CoESB Researchers Take Science to Parliament

By Hemanshi Galaiya, ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (CoESB)

In a powerful convergence of research and governance, a delegation from the Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (CoESB) travelled to the nation’s capital for the prestigious Science meets Parliament (SMP) 2026 conference on March 25-26.

The delegation—comprising Professor Adam Perriman, Dr Bini Zhou, Alexandra Coram (ANU) and Hemanshi Galaiya (University of Queensland), joined more than 400 participants to bridge the persistent gap between the laboratory bench and the parliamentary chamber.

For the CoESB team, the message of the two-day event was clear: science thrives when it has champions on both sides. And thanks to opportunities the event provides, two of the delegation walked away with new supporters after one on one conversations with politicians about their research.

Hosted by Science & Technology Australia (STA), the event began with a flagship session that examined emerging opportunities for science to play a more active role in business, industry and corporate governance. That led to the official launch of a new STA program, Science meets the Economy, an initiative designed to equip STEM professionals with a practical understanding of the business world, enabling them to translate scientific evidence in meaningful ways for industry and commerce.

Another recurring and vital theme was the need to build meaningful relationships with First Nations people — a call to embed respect and co-design at the heart of research practice.

If Day one focused on systems, day two focused on people and power.  Leading MPs and senators took the “hot stage” to articulate how their party’s policies and values align with strengthening the scientific workforce, while balancing the nation’s other complex needs.

A key moment arrived during the National Press Club Address.

Senator the Hon Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science, delivered a striking message at a National Press Club address. In today’s world, he said, there is no time for silos in science and policy.

Other sessions taught skills for engaging audiences and working with Indigenous communities to applying STEM expertise to non-traditional careers.

Reflecting on her SMP experience, Dr Zhou said  learning how policy is developed — and how to communicate science effectively to both policymakers and the public — was the standout takeaway.

The true test of the event came during the parliamentary meetings, where delegates met with their local members.

Dr Zhou met her local member, the Hon Matt Keogh MP, Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, and his team. She introduced the CoESB’s work on developing next-generation silk materials.

‘They were particularly interested in the advantages of recombinant silk compared to native silk and its applications in biomedical dressings,’ she noted.

I, on the other hand, met with Mr Dan Repacholi MP, member for Hunter.  Over a wide-ranging conversation, we discussed my research in synthetic biology, my social enterprise in Kenya, various STEM outreach efforts in Australia, and the role of youth and small-hold communities in Australia’s circular and sustainable future. He was notably encouraging of my work in bioremediation.

Our delegation agreed that the greatest asset of SMP was connection. In a world of complex challenges, synthetic biology offers transformative tools. But as the delegation learned in Canberra, those tools only reach their potential when the people holding them learn to speak the language of the people making the laws and eventually, these laws benefit the people and society.