Much more than trivia!
Welcome to the National Science Quiz 2024
Panellists
Nate Byrne
- Nate Byrne
Nate Byrne bounces onto our screens each morning as the ABC News Breakfast weather presenter, but behind all of that morning energy is a meteorologist, oceanographer, science communicator, former Navy officer and general nerd.
From briefing senior military officers to performing science shows for kids, and taking all of us around the nation's weather in times of emergency or calm, Nate just can't get enough science.
While weather is his speciality, Nate's excitement and curiosity about the world - combined with a brain full of useless facts and regularly-deployed dimples-to-die-for - makes him a self-appointed National Science Quiz assassin.
Lee Constable
- Lee Constable
Lee Constable is a science and sustainability presenter, MC and edu-tainer. She is best known for hosting Network 10 kids’ science TV show Scope. Her TV appearances also include Studio 10, ABC News Breakfast and War on Waste (Season Three).
Lee is the author of How to Save the Whole Stinkin’ Planet: A Garbological Adventure and How to Save the Whole Blinkin' Planet: A Renewable Energy Adventure (Penguin) where eco-superheroes use their science and engineering skills to help readers wise up to the planets problems and solutions.
Growing up on her family’s sheep farm in rural New South Wales during severe drought inspired Lee to pursue her interest in science, climate and the environment in a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science.
Rachel Rayner
- Rachel Rayner
Rachel is a Senior Communications Advisor for Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory. Supporting the communications objectives of the observatory and SKA Team Australia (lead by Department of Industry, Science and Research) this follows a long history of science communications in Australia and overseas.
She holds a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication from ANU and Questacon, and also a Bachelor of Liberal Studies (Physics and Art History & Theory) from University of Sydney, Outside of CSIRO, Rachel is known for her STEM comedy and podcasting, under the name Rayner the Explainer.
Lachlan Roberts
- Lachlan Roberts
Dr Lachlan Rogers shines lasers at diamonds to make them glow. He is a lecturer and experimental physicist at the University of Newcastle, an Associate Investigator with the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS), and the host of the EQUS podcast Clear as Quantum.
He is passionate about discovering and communicating science ideas that can change the world. Glowing diamonds are very cool—they can be used to make quantum technologies such as quantum computers or medical sensors—but the thing Lachlan gets most excited about is sharing fascinating science ideas with other people.
Bryan Lessard
- Bryan Lessard
Bry the Fly Guy, aka Dr Bryan Lessard, is an award-winning entomologist, science communicator and author of the kid's book EYES ON FLIES.
Bry discovered the curious world of flies as an undergraduate, learning about maggots and their uses in medicine and solving crime. He has discovered more than 150 species new to science and officially named 50 species from Australia and New Zealand, most famously Plinthina beyonceae, the horse fly with a golden abdomen named after Beyoncé. Although the fabulous RuPaul fly Opaluma rupaul might have something to say about this! These beautiful species quickly became bootylicious ambassadors for biodiversity after sparking a global conversation about the importance of naming species.
Bryan previously worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at CSIRO’s Australian National Insect Collection, researching the evolution and classification of flies and mosquitoes, and exploring how insects might become sustainable superfood of the 21st century.
Bry loves presenting and sharing his passion for insects and biodiversity with the world including his biodiversity countdown on ABC Evenings Radio with Chris Bath, and appearances on ABC News, BBC World, Catalyst, Gardening Australia, Totally Wild, Scope TV, Sunrise, 9 News, The Project and more.
Mikaela Jade
- Rebecca Allen
Dr Rebecca Allen is the Co-Director of Swinburne's Space Technology & Industry Institute, applying her scientific expertise to support Australia's growing space industry. Her PhD in astrophysics focused on evolution and growth of galaxies over time, going all the way back to when the Universe was barely a billion years old. Now she uses this knowledge to address challenges we face as our activities and dependency on space grow and how space can be used to help Earth; a keen interest in how Earth Observation can build climate change resilient communities and support critical industry. Dr Allen empowers learners via hands-on projects in areas like microgravity experimentation - providing important skills and experience by sending payloads to space. When not studying space or sending things there, she’s enthusiastically communicating wonders of the Universe to others and creating inspiring learning experiences.
Jon Whittle
- Jon Whittle
Jon Whittle is Director of CSIRO's Data61, the digital and data sciences arm of Australia's national science agency. With over 800 staff and affiliates, Data61 is one of the largest collections of R&D expertise in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in the world. Data61 partners with over 200 industry and government organisations, over 30 Universities, and works across vertical sectors in manufacturing, agriculture, and the environment. Prior to joining Data61, Jon was Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash University, the largest university in Australia. He was named CEO Magazine's 2019 Education Executive of the Year. Jon is also a former Technical Area Lead at NASA, where he worked on AI software for NASA space missions. Jon has a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Edinburgh, UK.
Prizes
$1000
School Teams Prize
The winning team of our inaugural secondary schools teams prize (Grade 7-12) will win $1000 for their school. The winning team (playing online or in live audience) will be announced on stage.
$500
Live Audience Prize
The Capitol Theatre in-person audience winner will take home $500 and be presented their trophy on stage.
$250
Online Prize
The winning live-stream online individual or non-secondary school team will be awarded $250 and be listed on the website following the event as well as notified via email.
All results from the National Science Quiz 2023 will be published on our website immediately following the event.
Winners will be contacted by email.
Contestants
Hosted by ABC TV’s weather wiz, Nate Byrne, this year’s panellists are a stellar cast!
Eco-warrior Lee Constable and CSIRO space communicator and STEM comedian Rachel Rayner will lead the charge as team captains.
Our panel of brainy superstars ready for a showdown include a super fly guy, a diamond-glowing physicist, an Indigenous tech guru and a TikToking cosmic adventurer.
Join up. Compete. Win.
Live audience
For the most exciting quiz experience you canʼt go past being part of our live audience at The Capitol in Melbourne for National Science Week.
Register now to receive event reminders and information as well as the Slido poll details to play on the day.
Planning to join our live audience? If so, please also book tickets to secure your seats.
Online live stream
Canʼt attend the live event in Melbourne? Weʼve got you covered as we stream the quiz live around Australia via YouTube, directly from the theatre.
Why not make a night of it with family or friends? Perhaps even a friendly team rivalry and playoff between neighbours? Or a local quiz night or streaming party at your work or university?
Register now to receive event reminders and information as well as the Live Stream YouTube link and Slido poll details to watch and play on the day.