The POPSICULE is an open, community-based interdisciplinary platform created by the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (CPAS) at the Australian National University.
The POPSICULE community explores the CULTURAL MEANINGS OF SCIENCE with the aim to better understand how pop cultural narratives about science have affected the public discourse and understanding of science, and thus our science-society relationship.
We offer lectures, symposia, courses, public events, spectacles, field trips, publications, films and more. We create opportunities for co-learning, co-leadership and co-creation!
If you are an academic, an artist, a scientist, a science communicator, a producer, a student, a maverick, a pop culture nerd or just curious – join us in discovering, inspiring and exciting the public imagination about science!
The Science in Popular Culture and Entertainment Hub of the Australian National University
Together with a network of national and international researchers, students, cultural innovators, creators, producers and funders, we are championing new ideas and cross-sector collaborations. We aim to diversify our understanding of science in society and build narrative power – to shape the way we talk, think and feel about science. We develop and share rigorous learnings and resources about the (pop) cultural work and aesthetic achievements of science through publications, in-person and virtual experiences and public events. We also activate and/or support an ecosystem of cohorts and networks, including street artists, podcast creators, and more.
Explore our platform to find out more about our research and public events, creative science communication products and collaborative adventures at the science-culture interface!
The POPSICULE provides exciting opportunities and resources for students and anyone interested in investigating science in and as popular entertainment and popular culture.
We are particularly interested in exploring science & environmental knowledge in pop culture, our place in the natural world & our responsibility towards non-human species through aesthetic experience. We develop alternative scenarios and imaginaries to the effects and legacies of the fable of human exceptionalism – to drive meaningful change. Find out more & join us!
NEWS
A huge congratulations to Team POPSICULE’s Dr Anna-Sophie Jürgens, Dr Karina Judd and Crystal-Leigh Clitheroe for being the recipients of the 2025 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Programs that Enhance Learning 💜🚀💥
Big news from and for the Popsicule!
A huge thank‑you to everyone who has supported, inspired, empowered, energised and contributed to this journey – we’re beyond thrilled to receive this recognition. Here’s to more creativity, collaboration and pops of Popsiculism ahead! 
New Popsicule Publication!
We are thrilled to be part of the freshly released “Routledge Companion to Superhero Studies”, published by Taylor & Francis Group, with our chapter “The Creation of Superheroes and Supervillains Through Alchemy, Science Accidents, and Violent Scientific Delights” – a chapter co-authored with CPAS collaborator (and former science communication student) Lilia Walsh. Congrats!
New student-led Popsicule publication!
Humorous science papers make us wonder what humour is doing in the typically serious world of science publications. In this article, we examined 269 humorous scientific articles to identify common thematic strategies that researchers use to express their quirky sense of humour. Check it out to discover the many zany, weird, and wacky ways that we can better understand science – after all, science is funny as long as it happens to someone else!
We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped us make “Science goes pop” such a success – it was a wonderful event and we are very happy with the three articles that resulted from it!
New book publication!
This book uncovers the roles that science communication, humour and pop culture play in shaping our understanding of women in STEM and clarifies what we can learn from popular TV shows about and for the real-life experiences of women working in science, technology, engineering and medicine.
Here’s a colourful glimpse into what we’re up to at the Popsicule at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science!
Discover our “ULTRA-PERCEPTION” project that brings science to life through art & technology, awe & wonder!
Explore the potential of an animated pop-up book to GET you EXCITED ABOUT the power of Synthetic Biology, Environmental Humanities and other research fields – to Help our planet!
