Declan Clausen [email protected] I was privileged to have recently attended the 13th annual Science Meets Parliament conference (SmP) held in Canberra as the recipient of a generous APESMA Scholarship. SmP is organised by scientific lobby group Science and Technology Australia, brings together more than 150 of Australia’s preeminent industrial and research scientists and engineers. The goal of SmP is to allow participants to discuss science with other scientists, the media, influential public servants and parliamentarians. I currently study Environmental Engineering full time at the University of Newcastle, and work part time at the Hunter Water Corporation as an Industry Scholar. Outside of University and work, I am incredibly passionate about politics and policy creation, making SmP a near perfect match for my current skills, qualifications and interest. The first day of SmP began with members of the delegation working in small groups to put together a web outlining the influences on science, politics and public policy. The remainder of the first day was spent discussing these contributing influences including discussions with a media panel, a budget officer from the Commonwealth Treasury, the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Innovation, and with a team from the Centre for Public Awareness who specialise in social media and demonstrated how the new media influences science. These activities provided a detailed insight which would provide participants with knowledge that would set the scene for the rest of the conference. The first day of SmP ended in a spectacular fashion with a formal dinner held in the Great Hall of Parliament House. The dinner included keynote speeches by the Minister for Science, Senator Chris Evans, as well as from Richard Marles MP and Karen Andrews MP who launched the Parliamentary Friends of Science Group. My table included researches from across the country, and I learned a great deal about science from many varied disciplines. The second day of the conference started very early with a breakfast at Parliament House with keynote speaker the Mark Dreyfus QC MP, the Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, and of Industry and Innovation. His speech covered the government’s response to science and he implored the delegation to speak openly with MPs during their meeting later on in the day. My two meetings involved South Australian MPs Tony Zappia and Rowan Ramsey, who both showed a deep commitment to scientific research in Australia. My time at SmP concluded with a rowdy Question Time sitting where Adam Bandt MP, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens, asked the Minister for Science about continued funding of science in the tight economic times surrounding getting the Commonwealth Budget to surplus. I had a rewarding time at SmP, gaining a great deal of knowledge and meeting some truly inspirational people. As a young person interested in both science and politics I look forward to continuing to lobby government on the importance of science and research into the future. Special thanks to Melissa Wainwright and Robyn Porter from APESMA, and to my fellow Scholarship Recipient Andre Tan who made the conference particularly enjoyable! .