College of Medicine and Dentistry News and stories Enhancing Science Communication: 2025 JCU Human Health Research Symposium Showcases the Power of Regional Research

Enhancing Science Communication: 2025 JCU Human Health Research Symposium Showcases the Power of Regional Research

JCU Health Symposium

The inaugural James Cook University Human Health Research Symposium brought together the brightest minds in health science from across northern Australia for three inspiring days of collaboration, innovation and discovery at the JCU Townsville campus.

Held from 24–26 September 2025, the symposium united Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students and Early Career Researchers (ECRs) across JCU’s Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry (CMD), Science and Engineering (CSE), and Healthcare Sciences (CHS).

The event provided a platform for emerging researchers to present their work, share ideas, and build skills in one of the most critical areas of modern science — communication.

“The goal was to equip regional researchers with the tools and confidence to share their impactful work with both scientific and broader audiences,” said Dr Hillary Vanderven, Senior Lecturer in Immunology and Infectious Disease and one of the symposium organisers.

“With our theme of Enhancing Science Communication, we wanted participants to walk away ready to translate complex research into something everyone can understand and value.”

Building Confidence, Connections and Collaboration

The three-day program featured oral and poster presentations, interactive workshops, and visiting distinguished speakers who guided participants through the art of communicating science with clarity and purpose.

Topics ranged from infectious diseases, vaccines and therapies to mental health, non-communicable diseases, and health services in regional, rural and remote settings.

“For the HDR student and ECR presentations, a variety of topics relating to human health were covered,” Dr Vanderven explained.

“It was an incredible cross-college and cross-disciplinary event designed to foster new collaborations through networking and practice in communicating complex human health research simply and effectively.”

A major highlight was the inclusion of nationally recognised experts such as Dr Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, a leading immunologist and science communicator; Professor Richard (Dick) Strugnell, a pioneer in microbiology and vaccine development; and Tracey Osmond, a local vocal coach and communication trainer. Their workshops and keynotes helped researchers refine how they engage with both professional peers and the public.

JCU Health Symposium - Collaboration

A Showcase of Research Excellence

The symposium’s organising committee reflected JCU’s collaborative spirit — comprising three academic leads (Dr Vanderven, A/Prof Rebecca Evans, and A/Prof Catherine Rush) and four HDR students (Robyn Pearce, Jessica Scott, Kaitlin Janssen, and Melissa Kilburn). Together, they delivered a program that connected 66 HDR students and ECRs across JCU’s three major health and science colleges.

Core funding came from the College of Medicine and Dentistry, with additional sponsorship from the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), Margret Roderick Centre for Mental Health Research, Merck Life Science, Abacus Dx, and the Australian Society of Microbiology.

“Most of the sponsorship money went towards presenter prizes of $1,000 travel awards to support winners in sharing their research at national or international conferences in the next calendar year,” Dr Vanderven said.

“Our sponsors played a huge role in helping us reward excellence and give our researchers visibility on a larger stage.”

Celebrating Achievements

This year’s award winners highlighted the breadth of research emerging from northern Australia:

  • Best Oral Presentation (10–15 min): Dr Daniel Browne
  • Best Short Oral Presentation (4 min): Kaitlin Janssen
  • Best Poster Presentation: Ailie Ross
  • Best Mental Health Presentation: Jennifer Gaskin
  • Best Laboratory-based Talk: Conor McHugh
  • Runner-up Laboratory-based Talk: Saloni Bhatia
  • People’s Choice Oral Presentation: Carolyn Heward
  • People’s Choice Poster Presentation: Catherine De Hollander

“It was wonderful to see so many researchers from different backgrounds sharing their work and cheering each other on,” said Robyn Pearce, a PhD candidate and a member of the symposium organising committee.

“The atmosphere was supportive and energising, exactly what we hoped for,” said Jessica Scott, a PhD candidate and member of the organising committee.

JCU Health Symposium Awards

Empowering the Next Generation of Regional Researchers

Beyond the presentations, the symposium also provided travel awards for HDR students external to Townsville, ensuring accessibility for participants from across JCU’s multiple campuses.

“Bringing together researchers from across northern Queensland and beyond creates a stronger network of collaboration,” said Kaitlin Janssen, a PhD candidate and member of the symposium organising committee.

The symposium’s focus on science communication reflects JCU’s broader mission to make research meaningful for the communities it serves.

“We wanted to give our researchers the confidence to speak about their work in a way that resonates with both policymakers and the public,” Dr Vanderven said. “That’s how real impact happens.”

Building on Success

For JCU, the 2025 Human Health Research Symposium demonstrated the strength and creativity of regional research. It was a reminder that world-class science doesn’t just happen in capital cities, it thrives in northern Australia, where collaboration, innovation, and community impact intersect.

“Events like this show sponsors and partners the extraordinary research happening right here in Townsville and across JCU’s campuses,” Dr Vanderven said.

“With their continued support, we can give emerging researchers more chances to share their work and shape the future of human health.”

“Our aim is to develop more opportunities for our HDR candidates and ECRs to showcase their research, grow their skills and expand their collaborative networks here at JCU,” said A/Prof Rebecca Evans, Associate Dean, Research Education for CMD and member of the organising committee.

The JCU Human Health Research Symposium continues to grow as a cornerstone event celebrating northern Australia’s research talent.

To learn more about what went on during the symposium and visiting speakers, view the full conference program here.