Science Gallery gets a sign name, Federal Minister visits Deaf Art Science Festival
The Hon Tim Ayres with Dr Ryan Jefferies, Dr Ramas McRae and an Emergency Service worker stallholder at the Deaf Art Science Festival 2026. Image by Dylan Hill.
On 19 September, Science Gallery Melbourne hosted the second annual Deaf Art Science Festival, bringing deaf and hard of hearing perspectives to conversations about climate change and emergency preparedness.
This year’s festival responded to Science Gallery Melbourne’s current exhibition EMERGENCE[Y], which explores creative responses to ecological collapse and climate change through art and science.
Having recently awarded Science Gallery Melbourne a Eureka Prize for STEM Inclusion, Federal Minister for Science, Industry and Innovation the Hon Tim Ayres flew to Naarm to attend the event, where he officiated the keynote panel with a speech.
“It’s a really important reminder for me to think hard about diversity in STEM and including all Australians in what is such important work before the country,” said the Minister.
Dr Ryan Jefferies, Professor Michael Wesley, Rose Hiscock, Rebecca Adam, Ruth McMullin, Peter McMullin, Dr Ramas McRae, Sarah Witty MP, Senator the Hon Tim Ayres at the Deaf Art Science Festival 2026. Image by Dylan Hill.
He emphasised how the challenges we face as a society, including climate emergencies, ask for innovative solutions.
“Our capacity to be able to develop an Australian response, depends upon our capacity to engage all Australians in that effort, because different people ask different questions, they identify different risks, and they find, together, different opportunities.”
STEAM Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Programs at Science Gallery Melbourne, Dr Ramas McRae, said deaf people are too often left out of conversations about emergency preparedness.
“Emergencies can affect us in very different ways. Information needs to be accessible, timely and available in languages that deaf people understand, including Auslan,” Dr McRae said.
“This event is an opportunity for deaf and hard of hearing people, and all visitors, to experience science, art and culture through different perspectives, and highlights how accessibility and inclusion can make our communities stronger.”
“There wasn’t a single person I came across who was unable to communicate to some level with Auslan which was amazing.”
Director of Science Gallery Melbourne, Dr Ryan Jefferies, said he was excited to have the opportunity to host the event at Science Gallery Melbourne.
“The festival brings together art, science, technology and deaf culture in ways that celebrate new perspectives and different ways of experiencing the world, and widening participation pathways to tertiary education” Dr Jefferies said.
“It also creates a platform where deaf communities are not simply invited to participate, but are at the centre of shaping the experience, reflecting our broader commitment to co-design, inclusion and accessibility.”
A highlight of the day was the Science Gallery receiving a sign name, which you can learn in the video above. The festival program also included a showcase of deaf organisations and emergency services, alongside a keynote forum featuring deaf and hard of hearing panelists working in climate change and disaster response.
Visitors took part in Auslan Storytime and creative workshops with artist collective DARE and experienced a work by deaf artist Chelle Destefano and students from the Victorian College for the Deaf and Sunshine College.
“The level of integration at this event was superb,” said one visitor of the festival.
“There wasn't a single person I came across who was unable to communicate to some level with Auslan which was amazing. The energy at this even was really fantastic and more events like this would be absolute the goal for the community.”
The project is co-designed by Science Gallery Melbourne, Sunshine College and the Victorian College for the Deaf. It is funded through the Australian Government’s Maker Grant and the Beth McLaren Smallwood Foundation.
Participants in hands-on workshops at the Deaf Art Science Festival. Image by Dylan Hill.
Learn more about the Deaf Art Science Festival and read Minister Ayres’ full speech here.