Five exceptional female science communicators are part of a larger team who use skills in education and engagement to promote an interest in science amongst the public and students.
To mark International Women's Day, we are highlighting the individuals who are driving STEM engagement.
The group, who vary in age and background, are on the front lines shepherding swarms of students on excursions to ANSTO, sharing information related to the science curricula or delivering teacher professional development.
It is not a job for the fainthearted, but they are out there most days with enthusiasm, patience and some sleights of hand. For example, you can use Lego challenges to spark an interest in engineering or models of bubbling volcanoes to make chemistry interesting.
Rochelle Donohue, who has been at ANSTO just over a year, came to the position after being a primary school teacher.
She decided on a career in science because of evidence that children decide whether they like science or not by age 11. "It's too late in high school to try to get them excited about science. I wanted to work in science education to combat this in two ways. First, by coming alongside teachers and showing them that teaching science is achievable. Secondly, by teaching children science is approachable, and we can have some fun along the way too."
"The best part of her work is the satisfaction when visitors leave having a better understanding of ANSTO and have maybe learnt something new, too.
"The science at ANSTO is quite complex. This makes it difficult to achieve the right balance between accuracy and understanding. "However, I enjoy this challenge. You need to constantly check your own understanding so that you can explain it best to others."
She finds primary school children very receptive to learning science, but it can decline as they enter high school, but some sparks are still there.
"Hopefully, we can encourage those that are interested to speak up, and those that aren't that they still need to know about their world in order to live well within it."
Rochelle is proud of initially knowing very little about ANSTO but progressing to taking full site tours and is now working towards taking the lead in some of our Senior Science excursions.
Her advice to a girl thinking about a career in science. "If you are interested in science, then do it! There are all sorts of ways to 'do' science. Look for opportunities to get involved and be courageous."
Julie Mulholland started her career as a chemist working for a chemical company but moved to become a science teacher for 30 years, where she earned some educator awards.
She had some great science and maths teachers who taught their subjects in a fun and engaging way and inspired to follow in their footsteps.
"I also have a great passion for science, science teaching methodology, and equity in education, and I find great delight in those 'light bulb' moments for individual students when they discover something fascinating and new."
The best part of the job for Julie is sharing stories about the fascinating and brilliant work ANSTO scientists are undertaking.
The challenges are tailoring information to suit the wide range of visitors to ANSTO, who have differing levels of scientific knowledge.
"And occasionally, we get difficult and thought-provoking questions. However, I do find meeting these challenges very worthwhile."
Julie is most proud of her work on STEAM club activities that introduce young students to a variety of scientific concepts, such as pressure, the principle of flight and some exotic phenomenon, such as tessellations.
Her collaborative work with Bridget Murphy and Victor Grasty provided data sets for students to process information gathered in experiments and investigations, enabling them to participate directly in current, real-world science.
She encourages girls and young women to explore and connect with female scientists, as well as outstanding figures throughout the history of science. "Their stories will inspire and motivate you!" said Julie.
Training and Education Coordinator Sarah Tyler, who joined ANSTO about three years ago spent her earlier career as a high school science teacher. In addition to supporting visits, Sarah made a contribution in developing and now presents as part of the Basics of Nuclear Literacy course offered by ANSTO.
Jasmine Reay, Group Executive Infrastructure and Engineering Services, commented on the course, "When I first arrived at ANSTO, it was crucial for me to quickly enhance my nuclear literacy. The Basics of Nuclear Literacy course, delivered by our Education Officers, explained the technical science and key concepts in a practical and understandable manner. It takes a special skill to present to both technical and non-technical audiences."
Sarah, a member of the team who won an ANSTO award last year for the development of the course, said she was proud of the accomplishment.
"Providing participants with a foundational knowledge of nuclear science, especially at a time when it is being discussed across Australia, is gratifying."
Her interest in science began early when she turned her bathroom into a laboratory-experimenting with chemicals to observe by precipitates forming, substances changing colour, and crystal growing.
Combining her enthusiasm for science with her love for engaging with others made science education the perfect fit.
"At ANSTO, the best part of my job is witnessing those "aha" moments among visitors or students-when science truly connects with people," said Sarah.
She described it as seeing a lightbulb go off when someone finally grasps the basics of nuclear fission or hearing a student say that science is so cool and starts thinking about a career in STEM.
The work can be challenging at times, as there is a stigma around nuclear science.
"Many people come into conversations with the assumption that anything nuclear is inherently dangerous or unnecessary, which means we often start on an uphill battle. My job is to help clear up that misconception and show how nuclear science benefits society in ways they never realised," said Sarah.
Sarah finds it satisfying to work with children and students because she thinks people love science, whether they realise it or not.
"Science is deeply woven into who we are and how we understand the world. It's often said that we are all born as natural scientists, constantly testing and learning from our surroundings. We never stop learning, and the curiosity that drives us to explore and understand the world is something everyone shares. When students discover new concepts and make connections-it's because it is in our nature!"
She encourages those with a passion for science, to hold onto it tightly and explore the areas that excite them most. Just look to the incredible women in STEM across Australia and know that this is a field where you belong. There is a space for you, and your curiosity and determination can help shape the future of science."
Rochelle Gadd completed a Bachelor of Medical Science and became an accredited health physics surveyor before joining the team last year as a Training and Education Coordinator.
Her passion for science and its ability to solve real world problems drove her to this career in which she translates complex scientific ideas into accessible and engaging information for a wide range of audiences.
"Science is a powerful tool in the hands of the curious and can lead to discovery."
Rochelle loves breaking down complex ideas into engaging and interactive learning experiences. "It's incredibly rewarding to know that I'm helping to build scientific literacy."
There are many myths and misunderstandings about nuclear science, so a big part of her role is providing clear, evidence-based information in a way that resonates with different audiences.
"Another challenge is making science education engaging for students who might not initially see its relevance to their lives."
She finds children and students are receptive to science, when it is presented in a hands-on, engaging way.
"Even students who might not see themselves as "science people" become fascinated when they apply creativity and problem-solving to STEM subjects."
Rochelle is proud of the impact ANSTO educational programs have had on students and teachers across Australia.
"Seeing students gain confidence in their scientific thinking and knowing that I've played a small part in sparking their curiosity is incredibly fulfilling."
She thinks science needs more women, with diverse perspectives, curiosity and ideas.
"Science is not just about facts and formulas-it's about problem-solving, creativity, and making a difference in the world. Don't let outdated stereotypes hold you back."
At the head of the team is Bridget Murphy, Education Manager, who has worked at ANSTO for 14 years.
"As I was finishing up my PhD, I realised that only a handful of people around the world were reading the journal articles I'd published - it was such a specific subject. I decided I preferred communicating science to a much broader audience," explained Bridget.
The variety of visitors to ANSTO, from students to representatives of Government to international experts keeps her motivated.
She relished the opportunity to talk with ANSTO experts about their amazing work and then figures out how to explain that science in an engaging way to very different audiences
The most challenging scenario is being in the right frame of mind to manage Year 9 students, who might be bored, distracted or just disinterested.
"Some students think that science is too hard or complicated and it's those students that I really enjoy working with. It doesn't matter whether students like science or hate it, everyone will grow up and need to make decisions one day about things connected to science. It's important that all students have an appreciation of science as a way of understanding and explaining the world around us."
She was a key contributor to the development of the nuclear literacy course and regularly presents when it is held.
Bridget is enthusiastic about a recent initiative in collaborating with the hearing-impaired community to make science more accessible to the deaf.
"Thousands of people come through our doors every year, but the most rewarding teaching experiences are when you can accommodate someone who wouldn't normally be able to access this opportunity elsewhere," she said.
She encourages girls to talk to as many people as possible about what a career in science really means.
