What’s on @ JPC?

At JPC, we have a number of special events planned over the week, including lunchtime activities for everyone in the science labs.

• Monday: Decoding Challenge
  Grab a partner, or form a team of four and have a go at solving the mystery code!

• Tuesday: Guest Presenter Laura McMahon (Therapeutic Goods Administration, Dept of Health)
  “Unlocking the Code of Creating Vaccines for Current and Emerging Pathogens Using mRNA and Protein-Based Technologies”

• Wednesday: Guest Presenter Rohan Holloway (on behalf of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources - Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group)
  “Unlocking the Secrets of Turtle Genetics and Ecology for Global Wellbeing”

• Friday: The JPC Science Team
  Join us for some chemistry fun!

See you in the labs!

Science Week Around Canberra

Questacon & Australian Federal Police
Sat 16 August
The AFP will team up with Questacon for a science-meets-crime-fighting extravaganza the whole family will love.  Step into the shoes of an AFP STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) expert and uncover the science behind solving crimes. Curious kids, teens, and adults can get hands-on with fingerprint matching, secret writing and decoding activities, AI demos, interactive forensic science exhibits and much more!

ANU Biology Society Lab Tours
Daily, 9 am–12 pm

The ANU Biology Society is excited to host a series of exclusive lab tours showcasing the incredible breadth of biological research happening across the Australian National University. These small-group tours (1 to 2.5 hours in length) will give visitors the unique opportunity to step behind the scenes of cutting-edge labs across a range of disciplines—from ecology and evolution, to molecular biology, neuroscience, plant science, and more.

Led by researchers and lab members, each tour is limited to 10 students to ensure an interactive, engaging experience. Participants will learn about current research projects, lab techniques, and potential pathways into Honours, internships, or future careers in science.

To wrap up the week, the Biology Society will host a thank-you coffee event on Friday morning with lab heads and tour leaders. This informal gathering will give students and researchers a chance to network, ask follow-up questions, and celebrate the collaborative spirit of National Science Week.

For the Grown-ups: Pint of Science Canberra

Tue & Wed, 6:30–8:30 pm
King O’Malley’s (131 City Walk, Canberra)

Pint of Science Australia brings research out of the lab and into venues around the country. This volunteer-run festival is all about making science accessible, engaging, and fun, with researchers sharing their work with the public in a relaxed and casual venue. This National Science Week, join us at King O'Malley's in Canberra Civic for two nights of science talks from local researchers. With three speakers each night covering everything from novel disease detection to marine megafauna and designer fungi, there's something for everyone!

• Tuesday 12 August:
  “Wildlife Tales: Marine Megafauna, Fairywrens & Conflict Resolution (Animal Style)”
  Dive into the secret lives of animals, from ocean-roaming giants to heat-beating fairywrens and the drama of group decisions in the wild. Discover how marine megafauna migrate across the globe, how tiny birds cope with the Aussie heat, and what happens when animal leaders try (and fail) to take charge.

• Wednesday 13 August:
  “Bioreactors & The Brain: Fungi, Parkinson’s & PTSD”
  Designing with fungi, early sparks of brain disease and stress that sticks - this night explores the cutting-edge science of health and resilience! Discover how engineered fungi could power the future, how Parkinson’s disease might be diagnosed before it starts, and why brains on the autism spectrum respond differently to trauma.

Don’t miss this chance to explore, experiment, and connect with science both at JPC and across Canberra!

Mrs Jennifer Tually
Science Coordinator