THE important work of University of Newcastle researchers has taken centre stage for National Science Week.
Taking a glimpse into the minds of Newcastle's brightest academics, those eager for insight gathered at the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music on Thursday night to celebrate the university's innovators.
Through rapid-fire five minute talks, academics in the University's College of Engineering, Science and Environment spanned a range of topics.
The talks spanned growing food crops with salt water through to using psychological science to help jurors make more accurate decisions and the role of DNA in addressing the biodiversity crisis.
Wollongong-based science journalist and broadcaster Robyn Williams led the event An Evening of Science with Robyn Williams: From Atoms to Ecosystems.
Mr Williams said Newcastle offered a shining example of a university connected to its local community.
"Newcastle is the most amazing example of the way in which a major city can turn around from being - in the old fashioned terms - a smoke stack region, with all sorts of commitments to coal and heavy engineering, to something which is much more looking at the future and possibilities," he said.
He said many universities around the world and some in Australia kept the public in the dark on how the work they're doing can benefit the community.
"The public doesn't know how they're connected to their ordinary lives and UON is showing it can be done," he said.
"It's a brilliant, vibrant centre."
