Leading Science Week! 

Science Week 2021 was conducted from August 14 to 22.  Heading up the Tasmanian part of this National event, first held in 1997, was former student Dr Ben Arthur (SVC 1999-2002).

Ben is a Science Educator/Communicator and Marine Ecologist. After finishing his Honours at the University of Tasmania (2009) and escaping to the sub-Antarctic for a while, he returned to Hobart to work as a Research Assistant. With no science outreach experience, Ben agreed to help out a friend who was coordinating National Science Week events by visiting schools to talk about his work. Turns out, he loved it! 

 Shortly after, he started working in outreach for CSIRO. Wanting to do more research, but not wanting to give up science communication, Ben started a PhD in marine zoology, while juggling work at the same time. Several years later, Ben still has a passion for science outreach and he currently coordinates engagement programmes for the Marine National Facility. And in 2016 that PhD was finally finished!