National Science Week is gearing up to take over the radio! We have a team of 7 National Ambassadors for Science Week 2026 who will be sharing stories about how their scientific research matters to Australia’s people and environment on radio stations around Australia. They’ll cover an incredible range of content; everything from electric vehicles to snake bites, to bushfire modelling and tracking endangered owls with specially-trained dogs. Listen out on the radio- who doesn’t love a good dog story?!
Our 2026 Ambassadors are:
- Nicole Gill (Tas), an ecologist, detection dog handler and self-described ‘gross science enthusiast’. She works with her dog Zorro to track pellets (vomit) from endangered Tasmanian masked owls. She also works with dogs who can track invasive weeds.
- Dr Jody Moller (NSW) who researches the chemicals found in vaping products. Together with her research team, Jody has examined over 1,200 vaping products, uncovering the secrets they hold. Her research has influenced Federal and NSW state vaping policies, helping to shape a healthier future for all Australians.
- Professor Jason Sharples (ACT), a proud Wahlabul Budjalung man who uses maths to grow our understanding of bushfire behaviour, and the likelihood of destructive ‘firestorms’ developing. His research has helped change how firefighters tackle bushfires.
- Dr Sara Webb (Vic), an astrophysicist and science communicator. She combines observational astronomy with AI to explore the cosmos. She also oversees projects that deliver experimental payloads to the International Space Station.
- Marita Cheng (QLD, but now lives in San Francisco), a robotics expert and inventor. In 2008, she founded Robogals to encourage young women to peruse careers in STEM, and was named Young Australian of the Year in 2018. She has also built an App that uses AI to help visually-impaired people to recognise objects.
- Bjorn Sturmberg (NSW), an electric vehicle and battery expert- hot topics considering current cost-of-living pressures! He has researched how solar technology can be used by renters and in apartments, and the provision of community batteries.
- Dr Bryan Grieg Fry (QLD) AKA ‘The Venom Doc’, leads the Venomics Laboratory at the University of Queensland, focusing on the evolution of snake venom. He’s spent his life being bitten or stung by some of the world’s most dangerous animals to helped scientists develop life-saving medicines.
