Pint of Science Australia to return to Townsville for 10th anniversary

An annual event is mixing beer and science, with the 10th edition of the Pint of Science Festival coming to Townsville next month.

Townsville event coordinator and PHD candidate at JCU, Rachel Neil, ahead of the 10th anniversary of the annual science festival featuring science talks at pubs. Picture: Shae Beplate.

An annual event is mixing beer and science, with the 10th edition of the Pint of Science Festival coming to Townsville next month.

The Pint of Science Festival is aimed at connecting researchers to their community in the most Australian of venues - the local pub.

This year’s event will take place in 28 pubs across 13 cities, allowing attendees to learn from experts in various fields of science that play a role in everyday life.

Townsville event co-ordinator and PHD candidate at JCU, Rachel Neil, ahead of the 10th anniversary of the annual science festival featuring science talks at pubs. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Five talks will be held in Townsville between May 13 and 15 at the Townsville Brewery and Heritage Exchange, both on Flinders Street.

Townsville city co-ordinator and PHD candidate at JCU Rachel Neil has been involved with the festival since 2021 and said last year’s event, which was the first after Covid, was a great success.

“We are super excited to be holding the event again this year for its 10th anniversary,” she said.

The idea for Pint of Science began in the UK in 2012 when a group of neuroscientists brainstormed a new way to get the community interested in science in a more casual environment.

The first ever event was held in 2013 and now Pint of Science is a worldwide festival, landing in Australia in 2014.

Pint of Science Townsville co-ordinator Rachel Neil said there was a wide range of local research talent to share a pint with.

Catered to suit each city, the events in Townsville will focus on Australians oceans and their inhabitants, a discussion on sustainable EV’s and discovering how genetics can improve aquaculture.

“We have a lot of coral and marine life in Townsville, we have lots of people interested in either buying an EV or wanting to know more about how they work and what the future of EV’s look like,” she said.

“It’s always great to expand our knowledge and learn something new.

“We tend to get stuck in our niche, even in the science world, so it’s great to learn about the weird and wonderful things happening in the Townsville science community.”

Each event will feature a talk from a local scientist, followed by an informal question and answer session.

Pint of Science Australia’s pub talks will run from May 13-15.

For tickets and more information, visit pintofscience.com.au/events/townsville

Originally published as Pint of Science Australia to return to Townsville for 10th anniversary