World Science Festival Brisbane opens

Brisbane welcomes one of the planet’s most innovative celebrations of science with today’s opening of the inaugural World Science Festival Brisbane, announced Premier and Arts Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk.

“The World Science Festival Brisbane will excite, inform and inspire people about the wonders of science, bringing some of the world’s leading scientific and cultural thought leaders to our door,” the Premier said.

“Queensland will host more than 100 scientific luminaries from nine countries with the 2016 program featuring more than 50 individual events and activities across Brisbane’s Cultural Precinct.

“Highlights include Emmy award-winning actor, author, science enthusiast and World Science Festival Board member Alan Alda; Nobel Laureate physicist Brian Schmidt; pioneering marine biologist Sylvia Earle; celebrated astronaut Andy Thomas; and renowned physicist and best-selling author and Festival co-founder Brian Greene,” she said.

“Street Science! will present the wonders of science on 12–13 March in a family-friendly free event with a weekend of activity featuring everything from turtle hatching, giant drones and science experiments.”

“Queenslanders in Townsville and Chinchilla have already enjoyed World Science Festival activities when regional components were presented in February.”

The Premier said the World Science Festival Brisbane would give Queensland a chance to put the focus on the region’s latest research and scientific discoveries.

“The Queensland Government invests in the World Science Festival Brisbane to showcase the region and reinforce the state’s reputation as a destination for big events,” she said.

“The World Science Festival also delivers on my Government’s Advance Queensland initiative, putting Queensland at the forefront of innovation in an era of global technological change.

“Brisbane is the only city in the Asia-Pacific region to offer this amazing event in an exclusive three-year agreement between Queensland Museum and the World Science Festival in New York."

Innovation, Science and Digital Economy Minister Leanne Enoch said the festival was a chance to for Queenslanders to get up close and personal with science.

“I’d encourage people to check out the program and get along to have a look,” Ms Enoch said.

“This is a great opportunity to ignite conversations about the science that is all around us.”

The World Science Festival Brisbane runs from 9 to 13 March. Find more information at http://www.worldsciencefestival.com.au/

Media contact: 3719 7000