Ellie Dowling
(PhD Candidate)
Ellie is a science communicator and museum educator, with a research focus on experiences and expectations of science within the museum context. Her research aims to demonstrate the capacity of science communication to achieve non-science related goals and finding innovative ways to make science meaningful and accessible for non-scientifically inclined audiences. Ellie’s PhD is exploring how to communicate ‘bad science news’, such as climate change, in a way that builds communities. She is passionate about environmental sciences, findings and watching insects in her garden and making a lot of zines about her various fandoms. Recently, she’s reached the stage in her life where her weekends are spent making artisan sourdough and growing heirloom vegetables from seed. Ellie is jointly supervised with Dr Chiara O’Reilly, Director of Museum Studies.
Dr Yaela Golumbic
(Postdoc)
Yaela is a science communication and science education researcher, emphasising on ways to increase public engagement with science, making science accessible and relevant to peoples' lives, and creating meaningful learning experiences. Yaela is coordinating the evaluation of Breaking Good project, the engaging of diverse audiences and designing a holistic framework for measuring project success, one which acknowledges the various meanings and definitions of success by multiple stakeholders involved in the project- students, teacher, scientists and more. In her free time, juggling between work, writing scientific papers and caring for three (beautiful and smart) children, she hopes to someday have time for her other hobbies – painting, swimming, hiking and gardening.
Sebastian Leach (Honours Student)
Sebastian's honour's project involves combines chemical education and organic synthesis. He is exploring availability and quality of experimental resources with the high school science classroom and the development of educational resources to address identified issues. He is also involved in the Open Source Malaria project. This project involves the organic synthesis of anti-malarial compounds using open source science. Ideally, the two aspects of his research will lead to the development of school friendly resources for the Breaking Good Project.
Hung Phat Duong (PhD Candidate)
Hung is a PhD student in organic chemistry and science communication. His organic chemistry research focuses on open source drug discovery of the neglected tropical disease Mycetoma where he spends time in the lab synthesising novel molecules for biological evaluation. As part of the Open Source Mycetoma group, he also gets to openly collaborate with other researchers around the globe. His science communication research as part of Breaking Good project looks at effective communication of scientific research to engage the public. He is particularly interested in ways to communicate his drug discovery research to raise awareness and garner public support for neglected tropical diseases like Mycetoma. In his free time, he pursues landscape and food photography to creatively express his vision of the world and to authentically preserve the beauty that he sees. He also enjoys cooking at home and trying new recipes while listening to his favourite music. Hung’s auxiliary PhD supervisor is Professor Peter Rutledge.
Olivia McRae
(PhD Candidate)
Having completed an Honours in chemistry in 2017, Olivia has shifted her research focus from polymer and materials science to science outreach and communication. Olivia's research looks at how we can engage young adults in scientific issues that intersect both chemistry and the environment, and the role of non-academic, casual spaces as a vehicle for reaching more diverse audiences at science outreach events. Her research also aims to understand the impact of outreach events on public attitudes towards chemistry and the environment, and how science outreach can be used to encourage positive environmental behaviour. Outside of her studies, Olivia enjoys playing trumpet, hanging upside down on circus equipment, and knitting warm things. Olivia’s auxiliary PhD supervisor is Dr Reyne Pullen.
Kymberley Scroggie (Postdoc)
Kymberley is primarily involved in the Breaking Good Project. As a coordinator she helps in the organisation of the program. Currently, she is conducting a literature review on overprices medicines which will be used to identify possible medicines that can be the basis of new Breaking Good projects and is finalising the GitHub for Breaking Good. An organic chemist Kymberley is also working on the synthesis of anti-malarial compounds and is involved in Open Source Malaria. Outside of the University, Kymberley is an avid hiker having spent 5 months last year living out of a backpack and hiking over 3000 kms of the Pacific Crest Trail! She loves animals, in particular ducks, and plants. Kymberley lives to eat.