Canberra Women of Science and Art
National Science Week 2022
The Canberra Women of Science and Art events are on again for National Science Week 2022!
Meet a diverse group of amazing Canberran women working in or inspired by science, tech, engineering, art and maths (STEAM).
These people are anything but ‘boring scientists’ or ‘wacky artists’. They have:
- taught hundreds of children how to fly drones
- created a balloon show to introduce the concept of genetics to children
- sparked the start of a Canberra tribe of art-robots
- used their engineering expertise to keep Australia safe.
“The difference between science and the arts is not that they are different sides of the same coin… or even different parts of the same continuun, but rather, they are manifestations of the same thing. The arts and sciences are avatars of human creativity.”
Watch the videos of the events
Download the Activity and Resources Kit (2022)
The Canberra Women of Science and Art Activity and Resources Kit (2022) provides 18 pages of:
- STEAM activities/experiments
- colouring-in pages for young and old
- resources about studying STEM/STEAM
- a snapshot of STEAM programs and initiatives in Canberra
- information about the Canberra Women of Science and Art events, held during National Science Week.
To download
You will see a form below to download. Please enter your email address and tick the relevant boxes.
(We’re gathering this information so we can understand who is using the Activity and Resources kit. You may be contacted via email but can opt-out of email contact at any time.)
You’ll see the link to download the file. Clicking on the button/link that is revealed will open a new window with the PDF.
Three separate events for different audiences & levels of interactivity
Lunch + 'fireside chat' @CBRIN (Wed 17 Aug 12:30pm-1:30pm)
Little people + all @Woden Library (Fri 19 Aug 10:30am-11:30am)
All-ages workshops @ANU (Sun 21 Aug 10:30am-12:30pm)
Our why?
We created Canberra Women of Science and Art to:
- engage and inspire people in Canberra and beyond
- challenge stereotypes around who can be involved with and work in science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics (STEAM)
- show the beneficial connections between STEM and creativity/arts
- demonstrate alternative career pathways
- provide tangible next steps for children and adults e.g. resources, links to other organisations
- deliver experiences for all ages to enjoy.
Speakers / Workshop presenters
Katie Vidal
Education lead, She Maps
For nearly 20 years, Katie has been passionate about teaching and finding new ways for her students to explore the world around them. She spent the first part of her teaching career in primary education, concentrating on the early years. As a defence spouse (moving often) she had the opportunity to teach in different parts of Australia from north-west NSW, to Sydney, Brisbane and now Canberra.
Four years ago, she was asked “Would you like to fly drones in classrooms?” Using her expertise in education, Katie now supports teachers to use drones in their educational programs with She Maps. They’re a STEM education company that doesn’t want to imagine the future, it wants to create the future! A future where there are more people interested and capable in STEM fields.The drone industry is growing exponentially and the students of today will be the drone pilots of tomorrow! She loves to ask the question…Would you like to fly?
Dr Chloe Lim
Science Storyteller, Twisty Science
Dr Chloe Lim is a scientist who is also a professional balloon artist. She was trained as a molecular biologist and has over 14 years working in medical research. In the last few years, she transitioned from academia into government and now works in a government agency. She is also an entrepreneur, with her own coaching practice and a party entertainment service offering balloon twisting services as Giggly Wiggly Balloons.
Chloe is passionate about STEM engagement from an early age and helping children develop their curiosity about their amazing body. She believes that making reading fun can help children to develop a love for books and reading. She wrote and published the book “What Makes You Unique”, which is an early reader’s book introducing children to the concept of genetics and how DNA makes us unique. She merges her passion for science and the magic of balloon twisting to create fun and engaging science storytelling shows.
Naomi Duckworth
Engineering Manager, Department of Defence
Naomi Duckworth is currently the Engineering Manager for a multi-tranche, multi-billion dollar Defence project in the Ships Division of the Capability and Sustainment Group at the Department of Defence. As an Engineering Manager Naomi is responsible for the delivery of Engineering project management artefacts, engineering specifications and contractual documentation. Naomi’s oversight of the Engineering team also involves resourcing, scheduling and risk management.
Naomi has also recently worked at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade); this included working directly to the Austrade deputy CEO. While at Austrade, Naomi took a career break to provide primary care to her two young daughters and to accompany her husband on diplomatic postings to Tehran, Jakarta and London. She has experience as a Manager within Capital Project Services at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) LLP in London and has administered contracts for Station Refurbishments on the London Underground. She holds an Honours degree in Systems Engineering from the ANU and a Graduate Diploma in Management Studies from University of New South Wales (ADFA Campus). Naomi also loves design, renovations and thinking of creative ways to solve problems.
Claire Harris
Founder/Director, Innovate Communicate
Entrepreneur and Founder of Innovate Communicate, Claire Harris is a marketing-communication and science professional with a passion for innovation, inclusion and positive change. Innovate Communicate fills a gap in the market between technical and research sectors and society by providing marketing and communication services to organisations and businesses working in science, technology, engineering, maths and innovation sectors.
Claire runs a range of events in Canberra and is helping to amass a tribe of Brave Bots – robot art on tiles – as part of workshops to engage people in technology, sustainability and art-for-purpose.
Claire has worked in science-related fields for over 20 years and her current focus areas are: environment, agriculture, health, defence and defence industry, technology, and social policy (in particular gender equity). With a B. Environmental Science and Grad Dip in Communication, she began her career as an environmental scientist conducting fisheries research in cane drains. (She’s not afraid of mud!) Claire is also a Certified Practising Marketer (with the Australian Marketing Institute) and is currently undertaking a Diploma of Digital Technologies.
MC
Dr Phil Dooley
Science Writer, Videomaker, Presenter and Science Communication Trainer
Dr Phil Dooley is a science performer and MC. He runs Science in the Pub events under the banner of Phil Up On Science, with the aim of getting crowds singing science songs.
He’s a founder of the science theatre collaboration Dramatis Scientificae that has performed at Adelaide and Sydney Fringe Festivals and Questacon. He is also a writer, videomaker, and science communication trainer.
He has written for Cosmos, New Scientist and the American Physical Society, and been selected for the Anthology of Best Australian Science Writing three times.
Listen to the audio clip from the interview Claire did with ABC Canberra Mornings (radio)
Brought to you by…
Sponsors
This National Science Week project is supported by the Australian Government through the National Science Week ACT Committee.