" (STEM + Art) approach are essential for protecting our oceans and building a sustainable future.

More information about World Ocean Day can be found at worldoceanday.org.

Host: Tamara McGregor (IMNIS Coordinator at ATSE)

Moderator: Dr Alistair Hobday FTSE (CSIRO Senior Principal Research Scientist)

Guests:

• Dr Zoe Doubleday - ARC Future Fellow, University of South Australia
• Beth O’Sullivan - PhD Candidate in Marine Restoration & Elevate Scholar

1. Non-linear & creative career paths

• Alistair [05:19]
• Zoe [10:35
• Beth [17:19]

2. Innovation in marine technology and research

• Australian marine research with the CSIRO RV Investigator [03:43] – www.csiro.au/en/about/facilities-collections/vessels/investigator
• Using the chemical composition of bones and shells to combat illegal fishing [13:10].
• 3D printing calcium carbonate reefs as a sustainable, low-carbon for artificial habitats [21:55].

3. Central science of the sea

• Time-lapse photography and 3D printing to observe how algae and organisms interact with man-made structures [24:13].
• Analysing critical data through citizen-science projects that can be done from anywhere [43:27] – http://www.csiro.au/en/work-with-us/citizen-science/projects.

4. Advice for Students & Educators [41:11]

• The power of reaching out to researchers whose work you admire to find volunteer opportunities.
• Focusing on broad STEM subjects in high school is better than over-specialising too early.
• Teacher opportunities through the CSIRO "Educator on Board" program to join research voyages – https://research.csiro.au/educator-on-board/

"It is a myth that the work we do is not creative... I actually do research in science communication and how we can tell our stories better." - Dr Zoe Doubleday

"Follow your curiosity and your interests... now more than ever, we need creative people in STEM." - Beth O’Sullivan

"The question I've pursued my whole career is: why do animals live where they do, and how do they cope with human pressures?" - Dr Alistair Hobday

• PADI Scuba certification: Mentioned by Beth as a pivotal tool for her underwater research - padi.com
• STELR Program (www.stelr.org.au): ATSE’s national STEM education initiative for schools
• Elevate Scholarship (atse.org.au/elevate): A leadership scholarship supporting women in STEM, which Vanessa currently holds.
• IMNIS Program (www.imnis.org.au): An industry mentoring network for PhD students.

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs9YqJdBQrs

The panel explores how the fundamental science of chemistry serves as a bridge between microscopic molecules and complex industrial machinery. They discuss diverse career trajectories, from designing life-saving medical diagnostics tools to optimising global mining operations, and how chemistry underpins sustainability and innovation across the globe.

Host: Dr. Alejandra Fernandez (Science & Technology Policy Analyst at ATSE)

Moderator: Professor Michael Breadmore FTSE (Professor at University of Tasmania)

Guests:

• Dr Armineh Hassanvand - Senior Research Engineer at Orica
• Vanessa Yolanda - Minesite Projects Coordinator & Elevate Scholar

Key Discussion Points

1. Non-linear career paths

• Michael [10:30]
• Armineh [12:33]
• Vanessa [28:20]

2. Scaling STEM from the lab to global industry

• The fascinating technical link between the chemistry of chocolate emulsions and explosives used in mining [16:38].
• The thrill of "discovery" - creating something never reported in literature [10:13].
• The critical role of chemistry in exploring in-ground valuable minerals from the air [25:41].

3. The future of resource recovery

• In-place recovery (www.orica.com/Products-Services/mining-services/in-place-recovery) [18:27].
• Extractive metallurgy [21:50].

4. Advice for students & early Careers

• The "no dumb questions" rule and emphasising curiosity [04:45].
• Importance of soft skills that can transfer between careers [19:48].
• Location is not a barrier with digital connectivity [39:19].

Notable Quotes

"Chemistry is the foundation of energy, manufacturing, and health. It’s the science that will interface humans with artificial intelligence and molecular machines in the very near future." - Professor Michael Breadmore

"Your career is never a straight ladder; it’s more like a hiking trail. Sometimes you feel lost and need a GPS, but other times you reach moments that are just truly scenic." - Dr Armineh Hassanvand

Useful links

• STELR Program (www.stelr.org.au): Hands-on curriculum resources for teachers and students.
• Elevate Scholarship (atse.org.au/elevate): A leadership scholarship supporting women in STEM, which Vanessa currently holds.
• IMNIS Program (www.imnis.org.au): An industry mentoring network for PhD students.

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOpfn2l_z84

The panel of experts explores the vital role of Earth's natural resources in meeting global challenges. From the food on our plates to the minerals in our technology, the discussion covers the diverse pathways into agriculture and mining, the importance of sustainability, and how a STEM background can lead to a global career that changes the world.

Host: Georgie Ovin (Program Delivery Coordinator at ATSE)

Moderator: Dr Angeline Achariya FTSE (CEO of Food Innovation Centre)

Guests:

• Ishmael Gottreux - Senior Manager of Global Marketing, Orica
• Associate Professor Kim Johnson - Research Fellow and Lecturer, La Trobe University

1. Non-linear career paths

• Angeline [08:42]
• Ishmael [15:46]
• Kim [25:02]

2. Innovation in Agriculture & Mining

• Understanding how we feed the future with increasing populations [36:54]
• Looking at how we will grow food in space for long-term human travel [24:31]
• Strategic marketing in technology and importance of engineering knowledge [19:53]

3. The future of resource management

• Learning from space travel to create "zero waste" agricultural systems on Earth [26:14].
• Understanding the complexity behind every meal and the drive toward quality, safety and innovation [08:00].

4. Advice for students & early career researchers [21:44]

• The power of field experience
• The "pause" rule to not rush into new qualifications
• Importance of building professional networks

"A scientist is not always in a lab coat. You can run a business, travel the world, and be an integral part of solving global challenges." - Dr. Angeline Achariya

"If you want to defend your ideas, you need arguments—and without field experience, that is much harder." - Ishmael Gottreux

"Plants are amazing. They take sun and a few resources and make us food. I've always wanted to understand how they work." - Kim Johnson

• Plants for Space: Information on the ARC Centre of Excellence – https://plants4space.com
• STELR Program (www.stelr.org.au): Hands-on curriculum resources for teachers and students.
• Elevate Scholarship (www.elevate.org.au): A leadership scholarship supporting women in STEM, which Vanessa currently holds.
• IMNIS Program (www.imnis.org.au): An industry mentoring network for PhD students.

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppSq1liuW8w

In celebration of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, the guests explore the diverse and often non-linear pathways that lead into quantum physics careers. The panel discusses how curiosity drives scientific discovery, the reality of working in "deep tech," and why you don't need to be the best student in the class to change the world through science.

Host: Natasha Abrahams (Strategy & Government Relations Manager at ATSE)

Moderator: Dr Cathy Foley AO PSM FTSE FAA (Former Chief Scientist of Australia)

Guests:

• Dr Will Campbell – Research Associate in Experimental Physics, University of Western Australia
• Lucy Duldig – PhD Candidate in Quantum Materials, University of Adelaide

1. Non-linear career paths

• Cathy [6:57]
• Will [17:25]
• Lucy [21:20]

2. What is Quantum Physics? (Explained for Year 7s)

• The "small" and the "low energy", and a screen analogy for the students. [40:54]
• Online learning: Tools from IBM, Google, and Q-Control for students to play with "toy" quantum computers online [49:24].
• https://q-ctrl.com/black-opal
• https://quantumai.google/education/thequbitgame

3. The future of Quantum in Australia

• The National Quantum Strategy [13:52] – https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/national-quantum-strategy
• Career opportunities [47:08]
• https://www.csiro.au/en/careers/career-opportunities/quantum
• https://equs.org/case-study/futurum/

4. Advice for students & early career researchers [30:20]

• The six-month rule on handling challenges
• Hobbies vs. career
• Resilience

Notable Quotes

"I was seen as someone who probably wouldn't amount to very much, but I always had that curiosity." - Dr Cathy Foley

"Physics is for everyone, especially people with diverse interests. As long as you find it interesting, doors will open for you." - Will Campbell

Useful Links

• STELR Program (www.stelr.org.au): ATSE’s national STEM education initiative for schools
• Elevate Scholarship (atse.org.au/elevate): A leadership scholarship supporting women in STEM, which Vanessa currently holds.
• IMNIS Program (www.imnis.org.au): An industry mentoring network for PhD students.

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBcYVtSCRAM