Millions of people now turn to TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to understand the world around them. As social media increasingly shapes how we learn about science, who we trust has become just as important as what we know. Join astrophysicist, Wiradjuri woman and science communicator Dr Kirsten Banks for an engaging keynote exploring how digital platforms are transforming science communication. Drawing on her own experience reaching global audiences online, Kirsten examines how complex ideas can be made accessible without sacrificing accuracy, and what this means for trust, misinformation and public understanding in an increasingly connected world. Presented as the 2026 Japanangka Errol West Lecture, this event honours the legacy of the late Japanangka Errol West by celebrating Indigenous ways of knowing, knowledge sharing and intellectual generosity. Through conversation with Professor Sadie Heckenberg following the keynote, the event will explore how different knowledge systems, storytelling traditions and contemporary science communication can deepen public understanding and strengthen trust. Join us online or at the University Sandy Bay campus!
Keynote Presentation by Dr Kirsten Banks, Astrophysicist and Science Communicator Conversation facilitated by Professor Sadie Heckenberg, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Excellence) and Director, Institute of Indigenous Knowledges, University of Tasmania