Explosions, bubbles, dancing: Minister for Arts, Leeanne Enoch, attends World science Festival in Gladstone

From explosions to dancing, crowds were treated to “amazing” displays at the World Science Festival in Gladstone where one high profile visitor brought home the important message behind the event.

Minister Leeanne Enoch and Dr Rob Bell onstage at the World Science Festival in Gladstone.

Each year, the Queensland Museum Network hosts a World science Festival event in Gladstone, sponsored by Shell’s QGC Business, to encourage children to become more interested and involved with learning about STEM.

This year, the Gladstone event was attended by Dr Jim Thompson, CEO and Director of the Queensland Museum Network, Cathy James, Director of the World science Festival Brisbane and Minister for Arts Leeanne Enoch.

Cathy James, Minister Leeanne Enoch, and Dr Jim Thompson. Picture: Dacia Stewart

Minister for Treaty, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Minister for Communities and Minister for the Arts, Leeanne Enoch, said that events like the World science Festival were incredibly important to fostering an interest in science in the minds of young people.

“It’s great to see the number of attendees growing to enjoy everything that is amazing about science,” said Minister Enoch.

“Science will form part of any job these young people do in the future; no matter what you do, STEM skills will form an important part of your toolkit.”

Minister Enoch said she was always enthusiastic to get involved with the activities on offer. Picture: Dacia Stewart

Minister Enoch said she had been attending the event in Gladstone since it’s conception in 2017, and was excited to see that the number of attendees was always increasing which also served as a boost for the local economy.

“World science Festival Brisbane and World science Festival Queensland have contributed over $40 million to the economy, so having events like this is great to bring that to these local areas.”

Dr Jim Thompson said that there was no such thing as “too old” to learn the value of science, and encouraged parents to attend with their children.

Minister Enoch joined Rob Bell on stage for an experiment

“We want to teach adults the value of science too; what we really want is a science-literate community,” said Dr Thompson.

“I love the fact that kids like science when they see it. They get an idea of the careers that are available in science and I get a great deal of satisfaction out of that, as well as hope that these kids will consider science as a career.”

The world science Festival has been granted funding for at least another three years, which means that more children will be able to foster an interest and potentially a future career in STEM.