STEM MATTERS:
Building trust for thriving communities
15 - 17 October 2025
Call for presentations closing 25 July
We are thrilled to announce the 2025 ASTEN Conference will be hosted at CDU Radicle Centre for STEM Engagement in Larrakia Country, Darwin, Northern Territory.
Save the dates and get your tickets for 15-17 October 2025.
Hear from Dr. Sonu Yadav from the Berrimah Farm Science Project discuss two-way learning science engagement in remote and regional schools and how it builds trust in the community.
The conference will be a fantastic opportunity for us to come together as a network, build rapport and trust through knowledge-sharing, and take those learnings back to our communities.
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Call for presentations and speakers
We are looking to fill the conference with networking, panel discussions, presentations and topic deep dives. To get the best sessions we need you!
We want to hear from you about the big updates, what is exciting or challenging you, and the new approaches you’ve taken since our 2024 meet up.
Networking opportunities
We recognise the value of connecting with members across the Network and are ensuring the event has the social elements an ASTEN meetup should!
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The networking events are a conference highlight—a night where connections are made, ideas are shared, and collaborations are born.
Included in your ticket price will be some evening activities to provide a space for those valuable conversations, including the night before the conference.
Details to come. 
Conference Fellowships
We offer Travel Fellowships to support ASTEN members’ conference attendance, travel and accommodation costs.
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Travel fellowships available will be up to $2000 with a free conference ticket, and we will be prioritising New Zealand and regional and remote members from Australia.
Please note: for Australian fellowships, this will be a reimbursement upon receiving receipts, for international fellowships (including NZ) it will be an upfront payment to support the cost of international flights.
We are welcoming applications for fellowships until 1 August 2025. To submit your application, click the link below.
Location
The Radicle Centre is part of the brand-new CDU Education and Community Precinct in Darwin City (Danala) and is the only science and technology centre north of Brisbane.
The centre aims to create hands-on STEM Education opportunities for young Territorians and reach first nations people and remote areas.
The conference theme is STEM Matters: Building trust for thriving communities, and we couldn’t think of a more appropriate venue than a brand-new centre that reaches out to underrepresented communities and celebrates the diversity of science engagement in the Top End.
Become an Event Sponsor
Position your organisation at the heart of science engagement across Australasia!
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The ASTEN Conference is an annual gathering of science communicators, educators, and STEM engagement professionals from early career to leaders, drawing attendance from Australia, New Zealand, and beyond.
This year’s program will bring together passionate change makers from science centres, museums, outreach programs, and universities—all dedicated to inspiring public engagement with science and technology.
We are inviting mission-aligned organisations to sponsor an aspect of our conference, whether that be a networking event, keynote address or fellowship recipient.
Support the conference networking night, a travel fellow or a keynote presentation and raise your organisations profile within our community!
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Want to help us make the conference the best it can be?
Express your interest in joining the conference working group!
Supporting the conference
WE WANT TO HEAR
FROM YOU!
HAVE FEEDBACK OR SUGGESTIONS FROM A RECENT CONFERENCE?