Queensland Local Organising Team

Soapbox Science Queensland

The Brisbane organising team are Soapbox Science alumni passionate about the event’s mission: making science accessible, engaging, and inclusive. Having stepped onto the soapbox themselves, they are committed to providing a vibrant platform for fellow scientists to share their research and spark curiosity in people of all ages and backgrounds.

The Team

Dr Carly Campbell, Senior Conservation Analyst, Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation

Carly is a quantitative ecologist and conservation scientist. She specialises in modelling spatial and temporal biodiversity trends, particularly for threatened species and ecosystems.

Dr Caitie Kuempel, Lecturer, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University

Dr Caitie Kuempel is a conservation scientist passionate about finding ways to meet the needs of the growing human population while minimising impacts on the environment – particularly in the world’s oceans. Her interests span sustainable blue economy development, land-sea interactions, and spatial planning.

Bettina Dietmair, PhD Student at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland

Bettina works on precision medicines for hereditary diseases and cancers. Her research focuses on delivering treatments specifically to affected areas within the body.

Dr Kristy Stevenson, Research Associate, Queensland University of Technology.

Kristy is a plant ecologist with a focus on applied research. Her current work investigates impacts of an invasive plant pathogen on native forest communities.

Dr Birgitta Ebert, Senior Research Fellow, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland

Birgitta’s research focuses on using microorganisms to sustainably convert biomass or waste streams into valuable materials.

Past events

2016 Brisbane

2017 Townsville

2019 Gold Coast

2020 Brisbane

2021 Brisbane

2024 Brisbane

2025 Brisbane

Soapbox Science 2025 Brisbane

On Saturday, August 9th, from 10am until 1pm, the bustling Queen Street Mall in front of Queens Plaza will transform into an open-air science arena as Soapbox Science Brisbane 2025 brings research to the streets. This free public event features twelve brilliant scientists stepping onto soapboxes to engage with the public about the cutting-edge research in Queensland.

This year’s lineup is as diverse as it is inspiring. From wastewater surveillance detecting disease outbreaks to robots accelerating research to tackle plastic waste. You’ll hear about how green infrastructure helps native bees, discover how nature exposure benefits mental health, and explore the surprising science behind chicken feed. Other talks dive deep into groundbreaking medical innovations, using patient-specific models to study diseases and treatments, and tiny particles delivering drugs or monitoring wounds.

With these and more topics, the event is a celebration of curiosity, creativity and scientific progress. Whether you’re a science lover or a casual passerby, Soapbox Science 2025 invites you to listen, engage and be inspired.

The event is supported by Inspiring Australia Queensland, an Australian Government initiative, and the Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA). Soapbox Science Brisbane 2025 is co-organised by Dr. Carly Campbell, Dr Caitie Kuempel, Bettina Dietmair, Dr Birgitta Ebert, Dr Kristy Stevenson.

Speakers

Dr Eva Plaganyi, CSIRO “So you think fishing is the biggest problem in the ocean? Have I got news for you…”

Cassidy Winter, Griffith University “Queen of the hill: how green infrastructure is providing homes for our native bees”

Ms Shelley Gage, The University of Queensland “Bugs, moths and macadamia nuts”

A/Prof. Ali Chauvenet, Griffith University “Nature and mental wellbeing”

Mrs. Hirusha Hansamali, The University of Queensland “From plants to products – a better way to tackle CO2

Dr. Sugandha Bhatia, Queensland University of Technology “Bioengineering 3D models of bone cancer for drug profiling“

Ms Chie Ishitate, CSIRO “Robotic labs – speeding up bioengineering for a sustainable future”

Dr Taskeen Janjua, The University of Queensland “Nano ninjas vs brain cancer”

Dr. Anjana Jayasree, The University of Queensland “Chickens, microbes & magic minerals: the chicken gut showdown!”

Ms Manavi Muralidhar, The University of Queensland “Preventing pandemics: what’s wastewater got to do with it?”

Ms Yusra Rabbani, The University of Queensland “The gold-studded bandage”

Ms Thais Aragao Horoiwa, The University of Queensland “Nano-transporters for health benefits”