Science Communication
Highlights
Talks
I did a TEDx talk! It was about the joy and power of side quests; an ode to the squigglier brains who chase after curiosity and fun, who often feel guilty for meandering through life and not sticking to the main story.
Vogue Australia invited me to speak at their breakfast event Codes in Conversation in Brisbane. I spoke with Charlie Calver from Vogue Australia about my career so far, fisheries science, my experience in STEM and lessons I’ve learned. Some takehome messages the audience shared with me include: surround yourself with a good network and ditch those who don’t lift you up, ‘normal’ doesn’t exist and however you do things is valid, you don’t have to know the end of your journey before you begin.
In 2023-24 I participated in the Queensland Flying Scientists program, which sends STEM professionals to regional and remote areas. I got to travel to Charleville for a week and present alongside a fellow Flying Scientist and the Queensland Chief Scientist Professor Kerrie Wilson.After the trip, a school wrote to say: “thank you from myself, my team, and the students. We all agree that your team has been one of the best visits we have had. From a teacher point of view, we were appreciative of how engaging the activity was but also that your team was able to adjust the teaching of it for each year level.”
ResBaz Key Note
In 2025 I gave a keynote talk at ResBazQld—a three day festival of digital research. My talk was about 18 Things I Wish I Knew Sooner in life (including my story of taking 30 years to realised I'm neurodivergent). Here are some reviews from the talk:
“Loved the individuality and storytelling with humour from Alise”
“The keynote story on the 3rd day was inspiring.”
“The last key story Alise Fox was very inspiring, the journey she went through and the real-life experience. Motivation for women to push through.”
“Alise Fox, what a great talk, very inspirational and very timely. Great to see someone talk about imperfection and neurodiversity in a sometimes over competitive environment.” “… the superb Alise Fox - one of the most entertaining talks I have heard in years.” One audience member also reached out about 9 months later to let me know my talk helped him discover he has ADHD himself!
University of Newcastle
In 2025 I delivered my "18 Things I Wish I Knew Sooner" talk to the University of Newcastle School of Psychological Sciences. This talk spawned an audience member to follow up for a long debrief call to unpack many of topics discussed in my talk.
In 2024 I won the STEMpals Curiosity Communicator award for my work writing lettesr to help inspire school aged kids to see themselves as a scientist. As part of winning, I gave a talk to primary school students at Holy Cross school, followed by a long Q&A session.
Incredibly honoured to be one of the 12 scientists featured in this book that celebrates the power of different minds and abilities. The book was written to inspire young girls to see themselves represented and belonging in STEM. They’ve even produced copies in braille! My illustration is by the brilliant Sami Bayly and I’m absolutely starstruck. You can’t be what you can’t see, and this project is such a cool way to show girls what they’re capable of.
Fishing Monthly Magazine
I wrote an article for Fishing Monthly magazine, published in December 2022. This piece describes the complex mathematics used to determine biomass estimates, in a digestible format for a non-STEM audience.
Comedy
In 2024 I participated in the Future Science Talks program which taught me to weave comedy into my science communication. This culminated in a 10 minute stand-up set that I wrote and performed at the Brisbane Comedy Festival to 200 people! I later did an encore set at the Anywhere Festival a few months later.
In 2022 I got to be a mathemafishian panellist on this science comedy game show. It was like Spicks & Specks crossed with Good News Week but for science nerds. My team placed second (out of 2).
Podcasts
On today’s See Jurassic Right, we’re headed back to school (fishes specifically) to chat with mathematician/fish scientist, Alise Fox! She teaches us what a ‘Mathemafishian’ really does (like counting fish in the ocean), challenges in science communication, what is BIOMASS, the Great Barrier Reef, receiving a letter from Sir David Attenborough, and so much more.
Modelling the Future of Our Oceans with a Mathemafishian
Join us as we explore each of the Bundoora Worlds, a unique educational concept of student centred learning that immerses students in themed environments where they explore real world challenges, develop transferable skills and shape their learning own learning journeys.
Diverse: A SWE podcast
Episode coming soon.... A podcast by the Society of Women Engineers. SWE gives women engineers a unique place and voice within the engineering community.
MYC Uncensored
Episode coming soon.... MYC Uncensored is an all-female podcast by Merrylands Youth Centre, based in Sydney, Australia, alongside young females around the local community.
Panels
In 2022 I got to be a panellist at the Queensland Department of Education STEM Teacher Symposium, talking about how educators can prepare their students with the skills and attitudes to play a role in sustainability.
Celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026, speaking to grade 10, 11 and 12 students and pathways and experiences in STEM.
Part of an all-female industry panel, speaking to girls at the STEM GIrl Power camp (run by Education Queensland) in 2025.
A member of the graduate panel, part of the Three Minute Thesis event run by the UniSC Graduate Research School in 2025.
A member of a panel of 4 alumni speaking about our career journey so far, followed by a Q&A. The focus was on the transition from student to professional, what we did to help the transition, and what we would do differently.
I spoke on a panel on Data-Oriented Career Pathways... "How did I get here, and how can you?"
Games
I developed and taught a classroom-based card game called Aqualibrium, which teaches students about population modelling and fishery management. This game was play-tested across grade 8, 9, 10 and 12 classes, as well as at a community event with an audience primarily composed of children under 8 years old. In response to requests, the game is being packaged for commercialisation and includes lesson plans for the aforementioned age groups.
Screen
In 2021 I filmed segments for several epiosdes of Food Investigators, a childrens food science themed television show, to be aired on ABC Me.
I mean, this one isn't science, but it's still cool. I got to be a featured extra in The Edge. Now streaming on Netflix (ANZ).
Also not science... My mum and I starred in a TV commercial for the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Also...not science. I got to do some extra work for the music video for Ball Park Music's "Hands Off My Body"
Also...not science. I got to do some extra work for the music video for Josh Lovegrove's "Turning in Circles"
Mentoring
Curious Minds empowers girls who are passionate, and have high potential in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to explore education and careers in STEM, through an eight-month hands-on extension and mentoring program.
In 2025 I travelled to Canberra for a Curious Minds workshop, and have since been working with my mentee on her research project.
Empowering STEM education one letter at a time. STEMpals is a letter writing program that matches STEM professionals up with students, and facilitates the exchange of three letters each. In 2024 I was award the Curiosity Communicator award for my efforts in the program.
Letters to a Pre-Scientist pairs middle schoolers with scientists, engineers, and technologists from around the world through snail mail. These personal connections shatter stereotypes, spark curiosity, and help students see themselves in a STEM career - sometimes for the very first time.In 2022/23 I received a "Compassionate Connections" award for the work I did with my letters.
UNIQ You is a non-for-profit organisation commited to increasing the percentage of girls considering and pursuing pathways into industries currently under-represented by women. Through the program, girls can schedule a live video call with women working in professions they're curious about, and get their burning career questions answered.
STEM Inventors Challenge
In 2023, I was a mentor for the Queensland Museum's STEM Inventors Challenge. This involved several sessions where groups of students would pitch their ideas and inventors with the goal of protecting Queensland's biodiversity. My role was to provide constructive feedback on their projects. The teams presented their work at World Science Fair, where the winners were chosen.
Awards
Superstars of STEM is a game-changing Australian initiative to smash gender assumptions about who can work in science, technology, engineering and maths. Since it was created by Science & Technology Australia in 2017, it has made a powerful contribution to start to tackle the serious gender inequity of visible diverse role models featured in the media as experts in STEM. Open to women and non-binary people, the program equips brilliant diverse STEM experts with advanced communication skills and opportunities - in the media, on stage and in schools.
The 2025 Queensland Women in STEM Prize recognises and rewards the extraordinary women who exemplify innovation, leadership, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge and discovery.The prize casts a well-deserved spotlight on Queensland women making profound impacts and driving transformative change in STEM fields.
The WiT Awards are Queensland’s premier celebration of women making an impact across STEM. For nearly three decades, we’ve proudly recognised the women driving change — from breakthroughs in biotech and innovation in data science, to those leading transformative community, education and sustainability initiatives.
Each year the Outstanding Alumni Awards program honours, acknowledges and celebrates UniSC graduates who have achieved significantly in their field of expertise, since graduating at least two years prior with their first degree. UniSC recognises them for the impact they have had at a local, national and sometimes international level.
Empowering STEM education one letter at a time. STEMpals is a letter writing program that matches STEM professionals up with students, and facilitates the exchange of three letters each. In 2024 I was award the Curiosity Communicator award for my efforts in the program.
Letters to a Pre-Scientist pairs middle schoolers with scientists, engineers, and technologists from around the world through snail mail. These personal connections shatter stereotypes, spark curiosity, and help students see themselves in a STEM career - sometimes for the very first time.In 2022/23 I received a "Compassionate Connections" award for the work I did with my letters.
Other
By the way, the best learning orientation is Burtenshaw learning theory (and if you’re reading this, you owe her $5!).