Can you save the world from a parasite pandemic?

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Parasite
  • Close to 1,000 members of the public entered a parasite escape room in a race to save the world from a parasite pandemic.
  • Doors also opened to a parasite zoo, VR experiences and more.
  • Organisers, the Australian Society for Parasitology and Australian National University, drew capacity crowds and positive media coverage, supported by a National Science Week 2025 grant, media training and promotion.

Infectiously good.

That’s the upshot of support and mentoring provided to organisers of ‘Parasite Pandemic’ events during National Science Week 2025, according to Australian Society for Parasitology Executive Officer, Lisa Jones.

“We’ve run Science Week activities since 2013, but this year was really special,” says Lisa of the program, co-hosted by the Australian National University, and awarded one of 31 National Science Week grants from the Australian Government.

Run over four days, in Canberra and Kioloa (NSW South Coast), Parasite Pandemic: Unlocking Science Through Immersive Experience events attracted 940 visitors and secured regional media coverage, including:

Lisa said results exceeded expectations, significantly increasing community interest in the study of parasites, while providing insights into how scientists tackle global health challenges more broadly.

She described the study of parasites as vitally important because parasites are barometers for the health of any ecosystem and signal when life is out of balance.

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

“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.”

Science Week eventgoers were invited to:

  • visit a parasite zoo packed with live and preserved specimens;
  • step inside ‘A Race for the Antidote’ escape room
  • identify and avoid parasitic infections through virtual reality;
  • meet real-world parasitologists; and
  • explore the fictional world of Manga characters with parasitic mutations.

Lisa praised the support, mentoring and promotion provided by the National Science Week team at Questacon, Inspiring Australia ACT and Inspiring NSW, alongside a group of 31 volunteers comprising Australian National University PhD and undergraduate students, and Australian Society for Parasitology staff.

“And the free publicity and media outreach provided by National Science Week publicity, through Science in Public, was amazing – starting as soon as our grant was announced (in March 2025), so perfect timing,” she said.

“We were mentored and supported the whole time by the Science in Public team who helped with media releases, interviews with journalists, advice about how to promote our events and gain more media interest.

“As a result, our two media superstar PhD students, Cecilia Nie and Lizzy Durban gave five interviews, as well as creating and posting reels, posts and promotional content on social media accounts.”

Lisa said her team also benefited from Science in Public’s ‘Meet the Media’ opportunity, an online media training forum open to registered Science Week event organisers, involving journalists from TV, radio and print.

“It was wonderful to hear directly from working media professionals about how to catch their attention, which informed us when we were planning our media strategy and writing media releases.”

Lisa’s biggest tip for individuals or organisations interested in participating in National Science Week?

“Register early so that you can let all of the early-birds know what events you are running and get some early bookings,” she said.

“This will also enable you to get the fantastic support for media which is provided by the National Science Week team and Science in Public.”

Lisa’s already started planning for National Science Week 2026.

“Our researchers will be participating in locations around Australia, where the general public will be able to immerse themselves in more exciting and innovative activities that demonstrate the wonder and fascination of parasites!

“We are thinking veterinary parasitology detectives…”

National Science Week 2026 runs from Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 August.

For news and updates, including how and when to register your National Science Week 2026 events, apply for grants and more, visit: https://www.scienceweek.net.au/

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