Lucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Right now we're in the middle of the 20th annual National Science Week. It runs until 20 August and it's an outstanding opportunity for all Australians to celebrate and discuss important scientific discoveries and to recognise the ways in which science has shaped our lives. National Science Week has become one of Australia's biggest events, with more than a million people expected to take part in around 1,000 events across the nation. We know that many jobs of the future are going to be based around science, maths and engineering, so this is a great opportunity to recognise the hard work of our Australian scientists and also to inspire the next generation of scientists, to ensure that their passion and knowledge are passed on.

Schools around our nation have been invited to join a virtual classroom on the topic of 'future earth', hearing about world-class Australian scientists working in the space industry. One of the schools taking part will be the outstanding Niagara Park Public School, where year 5 and 6 students will be taking part in the virtual lesson, followed by hands-on STEM activities—in this case, designing a parachute. At Kincumber High School, students have been part of a local waterway monitoring project, conducting water quality tests and surveys of Kincumber Creek to determine the health of the habitat. It's a fantastic example of science coming to life, inspiring and educating our next generation. National Science Week's popularity over two decades underlines the important role it plays in shaping our present and our future. I encourage everyone to get involved.