paul mallett proposes that the City of Launceston partner with the Department for Education, Children and Young People, and the University of Tasmania to host events celebrating new ideas and the sharing of academic work.

Borrowing from established concepts like the “Five Minute Thesis” and “Visualise Your Idea”, paul proposes similar events to be hosted live and streamed online to a wider audience than simply the friends and family of University students.

A Launceston “Five Minute Thesis” Competition would give PhD or master’s students locally (and online from around the country) an opportunity to explain their research clearly and engagingly to a non-specialist audience in five minutes.  No jargon, no dense slides — just compelling storytelling and a single visual slide.

In parallel, “Visualise Your Idea” Competition could give community members an opportunity to communicate their innovation, research or design concept through visuals. The goal would be to connect innovative thinking and new ideas to a broader audience, and inspire adults and children alike.

The competition and resulting media could be used to promote Launceston as an innovative place to live, work, study and raise a family.  The presentations could then be shared via:

• Local libraries, museums, or science centres
• Online platforms (YouTube, university websites, social media)
• Community festivals and innovation fairs
• Local TV or radio
• Schools and youth groups

The benefits to the community would include

• Make complex knowledge accessible – Breaks down academic walls so anyone can understand and appreciate the work being done.
• Inspire the next generation – Young people see what’s possible in research, innovation, and problem-solving.
•  Promote civic pride – Communities learn about cutting-edge work happening locally and feel proud of their institutions.
• Encourage collaboration – Local industries, charities, and government might spot opportunities to partner with researchers.
• Demystify science and academia – Shows that research isn’t “out of reach” or just for elites — it’s relevant to everyday life.
• Foster a culture of curiosity – Builds enthusiasm for learning and discovery across the community.
• Showcase public value of research – Helps justify investment in universities and research through visible community impact.
• Spark innovation – Fresh eyes from outside academia might spot uses for research that insiders hadn’t considered.
• Strengthen communication skills in researchers – Researchers improve their ability to engage with the public, policy makers, and funders.
• Promote inclusion – Encourages a wider range of voices to be heard — including those from under-represented backgrounds.