Sixteen enthusiastic science graduates staff the Circus as it travels, bringing lively presentations of science to towns and schools. The group have a diverse range of science qualifications and a wealth of experience in the performance arts and travel.
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| The 2008 Science Circus Team Left to right: Aimee Wilson, Megan Goldspink, Brett Pearce, Gina Smith, Joanna Abbs, Cath McLaren, Carly Siebentritt, Augusta Macdonald, Adam Strang, Cat O’Donovan, Ollie Barrand, Amy Boulding, Peter Smythe, Sarah Taylor, Roof Fakhri. Absent: Morgan Sheridan |
The Science Circus team are a select group of Australian science graduates. The group have a diverse range of science qualifications and a wealth of experience in the performance arts and travel.
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 Graduate Diploma in Science Communication. Applications close August 31 each year. Contact the ANU by e-mail or telephone on + 61 2 6125 2809.
My name is Joanna and I’m part of the Shell Questacon Science Circus. How did I get here? Come with me now on a journey through time and space to find out! Most recently I was presenting science shows at the Newcastle Regional Museum, which involved tuning forks, Alka Seltzer rockets and fluffy ducks. I have also completed a science and teaching double degree at Newcastle University which involved slime, kangaroos and moon rocks. Going back even further, I enjoyed science in primary school, which involved electrical circuits, chemical potions and sulfuric acid snakes.
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Ok I’ll admit it. I’ve got a problem. I’ve always loved taking things apart. As a kid I was obsessed with knowing how things worked. I carried a screwdriver everywhere. It was a nightmare for my family. Eventually this extended to wanting to figure out the intricate workings of life itself, right down to the molecular biological scale. This guided me through studies in biotechnology, and to honours research into the more exciting aspects of plant evolution. But throughout my studies I also maintained an enthusiasm for performance and sharing my passion for discovery. That’s why I’m excited about the opportunity to get out there as part of the Shell Questacon Science Circus team this year. That, and maybe having a tinker with that big truck of theirs...
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As a child, Amy loved her rainbow gumboots, exploring the hills and paddocks of Wodonga, Yackandandah and Wooragee, and asking “why?”. Now, as an adult (at least if measured by age), Amy loves her black gumboots, exploring every location she can get to, asking “why?”, and sharing the answers with everyone else! The main difference between now and then, is that Amy’s Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and Ecology, and time spent working at the Murray–Darling Freshwater Research Centre, means that she has a lot more answers – but also a lot more questions! Oh, and it’s hard to get adult rainbow gumboots...
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I like stuff. All sorts of stuff. It was this kind of generality that led me through university with seven degree transfers, distracting myself with years of UNSW Circus Society antics. On the day of graduation, I still didn’t know what I wanted to study, nor what degrees I was getting (Psychology and Computer Science, as it turns out)! Thankfully, a foreshadowing speech about Science Communication at the graduation ceremony by Dr Paul Willis of Catalyst gave me the out I needed to avoid making any sort of decision. I love Science, I love Communicating – Cupid flutters in the distance. So, I ran away and joined the circus... again.
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Before joining the circus I used to live a double life. On one hand I was super science student who was faster than a calculator, more powerful than a battery and able to read large textbooks in a single night. On the other hand I was Megan Goldspink, investigative reporter for the Curtin University newspaper. After graduating with a major in physics and a minor in journalism joining the Shell Questacon Science Circus seemed like a natural progression and allowed me to combine my two identities into one.
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After 7 years at primary school, 5 years at high school, 3 years studying a Bachelor of Science and 1 year trudging through Honours (that’s 16 years of study!!) I still hadn’t had enough of school. So, I packed my bags and headed to Canberra to the Shell Questacon Science Circus, looking for the opportunity to spread my love of science to the people and communities of Australia. With a background in physiology and endocrinology, I have leapt out of the laboratory and into the wonderful world of science communication and the slime, bubbles, rockets and explosions which are all part of the Circus.
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Science, theatre, performance and people are some of the few things I am passionate about. I was a “why?” child and I tortured my parents with questions for many years. My father (a mechanical engineer) loved to take me to his workshop to build things and take things apart but as I grew older my interests turned to biology and then to genetics.
I got a degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (though not after seriously considering studying theatre) but after a few years of research found that what I loved most of all was talking to non-scientists about science.
So... I ran away with the circus.
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Oh no, who let a “pom” into the circus this year?? Well, my mum was born in Queensland, so hopefully that redeems me a bit!
In June 2007 I finished a Natural Sciences degree at Durham, near the Scottish border. During those fun–filled 3 years I studied biology, geography, philosophy, astronomy, archaeology... even French! Such resistance to specialisation has left me with a pretty good general understanding of nature, ethics, new green technologies and the science of the skies. However, my Aussie pop culture references are severely lacking. ‘Dr Karl’ is not in fact Karl Kennedy from ‘Neighbours’... fancy that.
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Brett is the latest in a long and successful line of migrants from fellow science centre Scitech in Perth. After cutting his teeth on the inhospitable frontier of Environmental Science for a number of years, Brett needed a change, and that is to say a journey of self discovery, and that is to say Science Communication.
With the Nullarbor and no discernable talent being formidable obstacles, Brett has fought his way to Canberra using nothing but quick wit and drollness.
Brett feels that a year in the circus, combined with his dashing yet earnest and rugged good looks will see him through to a flourishing triumph.
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In Year 12, I wanted to be an actor. The first logical step towards doing this clearly wasn’t to enrol in a science degree at the ANU, majoring in chemistry and biology, so that is what I did.
It was when I was enthusiastically explaining the theory of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to a friend that I realised it was too late – I was, irrevocably, a nerd – worse still, a nerd with an urge to share my knowledge. I also still wanted to act… so upon finishing my degrees, I joined the science circus. So far, the whole thing promises to be a catastrophic success...
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For me, science began with the bug-catcher and a series of insects, spiders, worms and even rocks which were all captured, studied and stared at for long hours at a time. Until you’ve seen a praying-mantis catch and eat a daddy–long legs spider (one long leg at a time) you haven’t experienced the wilds of nature!
A love of Biology lead to a degree in Biomedical Science (playing with cells which are much smaller than bugs) and Honours in an HIV Virology lab (playing with viruses – these are much smaller than cells). A growing desire to see science work without using a microscope, three different instruments and a computer has me ready to exchange my white lab coat for a red or blue T–shirt and start seeing the big bits of science!
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My life as a scientist began, as far as I can remember, when I was one year old. Like my fellow just–beginning–to–walk–ers, I was fascinated by the everyday experiences of gravity and motion; learning, like any good scientist, through observation and experimentation.
Whilst attempting to grasp the finer points of the trajectories of moving objects, at this age I fractured my skull diving out of a moving pram. I had to refine my experimental method.
Strangely undeterred, I continued my scientific endeavours. Pre–school, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary. And finally, this year, in the hope that I might enable other young Australians to discover the joys of science without subjecting themselves to bodily harm, I joined the Science Circus.
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Since childhood I’ve been curious and enjoyed working out how things work. To this day I still enjoy ‘fixing’ things... admittedly with various levels of success! This inquisitive nature has led to a long and varied science education with an emphasis on physics which can provide a beautiful framework for understanding nature.
Perhaps too much of a good thing got the better of me and I needed a break. Having no experience in piracy, running off to sea was not an option so it was the circus for me. I look forward to an exciting year as part of the Shell Questacon Science Circus, travelling with a motley crew, learning from those around me and sharing science with the youth of Australia.
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Growing up on the suburban outskirts of Sydney, I divided my childhood between trying to find out how everything worked and being spectacularly loud. This continued right through to university, where I did a science degree majoring in chemistry to see what made everything tick, and got involved in student theatre to make myself heard.
Afer finishing my degree, I took the logical step of entering the theatre industry as a techie, and was almost would’ve kept it up until I found the Science Circus. It was unbelievable: a place where I could mash all my love for science up with my love for performing. So I signed up and here I am, ready to take this bombastic roadshow of knowledge and fun right around the country.
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I really enjoyed biology and environmental science at school so I went on to study these subjects at university, where I had an absolutely fantastic time. The logical next step was signing up for another year of study with the Shell Questacon Science Circus. As I showed an early aptitude for falling out of trees and crashing bikes my move to the circus might surprise (or scare) those that know me. Never fear, where liquid nitrogen and exploding marshmallows are concerned I am sure I can muster up some semblance of coordination. I think 2008 is going to be a fun year – watch out!
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I grew up in Canberra with Questacon on my doorstep and parents who insisted on cartripping my siblings and me away from all its wonders and around Australia via the very remotest corners, making us learn stuff on the way. As frustrating as it was not being allowed to spend all my childhood days making Möbius strips and riding the earthquake machine, I somewhat begrudgingly came to accept the fact that science is pretty darn cool in any of its forms, and ended up majoring in Zoology/Ecology at the University of Queensland.
Accidentally stumbling across (and subsequently running away to join) the Shell Questacon Science Circus has given me hope that there may be a way to combine my loves of science, writing, travelling, performing and wearing silly hats into some semblance of a realistic and enjoyable career path. This year I aim to develop new skills (and perhaps un-develop some old ones) and learn to effectively bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and the general public - and if I can do it with toothpicks and plasticine, even better!
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