Maryborough Science Community Event
Join us for a FREE fun and educational afternoon for some family-friendly science fun, and participate in a fun science activity!
Maryborough Science Community Event
With Flying Scientist Dr Katrin Kockler and Young Science Ambassadors Claire Moad and Prerna Mudai.
Join our scientists for some fun, hands-on science activities about bioplastics and chemical engineering. Also hear from our scientists about their research and what a STEM career can look like.
Join us for a FREE fun and educational event in Maryborough! This event is suitable for ALL ages.
- 3:30pm - Interactive science activities
- 4:15pm - Hear from Dr Katrin Kockler and our Young Science Ambassadors about their STEM careers and research.
About the speakers
Dr Katrin Kockler - Flying Scientist, Chemical engineering & bioplastics, The University of Queensland
Katrin has a PhD in polymer chemistry and has worked in several different areas of chemistry, such as using high class lasers to investigate chemical reactions, using chemicals to mimic the bioluminescence of glowing organisms, or building membranes to filter blood samples to help create important medicines. One of her passions is sustainability, and she is currently working as a research fellow at the Centre for Bioplastics and Biocomposites in Brisbane, trying to help solving plastic waste by developing plastics that are entirely made from renewable resources and fully biodegradable in the ground, the ocean, or any household compost.
Claire Moad - Young Science Ambassador The University of Queensland
Claire is a PhD student based at the School of Biological Sciences UQ. She is part of the Marine Sensory Ecology Group, who are interested in how animals perceive the world around them. She is originally from Melbourne but moved to Townsville in 2015. Whilst in Townsville, she completed my Bachelor of Science majoring in marine biology at James Cook University, as well as Honours looking at the effects of habitat degradation on larval reef fish, as well as spending a lot of her time volunteering with sea turtles through JCU Turtle Health Research Group. She moved to Brisbane in 2021 to start her PhD, where her research is focused on investigating marine animal colour patterns (especially those of nudibranchs) and how they are perceived by coral reef fish.
Prerna Mudai - Young Science Ambassador The University of Queensland
Prerna is a PhD student at the Innate Immunology Lab in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland. She is studying the interaction of proteins called toll-like receptors which form a key part of the first line of our body’s defence against pathogens. When not experimenting, she loves to dance, bake and paint. She loves asking questions, but also loves answering them! Science isn’t just about why, but also about why not! She is enthusiastic about making STEM more accessible and wants to promote a culture where science isn’t a tough challenge. She believes that a scientific temperament helps an individual take more informed decisions. Additionally, scientific curiosity helps you understand more about this universe and yourself, and probably stumble upon something we all never knew!
About Flying Scientists
The Flying Scientists program engages rural Queenslanders in science. It is a partnership between the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation and Wonder of Science. The Flying Scientists are researchers who accompany Wonder of Science Young Science Ambassadors into regional Queensland centres for community science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) engagement events.
https://www.chiefscientist.qld.gov.au/science-comms/programs-events/flying-scientists
https://wonderofscience.com.au/flying-scientists
About Wonder of Science
Wonder of Science fosters a STEM culture that empowers and increases capability for positive student and societal outcomes via access to high-quality, evidence-based STEM education. Specifically, a culture where all students, their teachers, parents and other community members understand and value the importance and potential of Science, and STEM pathways and careers.
We celebrate 15 years in Queensland schools in 2026!
Young Science Ambassador visits to your school and inspiring STEM Challenge Tasks for your students are just the beginning of what Wonder of Science offers schools across Queensland.
Tailored professional development as well as unit and lesson plans for teachers supports implementation of the Wonder of Science program in schools.
To find out more or contact Wonder of Science visit: https://wonderofscience.com.au/
Join us for a FREE fun and educational afternoon for some family-friendly science fun, and participate in a fun science activity!
Maryborough Science Community Event
With Flying Scientist Dr Katrin Kockler and Young Science Ambassadors Claire Moad and Prerna Mudai.
Join our scientists for some fun, hands-on science activities about bioplastics and chemical engineering. Also hear from our scientists about their research and what a STEM career can look like.
Join us for a FREE fun and educational event in Maryborough! This event is suitable for ALL ages.
- 3:30pm - Interactive science activities
- 4:15pm - Hear from Dr Katrin Kockler and our Young Science Ambassadors about their STEM careers and research.
About the speakers
Dr Katrin Kockler - Flying Scientist, Chemical engineering & bioplastics, The University of Queensland
Katrin has a PhD in polymer chemistry and has worked in several different areas of chemistry, such as using high class lasers to investigate chemical reactions, using chemicals to mimic the bioluminescence of glowing organisms, or building membranes to filter blood samples to help create important medicines. One of her passions is sustainability, and she is currently working as a research fellow at the Centre for Bioplastics and Biocomposites in Brisbane, trying to help solving plastic waste by developing plastics that are entirely made from renewable resources and fully biodegradable in the ground, the ocean, or any household compost.
Claire Moad - Young Science Ambassador The University of Queensland
Claire is a PhD student based at the School of Biological Sciences UQ. She is part of the Marine Sensory Ecology Group, who are interested in how animals perceive the world around them. She is originally from Melbourne but moved to Townsville in 2015. Whilst in Townsville, she completed my Bachelor of Science majoring in marine biology at James Cook University, as well as Honours looking at the effects of habitat degradation on larval reef fish, as well as spending a lot of her time volunteering with sea turtles through JCU Turtle Health Research Group. She moved to Brisbane in 2021 to start her PhD, where her research is focused on investigating marine animal colour patterns (especially those of nudibranchs) and how they are perceived by coral reef fish.
Prerna Mudai - Young Science Ambassador The University of Queensland
Prerna is a PhD student at the Innate Immunology Lab in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland. She is studying the interaction of proteins called toll-like receptors which form a key part of the first line of our body’s defence against pathogens. When not experimenting, she loves to dance, bake and paint. She loves asking questions, but also loves answering them! Science isn’t just about why, but also about why not! She is enthusiastic about making STEM more accessible and wants to promote a culture where science isn’t a tough challenge. She believes that a scientific temperament helps an individual take more informed decisions. Additionally, scientific curiosity helps you understand more about this universe and yourself, and probably stumble upon something we all never knew!
About Flying Scientists
The Flying Scientists program engages rural Queenslanders in science. It is a partnership between the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation and Wonder of Science. The Flying Scientists are researchers who accompany Wonder of Science Young Science Ambassadors into regional Queensland centres for community science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) engagement events.
https://www.chiefscientist.qld.gov.au/science-comms/programs-events/flying-scientists
https://wonderofscience.com.au/flying-scientists
About Wonder of Science
Wonder of Science fosters a STEM culture that empowers and increases capability for positive student and societal outcomes via access to high-quality, evidence-based STEM education. Specifically, a culture where all students, their teachers, parents and other community members understand and value the importance and potential of Science, and STEM pathways and careers.
We celebrate 15 years in Queensland schools in 2026!
Young Science Ambassador visits to your school and inspiring STEM Challenge Tasks for your students are just the beginning of what Wonder of Science offers schools across Queensland.
Tailored professional development as well as unit and lesson plans for teachers supports implementation of the Wonder of Science program in schools.
To find out more or contact Wonder of Science visit: https://wonderofscience.com.au/
Good to know
Highlights
- In-person
Location
Maryborough Library
127-129 Bazaar Street
Maryborough, QLD 4650
How would you like to get there?
