World Science Festival Brisbane celebrations draw record-breaking crowds
Queensland audiences embraced the second World Science Festival Brisbane with more than 182,000 people celebrating science at one of the world’s most engaging, exciting and educational science events held on our own doorstep, Premier and Arts Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said today.
The Premier said this year’s event attracted an incredible 60,000 more attendees than the inaugural event in 2016, proving Queenslanders have a keen interest in the latest and greatest science and in hearing from the scientists at the forefront of research projects that are changing our world.
“The Queensland Government invests in World Science Festival Brisbane to showcase our region and highlight our ongoing success as a destination for world-class events and unique experiences,” the Premier said.
“Securing exclusive rights to host the festival in Brisbane underscores my Government’s $405 million Advance Queensland initiative, which focuses on harnessing innovation to unlock business potential, grow our regions, foster new industries, and give future generations the necessary skills and knowledge for the jobs of tomorrow.
“As well as extending across Brisbane’s Cultural Precinct, the festival also travelled to Gladstone, Chinchilla and Toowoomba, giving regional Queenslanders a chance to experience the wonders of science first-hand.
“Unfortunately the events scheduled for Townsville had to be cancelled due to the threat posed by Cyclone Debbie but I’m advised the Student Day will be rescheduled to a later date and organisers are in contact with the schools involved.”
World Science Festival Brisbane brings science out of labs and on to the streets, with Queenslanders this year enjoying more than 115 performances and events from 150 of the world’s leading scientists and innovators.
A record-breaking 90,000 people visited the Queensland Museum during the festival, with the series of talks on crocs, taxidermy, coral and turtles, and the turtle hatchlings at the purpose-built Hatchery, proving incredibly popular.
Loggerhead hatchling, World Science festival 2017
Science Minister Leeanne Enoch said the festival reinforced the state’s global position as a knowledge hub while also providing opportunities for Queenslanders to immerse themselves in the wonders of science.
“World Science Festival Brisbane inspires students, teachers and whole communities to take a keen interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM),” Ms Enoch said.
“It’s vital we encourage our youngest minds to engage with science and explore opportunities in STEM. This will help prepare our children for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Queensland Chief Scientist, CEO and Director of the Queensland Museum Network Professor Suzanne Miller said science, technology, engineering and maths were so embedded in our lives that we didn’t often stop to appreciate the enormity of their impacts.
“This festival showcased a wide range of scientific fields and extraordinarily talented people through performances, demonstrations, debates, talks, displays and exhibitions,” Professor Miller said.
“The great thing about World Science Festival Brisbane is that it makes science highly visible and accessible to all, and helps demystify the amazing work that occurs in laboratories around the world that has a huge impact on us all.”
Brisbane is the only city in the Asia-Pacific region to offer this amazing event, which will be hosted by Queensland Museum until 2021.
Next year’s event will be held from 21 to 25 March – subscribe to WSFB Enews to stay up to date with program announcements.
