Café Scientifique: Pets, Pots, Pints and Parasites

Join us for this National Science Week event and lively café scientifique discussion with researchers from Federation University who will explore peculiarities, the strange beauty and the threats posed by parasites. Beer brewing will also feature with Federation University researchers showing the audience why “brewing” is a combination of art and science.

Please book online for this free event.

Parasites are a part of everyone’s life; they infect our pets, the meat and crops we eat, and us. They also infect our iconic marsupial wildlife and the fish in our unique oceans and reefs, sometimes with devastating consequences.

Parasites are barometers for the health of any ecosystem; signals that life is out of balance. Australia, like everywhere else, also has a large number of common, human parasites, particularly in our Indigenous communities in our northern reaches. Some of these can be chronic, incapacitating and even life-threatening. Bernard Lee Singleton’s magnificent painting, Gula Guri mayin (which means “Heal the body”), explores themes of parasites and health.

Researchers from Federation University will involve their audience in new and old science stories; describing their research related to human and animal health including vaccine and drug development against parasites.

This Inspiring Australia event is supported by the Australian Government as part of National Science Week and co-hosted by the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Federation University and the Australian Society for Parasitology.