The three QUT scientists behind an explosive show for Brisbane school students have shared how childhood curiosity was one of the big drivers for their own careers in STEM.
QUT chemists Dr Nathan Boase, Dr Michael Pfrunder and Federica Sbordone have joined forces to create Igniting the Magic of Chemistry, which will be livestreamed for primary school and high school students on March 10.
The show was originally planned as an in-person event for school groups at QPAC for the World Science Festival Brisbane, but the Brisbane floods saw organisers do a quick pivot to a free online experience, as part of the festival’s updated virtual program.
The show aims to shine a spotlight on science and give next-generation scientists a chance to learn more about chemistry and be inspired about possible career paths.
Ms Sbordone is an international PhD student from Italy who is currently doing research work at QUT in biotechnology – a field that mixes skills in chemistry, physics and biology, as well as engineering.
She has loved science since she was a young child, and is keen to help inspire the next generation.
“When I was a kid I loved watching a cartoon about the human body called Once Upon a Time … Life – I liked it so much that I decided I wanted to know more about how our bodies work and interact with the environment,” Ms Sbordone said.
“Everything we do, like eating, sleeping or moving, is possible because a huge number of chemical reactions occur in our body all the time!
“And once you know how the human body works, you can use chemistry to create drugs that can help it fight a virus, or cure a headache, for example.”
Dr Boase said about 800 students attended Igniting the Magic of Chemistry last year and the team had another winning formula ready for this year.
“There will be lots of experiments, explosions, things lighting up … We’re trying to show students the power of molecules, the energy that is contained within them, and how simple changes can make a huge difference to how they behave,” he said.
“We do it all in a fun way – there will be lots of things exploding and glowing in the dark!”
Dr Boase teaches first-year QUT students who are starting their university journey and also researches ways to improve cancer medicines.
He said his own science journey started as a kid.
“I’ve always loved science and I’m curious about the world,” Dr Boase said.
“As a kid, I wanted to know how things worked, why things were a certain colour … I pulled apart things around the house, I chased bugs and lizards in the backyard.
“I love chemistry, in particular, because everything in the world around us works fundamentally at the level of chemistry – the way our bodies move, the way the colours of a chameleon change, how the image you can see on your television changes on screen.”
In addition to hosting Igniting the Magic of Chemistry, Dr Pfrunder runs a new QUT primary school outreach program called Zoomed-In Science.
The free program is available to primary schools across Queensland and is delivered live via video link.
“We bring real scientific research laboratories directly into primary school classrooms,” Dr Pfrunder said.
“Students get to meet and interact with actual scientists in their own labs through live and recorded presentations that involve experiments, educational talks, two-way discussions and free Q-and-A time.
“As a kid I learned about the that all matter is made of atoms – and I’ve been hooked ever since. Why is some matter strong? How can it be different colours? Is most of matter really empty space?
“I didn’t really know what to do with all this curiosity until I finally started chemistry at high school in grade 10. That’s when I knew I wanted to be a chemist!”
Zoomed-In Science is an initiative of QUT’s Centre for Materials Science and is sponsored by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.
Teachers interested in Zoomed-In Science can visit the QUT website
