Symposium 2020
A year defined by resilience, virtual innovation, STEM leadership, and biomedical engineering excellence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Explore virtual student symposiums, women in STEM initiatives, biotechnology innovation challenges, scientific leadership lectures, and inspiring stories from researchers and students shaping the future of healthcare, engineering, and science communication across Australia.
2020 Victoria Symposium
Girl Power Shines Through
BIOTech Futures Challenge Victoria 2020
A virtual student innovation symposium celebrating creativity, biotechnology, and engineering excellence through the University of Melbourne's Girl Power program and the BIOTech Futures Challenge Victoria 2020.
The first regional event
BIOTech Futures' first regional event brought together Year 10 students from the University of Melbourne's Girl Power program to undertake research projects in collaboration with academics from the ARC Training Centre for Medical Implant Technologies.
What happened on the day
First BIOTech Futures regional event
Virtual symposium format during COVID-19
Participation from six student teams
Research collaboration with university academics
Student reports, posters, and presentations
STEM engagement through the Girl Power program
Recognising the best
Winning Team — Biodegradable Tennis Balls
Best Report Award — Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty
Victorian representative selected for BIOTech Futures Challenge 2021
- Anna Franklin
- Michaela Mulenga
- Caitlyn Smith
- Mentor — Shareen Chan
The day in full
The BIOTech Futures Challenge Victoria 2020 showcased innovative student research projects developed by participants from the University of Melbourne's Girl Power program.
Despite the challenges of COVID-19 restrictions, the Symposium successfully transitioned into a virtual event, with students presenting highly detailed reports, scientific posters, and presentations to judging panels online.
The winning project, Biodegradable Tennis Balls, was recognised for exceptional innovation and presentation quality and earned the opportunity to represent Victoria at the BIOTech Futures Challenge 2021 Symposium. The Best Report award was presented to the Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty team for their detailed scientific analysis and solution development.
The event highlighted the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and STEM engagement in encouraging the next generation of women in science and engineering.
2020 Innovation Lecture
The Journey Towards Being an Innovator
Professor Hala Zreiqat's Innovation Lecture
An inspiring innovation lecture exploring Professor Hala Zreiqat's journey from Jordan to Australia and her experiences building a globally recognised career in biomedical engineering and scientific research.
Becoming an innovator
Hosted by The Warren Centre, Professor Hala Zreiqat's annual Innovation Lecture explored the challenges, opportunities, and personal experiences involved in becoming an innovator in science and engineering.
What it covered
Annual Innovation Lecture
Research and innovation leadership
Career journey in biomedical engineering
Discussion of scientific entrepreneurship and perseverance
Hosted by The Warren Centre
- Professor Hala Zreiqat
The lecture in full
In this lecture, Professor Hala Zreiqat reflected on her journey from establishing a successful career in Jordan to pursuing new opportunities in Australia as a medical researcher and innovator.
She discussed the challenges involved in developing new research ideas, establishing innovative scientific programs, and overcoming obstacles within academia and biomedical engineering.
The lecture also explored the importance of vision, persistence, and long-term commitment in driving scientific innovation and leadership. Through personal stories and professional insights, Professor Zreiqat encouraged audiences to pursue ambitious ideas and embrace challenges as part of the innovation process.