At the World Science Festival in Brisbane, robots, rockets and bubbles introduced science to the young and the young at heart, in a free for all.

Reece D’Alessandro reports.

TRANSCRIPT

A two-day street science extravaganza the streets of Southbank transformed into one enormous laboratory.

VOX 1: “I’d like to be a biological scientist and study endangered animals.”

Jessica Vogt, Street Science Lead Presenter: “There’s such an opportunity for everyone to be a scientist, especially at World Science Festival.”

And this year perhaps, the most important yet.

Australia is losing the race, in terms of science education.

Only sixteen per cent of Australian university graduates will have qualifications, in science, technology or mathematics.

Jessica Vogt, Street Science Lead Presenter: “Australia is behind the eight ball, as far as developed countries go, our education of science, of maths, and any of those technologies, is just not where it should be.”

A statement echoed, by Queensland’s Chief Scientist.

Prof. Suzanne Miller, CEO and Director Queensland Museum: “We are failing our children, in not having a system that allows them to fulfill their potential.”

This festival allows the kids to experiment and to be inspired.

But they aren’t alone under the microscope.

Nikki Haami-Jones, Young Engineers: “When they’re booking in their children, parents always ask me, ‘do you have any separate adult classes? At the moment, we’re running full-time and they’re booked out.”

It’s hoped the street stalls will encourage everyone to consider a career in Australian science before it all, goes up in smoke.

Reece D’Alessandro, QUT News.