The UC Alumni Team invites UC Alumni to join our free monthly lunchtime webinars鈥攄esigned to develop the kind of life and career skills that aren't always taught on the job, but make a big difference at work and in everyday life. From confident communication and emotional intelligence to time management and 鈥渓ife admin,鈥� each session gives you practical tools you can use right away.

Led by UC alumni, staff, and industry experts, these sessions are delivered online鈥攕o you can tune in from wherever you are, over lunch.

Each webinar runs for 55 minutes, with a 45-minute presentation followed by 10 minutes of live Q&A. Once you register, you'll receive a link via email. 

How does science move from research and evidence to the decisions that shape our communities, policies and future?

For National Science Week, we鈥檙e bringing together UC alumni working at the intersection of science, policy and leadership for a conversation about what happens when knowledge moves beyond the lab and into the real world.

Inspired by the 2026 theme, Seeds of Science: Nurturing Knowledge for All, this panel will explore how scientific evidence informs government and policy, why strong science advice matters, and how different knowledge systems and perspectives can contribute to better decision-making.

• What happens between scientific discovery and policy?
• How do we ensure evidence is heard by decision-makers?
• What role does Indigenous science, knowledge and leadership play in shaping Australia鈥檚 future?
• How do we navigate misinformation and build trust in science?
• And how can a background in science lead to careers in policy, leadership and beyond?

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, 19 August
Time: 12:00 pm

Meet the Panel

Dr Hayley Teasdale
Head of Science Advice and Policy, Australian Academy of Science | UC Alumna

Dr Chris Bourke
Director 鈥� Indigenous Science and Engagement, CSIRO | UC Alumnus

Dr Robyn Shaw
Research Fellow in Conservation Genomics | UC

Associate Professor Claire O'Brien
Head of School, Science | UC

Hear about their journeys from UC to careers influencing science and policy, the lessons they鈥檝e learnt along the way, and why ensuring knowledge reaches the right people is critical to creating meaningful change.

Whether you work in science, policy, government or something completely different, this conversation is about something that affects us all: how we use knowledge to make better decisions.

Bring your lunch, your questions and your curiosity.

Science gives us knowledge. Policy helps turn that knowledge into action.

We're working on our upcoming webinar events and will add more topics as they are finalised. If you have any ideas of what you would like to learn about, or you would like to present a webinar, please let us know.