Symposium 2024
A year of biotechnology innovation, student collaboration, scientific discovery, and national STEM engagement initiatives across Australia. Explore symposium highlights, biotechnology challenge programs, keynote presentations, sustainability discussions, artificial intelligence innovation, and collaborative learning experiences that defined the 2024 BIOTech Futures journey.
BIOTech Futures Symposium 2024
Innovation, Biotechnology, and Future STEM Leadership
A large-scale biotechnology and innovation symposium bringing together Challenge finalists, researchers, guest speakers, and industry representatives to celebrate student innovation, scientific collaboration, and emerging technologies in healthcare, sustainability, and artificial intelligence.
A full day of biotech innovation
The annual BIOTech Futures Symposium brought together Challenge participants, keynote speakers, mentors, and guests for a full-day celebration of biotechnology innovation, scientific research, and student achievement.
What happened on the day
Finalist project presentations
Poster showcase sessions
Interactive biotechnology stalls
Hands-on workshops and activities
International researchers and industry guest speakers
Networking with mentors and academics
Symposium gallery and sponsor exhibitions
Voices from across STEM
Professor Matthew L. Becker
How New Materials and Additive Manufacturing are Changing Medicine
Dr Lucy Buxton
Towards a Sustainable Ocean
Dr Don Perugini
Journey Building Two Global AI Tech Companies
The day in full
On the 14th of October 2024, the BIOTech Futures team hosted its annual Symposium, bringing together students, researchers, mentors, and industry leaders to celebrate innovation and scientific achievement.
Guests attended finalist presentations and poster sessions showcasing student-developed biotechnology solutions addressing healthcare, sustainability, engineering, and emerging global challenges. The Symposium also featured interactive biotechnology stalls, workshops, networking opportunities, and sponsor exhibitions designed to encourage collaboration and STEM engagement.
Keynote presentations explored a wide range of topics including regenerative medicine, marine sustainability, artificial intelligence entrepreneurship, and advanced materials engineering. Professor Matthew L. Becker discussed how additive manufacturing and bioactive polymer technologies are transforming modern medicine and orthopaedic applications. Dr Lucy Buxton explored sustainability challenges and marine biotechnology research, while Dr Don Perugini shared insights into building global AI technology companies and commercialising scientific innovation.
The event highlighted BIOTech Futures' ongoing commitment to supporting interdisciplinary STEM education, mentorship, and student innovation pathways.