Inspiring Victoria Program – COVID-19 Pandemic Response

We regret to advise the Royal Society of Victoria is cancelling all public gatherings until the end of June 2020, at which point we’ll make further deliberations based on the information at hand. (**JULY UPDATE: now closed until the end of 2020)

Many of the RSV’s meetings and gatherings will instead be held virtually, particularly our public lectures, which means we are gearing up and learning some cool new skills. Following further deliberation by yesterday’s (Zoom) meeting of the Inspiring Victoria Board, we are placing a hold on both next week’s stakeholder briefing and the various small grants programs we had intended to release under the Inspiring Victoria banner, including those for National Science Week. We are in conversation with our colleagues in the Department of Innovation, Industry and Science and Questacon over alternative methods to deliver the 2020 program, and will provide more fulsome advice once that picture is a little clearer.

At the time of writing (18 March), we are persevering with the organisation of our major event with the Parliament of Victoria during National Science Week with a program titled “Possible Impossibles,” featuring some of Victoria’s boldest thinkers and scientific adventurers. In the event that the COVID-19 curve is failing to flatten, we’ll make a call on whether to take this program online closer to August, but for now we’re hopeful we can welcome everyone back to a fabulous night at Parliament House, to whom we are indebted for their warm spirit of partnership and flexibility in uncertain times. It’s likely many of our major grant recipients will need to make a similar call, including our colleagues from New Scientist Live, who remain open to proposals for involvement in the major, three-day event planned for the Royal Exhibition Buildings, with complementary programming made possible by the hosting, involvement and proximity of Museums Victoria. Information is available online from https://live.newscientist.com/australia#/.

My apologies for the uncertainty; if you’d like to stay in touch with the program as we pivot to new modes of delivery and new opportunities for your involvement, please ensure you’re on our mailing list: https://inspiringvictoria.org.au/contact/ will take you to the signup form. Meanwhile, stay safe, be well, and do what you can to support those who need it most in these remarkable times.

Warm regards,

Mike Flattley
CEO, The Royal Society of Victoria