Australia’s declining biodiversity is in crisis, with many species at risk of extinction. But whether we’re talking about people, flora and fauna, or entire ecosystems, one thing holds true: we’re stronger together. For National Science Week, scientists from three Inspiring Victoria partner organisations shared their work to ensure that Australian species will Survive and Thrive.

As we continue to pollute the environment with petrochemicals, microplastics, pharmacological products, and other chemicals, we need new solutions to keep ahead of the wave. Bioremediation is the process of using specialised biological organisms or systems – most often bacteria, microalgae, fungi or plants – to break down contaminants into non-harmful compounds.

Djuke Veldhuis works full time at a faculty of science and even she feels overwhelmed by the pace of development in science and technology. But to solve the global challenges facing us, we need to make sure that we don’t leave people behind. So National Science Week, and initiatives by Inspiring Victoria’s partner organisations, offer a superb platform for community involvement. 

With teachers and schools possessing limited and uneven resources, it is vital that we support each student to have greater access to quality learning. Two state-based initiatives work to support Victorian STEM education; the ten Tech Schools (with six more coming), and six Science and Mathematics Specialist Centres, each providing programs to support students and teachers across the state.

A student’s aspirations to engage with higher education are shaped by their access to economic and cultural resources, as well as experiences of success in education. These ‘economic’ resources are self-explanatory: more money, and everything that comes with it. However, the ‘cultural’ resources in the home and in the classroom are more complex.