reNEW Melbourne connects with Federal Parliamentarians at Science Meets Parliament

Left image (L-R): Emma Scully, Paddy Barry (MCRI Colleague) and Lily Norman. Right image (L-R): Emma Scully, Dr Monique Ryan MP, Paddy Barry (MCRI Colleague), and Lily Norman.

Two reNEW Melbourne members took part in Science and Technology Australia’s premier event, Science Meets Parliament 2026.

Science Meets Parliament provides an opportunity to strengthen engagement between federal parliamentarians and professionals working across science and technology, playing a key role in embedding STEM expertise in national decision-making.

This year marked the fourth occasion that reNEW Melbourne researchers have participated in Science Meets Parliament, representing their research based at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne.

Lily Norman, from the MCRI Stem Cell Ethics and Policy group and Emma Scully, from the MCRI Kidney Regeneration group, attended the 2026 program. The event provided valuable opportunities to raise the profile of reNEW research and highlight its impact.

Emma and Lily each met with a federal parliamentarian, sharing insights into their research with Julie-Ann Campbell MP and Alice Jordan-Baird MP respectively.

“I was really able to connect with Alice and have since invited her and her team to visit our group at MCRI,” said Lily.

“I found the experience of attending Science Meets Parliament rewarding,” said Emma.

“It helped build my confidence when pitching my work to a range of different audiences”.

Emma and Lily also used the event to network with scientists and professionals from across diverse sectors.

“We connected with Maddie Massy, a professional science communicator, and have since invited her to speak to our reNEW Melbourne ECR community and share lessons on how to effectively use social media to connect people with their science,” said Emma.

Science Meets Parliament offers a unique, tailored program designed to build lasting connections between federal parliamentarians and members of the science and technology community. Through these relationships, the program helps ensure STEM expertise is brought directly into the service of the nation.

Lily Norman and Emma Scully were supported to attend Science Meets Parliament through reNEW’s training and capacity-building program. They also participated in the Meet a Parliamentarian initiative through their membership with the Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research.