World Science Festival 2025
On 22–23 March 2025, CSIRO Robotics brought cutting-edge research and interactive tech to more than 8,000 excited attendees at the World Science Festival Brisbane’s regional event, Robots & Rocketry, held at the Queensland Museum Rail Workshops in North Ipswich. In celebration of the Festival’s 10th anniversary, this milestone year marked the first time the event extended to Ipswich, and CSIRO was proud to help launch it with imagination, innovation and impact.
Across two jam-packed days, families, students, and science-lovers of all ages immersed themselves in robotics, space science, and engineering. With our hands-on booth and expert team, CSIRO Robotics helped spark curiosity and show how today’s research is solving tomorrow’s global challenges.
Bringing Science to Life – Booth Highlights
From the moment the doors opened, CSIRO’s booth became a hub of discovery. Carefully curated into four themed zones, the display celebrated the real-world applications of robotics through a global lens – spanning space exploration, bushfire response, coral restoration, and subterranean search and rescue.
Visitors explored:
- SPACE: Our multi-resolution mapping technology for NASA’s Astrobee robot aboard the ISS.
- CAVES: Robotics that competed in DARPA’s Subterranean Challenge, tested in real lava tubes.
- CORAL: The world-first robotic hand aiding baby coral farming for reef restoration.
- FIRE: Specialised autonomous systems designed to support bushfire response and firefighter safety.
Each zone included physical props—soft grippers, the CatPack robot, and BD Spot Dog demonstrations – alongside large visual displays and videos showcasing projects like CHARM, DARPA, and SILVANUS.
“Our goal was to connect with the community, show them that robotics is about people and the planet – not just machines,” said Rosie Attwell, Technical Program Manager and event lead.
Hands-On Fun for All Ages
CSIRO’s team designed the booth experience to be both playful and educational. Visitors were greeted with activity flyers and a custom stamp passport, encouraging them to complete the circuit of zones. Upon collecting all stamps, children were rewarded with a Chupa Chup and a personal chat with our researchers.
The star attractions included:
- Live CatPack demonstrations, showcasing our AI-enhanced backpack scanner used in extreme environments.
- Soft robotics displays, where young minds marvelled at delicate, bioinspired grippers.
- Spot the Robot Dog, a family favourite that strutted its stuff while our team explained its movement mechanics and disaster response capabilities.
Many of the booth’s components were handcrafted- including glittered name badges—and staff wore CSIRO Robotics STEM shirts to bring a vibrant, welcoming energy.
“We made sure it felt hands-on, joyful, and meaningful,” said one volunteer. “Every child left knowing that STEM was for them.”
Team Spirit and Regional Impact
With more than 8,257 attendees across the weekend—4,011 on Saturday and 4,246 on Sunday—the event far exceeded expectations. For Ipswich and surrounding communities, the opportunity to engage directly with CSIRO researchers was invaluable.
Feedback from the Queensland Museum team captured the sentiment:
“CSIRO were a wonderful addition to the Robots & Rocketry event. Thank you for the engaging activities. Audiences loved the display of robots and your team’s riveting discussions.”
— Emily Cameron, Producer, World Science Festival
Beyond audience impact, the event demonstrated CSIRO’s commitment to reaching diverse regions, extending STEM inspiration far beyond city centres.
A Stellar Team Effort
The success of CSIRO’s booth was the result of detailed planning and teamwork. Every element—from safety assessments and logistics to glitter application and robot demos—was coordinated with care.
Our display featured:
- BD Spot Dog and DTR platforms
- CatPack with live scanning demos
- Soft props and grippers
- Space props including the MRS Payload
- Hexapods, Scout models, and SubT props (drills, backpacks, helmets)
- Video loops of cave exploration, reef work, and wildfire robotics
- Branded flyers, banners, and media release stations for photography
Volunteers rotated across zones, engaging attendees with stories, science, and smiles. Our shared message? That robotics at CSIRO is tackling the world’s biggest challenges—with heart, humour, and high-impact tech.
The Future is Roving
Robots & Rocketry in Ipswich was more than an outreach activity—it was a statement about where science belongs. In schools, in regions, in conversations with families. With a growing suite of climate-focused technologies, CSIRO Robotics is excited to continue bringing research out of the lab and into the lives of Australians.
As one young attendee put it after experiencing the CSIRO Booth:
“I want to grow up and be the person who builds these. Or drives them. Or both!”
CSIRO Robotics is proud to be shaping the future of STEM in Australia—one Chupa Chup and robot demo at a time.
