The Shell Questacon Science Circus Team
We're fifteen enthusiastic science graduates who staff the Science Circus as it brings lively presentations of science to towns and schools across regional Australia while we study for a Master of Science Communication Outreach.
There are now over 350 Science Circus graduates, employed all around the world. Find out more about these amazing people!
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The 2013 Science Circus Team
Every year we recruit a new team of presenters for the Shell Questacon Science Circus. To join the Shell Questacon Science Circus next year, start by finding out more about the Master of Science Communication Outreach. Applications close August 31 each year. Contact the ANU by e-mail or telephone on + 61 2 6125 2809.
Dan
I’m just going to come out and say it; I’m a nerd... with a ukulele! I’m one of those people who turn on a light and think about the electron flow and energy conversion taking place and then want to write a song about it. When walking in crowded shopping centres, I imagine every person’s vector path and work out how to avoid collisions by choreographing a tap routine. When I’m teaching biology, at a zoo or simply walking along the beach, my friends say I get this cheeky nerdy grin when explaining to them the different aspects around us especially if I can do it by singing the explanation.
If you haven’t guessed I love science and musical theatre. I look forward to sharing science and a song with everyone I meet. Oh and if you ever wanted to see Einstein the Musical… watch this space!
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Mitchell
Doing my Bachelor of Science at the University of Wollongong, I studied physics, chemistry, micro- and conservation biology, psychology, geology, epistemology, formal logic and even took an elective in statistics—who does that? I still distinctly remember getting to the end of those exams and sitting under a tree on the lawn, looking at the world around me and realising just how much I still didn't know.
With seven years experience in theatre behind me and an absolute fascination with the inner workings of the world, I decided to join the Shell Questacon Science Circus. I’m ready to share the one skill I feel has given me so many wonderful opportunities in my own life: to think critically and scientifically about the world around us!
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Kim
My background is in astronomy and astrophysics. After completing my Bachelor of Science and Honours I realised that although I loved what I was doing, what I got really excited about was interacting with kids when they came to the Mt Stromlo Observatory I was able to talk to them about astronomy and get them excited about it too.
Having always had a passion for talking about science to people, especially children, I decided research wasn't something that I wanted to pursue at this point in my life. However it wasn't until I was encouraged by a highly respected colleague that I wandered on over to science communication and into the Shell Questacon Science Circus. This year will hopefully teach me all the tools of the trade to continue to inspire young potential scientists across Australia and throughout the world.
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Stephanie
A general science enthusiast, I also enjoy swing dancing, singing, swimming (and long walks on the beach...). Born and bred in Melbourne, with both parents being scientists, an interest in science came naturally to me.I was given every encouragement as I was growing up. Over the last five years studying Engineering andArts at Monash University, I enjoyed my studies, developing skills to think critically as well as creatively. While working as a road safety presenter and ‘Thingle Toodle’ character in 2009/10 I visited kindergartens all around Melbourne and loved to engage with children through discussion and performance.
In the future I hope for a career where I can combine my technical background and communication skills to make science more accessible in the wider community. I’m excited to be joining the Shell Questacon Science Circus this year and can’t wait to get on the road!
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Amy
Growing up, I used to drive my parents mad asking them ‘why’ all the time. I did the same to my teachers all through school. My Grandad instilled in me a passion for asking ‘why?’ and always communicated things that seemed so complex in terms I always understood. His passion for science certainly helped mine grow.
When it came time to leave school, I thought I want to answer ‘why?’ for others, so teaching seemed the logical choice. With a passion for biology and the environment, I studied science and teaching at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. The Shell Questacon Science Circus is an opportunity for me to share my passion for science and teaching and learn more too. Along with science, I love music, so I figured joining the Science Circus and travelling the country would be the closest I’d get to being a travelling musician! I can’t wait to see you somewhere along the road!
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Matt
Growing up with a chemistry teacher for a dad and a mum who thought that studying wallaby reproduction was the most interesting way to spend her Honours year, it may have seemed inevitable that I’d end up here. But the real tipping point was when I was inducted into the ranks of the Young Scientists of Australia cult... I mean club. After spending various weekends and holidays doing science demonstrations and helping out at nerd camps, I was hooked. One uni degree with biology Honours later and I’m here, ready to share my love of science!
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Nina
Is it fun? Loud? Colourful? Big? Then the answer is YES I can’t wait to be involved! From discovering the story of our country as it’s told by the soil, to understanding the delicate balance of life, all of which I explored through a double major in ecology and earth sciences at UNSW. To testing out new recipes or experimenting with ingredients and flavours, breaking out the pliers and sewing machine to jazz up a tired old item of clothing, I like to enjoy my free time. Even learning about a major construction project and educating the community about the necessity of water and its sustainable management, my first full-time job with ACTEW Water in Canberra.
I’ve always been fascinated by the world around me and if I can learn more while getting my hands involved and my clothes messy so much for the better!
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Elise
I come from a small town in NSW called Temorabut I moved to Canberra to study a Bachelor of Science at the ANU, ending up with majors in physiology and mathematics. I absolutely love the body, all the systems involved and how perfectly they work together to allow us to do all the things we can do; but I have an equal passion for the beauty and logic of maths. In fact, you could say that I was born to do maths!
Just type 35173 into a calculator, and now turn it upside down! It's my name!!! Pretty cool, huh? I went on exchange to the University of Toronto last year, finishing my degree in April, and then decided to just keep on travelling for the rest of the year. I backpacked around Canada, the UK and all over Europe, seeing some amazing and inspiring things!
While overseas, I realised that although I didn't want to stop travelling, I did want to keep learning and teaching others about the thing I like most: science! So, I joined the Shell Questacon Science Circus! I cannot wait to meet everyone while on the road, and look forward to seeing you soon. Don't be shy; come and say hi!
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Martha
I grew up in the Southern Highlands and went to uni at Wollongong where I completed my Bachelor of Teaching and Bachelor of Education. Ever since I was little I’ve wanted to run away to join the circus; I even taught myself to juggle just so I’d be in with a chance. I’ve done a fair bit of travel, six months overseas in Europe and the UK and then travelled all over NSW for different teaching jobs, from outback Broken Hill, to the coast of Milton and into the hustle and bustle of Campbelltown. I’ve always loved the environment and been passionate about teaching science to my students but I’ve also always had this desire to teach kids in another capacity—outside of the classroom.
I stumbled across the Shell Questacon Science Circus when looking for alternative job opportunities and it basically described me to a tee! I’m excited by the prospects of being able to combine my love of kids, science, travel and performing all in one—not to mention getting one step closer to fulfilling my childhood dream!
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Siân
Back in high school I hated chemistry and spent most of my time singing instead of thinking about the science I had to learn. When I finally arrived at ANU (somewhat confused as to why I had enrolled in a science degree) I begrudgingly started a chemistry major due to my horrifying realisation that I didn’t have the prerequisites for anything else. It only took one lecture for me to realise that when it was taught well, chemistry was actually awesome!
Soon after, I got a job at Questacon and together with my other major (science communication), I started doing all I could to learn about science education and how to make it fun and awesome. The Shell Questacon Science Circus seemed the natural next step in all this as it combined my love of performance with my love of science and education. It’s a blast!
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Sarah
Science was not my first love... (cue gasp!). From the age of six I was besotted with the world of danceand my school years flew by in a blur of sequins and lycra. I toured the USA with the Australian Institute of Performing Arts as a teenager, performing at various venues in Los Angeles and New York. Ready to drop out of school to become a Radio City Rockette, my parents convinced me to go to university and get a degree ‘just in case’ my plans for stardom failed. Cue ANU! One Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Sustainability later I was determined to continue my science education by applying for the Shell Questacon Science Circus. and my parents have started breathing easy again.
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Phoebe
I have loved science and have been fascinated by the world around me for as long as I can remember. I spent my childhood in Melbourne roaming around my grandparents’ farm looking at animals and plants, collecting rocks, sticks, insects, leaves and flowers at local parks and adopting stray animals.
All through school I adored science, in particular biology, so when it came time to head off to Deakin University I chose to do my undergrad and Honours in Biological Science. Completing Honours made me realize I’m better suited to working with people than solo in a lab and after spending 10 years working with kids I knew that a job that could combine science and fun was for me!
This year I am really looking forward to sharing my love of science with a new generation and encouraging them to care for the amazing world we all live in.
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Jess
Growing up in Canberra I was fortunate to visit Questacon, Mt Stromlo Observatory and the Tidbinbilla tracking station on a regular basis with my family. In fact, one of my earliest memories of science was during a Questacon holiday program, in which I placed a stick of celery in coloured water, and observed a process I now know to be called transpiration. Looking back, it was these dynamic and ‘hands-on’ experiences that fostered my interest for science.
Some years later, I have graduated with a Bachelor of Advanced Science from the ANU and also completed my Honours in Chemistry. During this time I realised that my passion for science didn’t lie in a research lab. Instead I loved being able to get out and share my knowledge and enthusiasm for science. This is why I am looking forward to an exciting year as part of the Shell Questacon Science Circus.
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Talia
I first became interested in science and the natural world on driving holidays around Australia with my family. I wanted to know everything there was to know about Australia's animals and plants, and how our landscape came to look the way it does today.
At school I loved discovering how things work on the level of atoms and molecules. So I went on to do a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Chemistry, as well as a Bachelor of Arts, at the University of Queensland in my home town of Brisbane. For my Honours project I studied the compounds in a particular plant species to see if they could be used to make medicines.
But I wasn't done learning yet. That's why I joined the Shell Questacon Science Circus - to discover how people find out what's going on in the scientific community, and to learn how to communicate science to different groups of people. Best of all, I get to travel around and meet wonderful people just like you!
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Shannan
Growing up with a menagerie of animals—whom I loved more than anything—I dreamed of becoming a vet. Upon completing high school though, I discovered there were many more opportunities to help animals other than to be a veterinarian. So with David Attenborough as an idol, a thirst for understanding and a love of learning, I studied Animal and Veterinary Bioscience at the University of Sydney.
After first year, I realised that no matter how much I loved animals, if I couldn’t communicate why animals were so important to other people and their environment, I wouldn’t be much help. So I began travelling; learning about different cultures and views people hold about the world around them. This led me to begin a new chapter in the adventure with ANU and Questacon, in which I hope to learn how to communicate science, whilst igniting YOUR imagination.
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