Deakin University
PhD candidate Dilendra Wijesekara mentored year 7 science students at Geelong High School in 2024. Here, Dilendra shares her story about her research interests and how important it is to communicate about science with others.
I’m a PhD candidate at Deakin University’s Institute for Frontier Materials, researching silk-based biomaterials for biomedical applications in collaboration with the Ear Science Institute of Australia. Alongside my research, I’m a science communicator passionate about finding creative ways to explain complex science. I also work as a casual research assistant in biomedical device validation and serve as the Communications Manager for Pint of Science Australia, where I focus on making science both accurate and accessible.
Earlier this year, I got to do something a little different from my usual lab work, talk about my research on stage at Pint of Science, where scientists take over pubs across Australia to share their work with the public. I spoke about how silk, the same stuff in your pillowcase or your favourite pair of pyjamas might one day help treat chronic middle ear disease. It’s a fascinating space where nature meets medical innovation, and I’ve discovered I really enjoy finding creative ways to explain it.
That’s something I also loved about being part of In2science. Coming from a background in university teaching in Sri Lanka, I found it incredibly rewarding to work with high school students here in Australia. From my very first interview with Tordy to the energising mentor workshop, the school sessions, and the final bubble tea celebration, the whole experience was full of connection, learning, and a lot of heart. It was such a joy to help students see the real-world impact of science, and to see their curiosity light up.
Getting on stage at Pint of Science felt like a natural next step. Just like in the classroom, it was all about making science fun, relatable, and maybe even a little surprising. I’m so grateful to be part of the In2science family, and I’ve truly appreciated how supportive they’ve been in celebrating me and my journey, even after the program ended. Whether I’m mentoring students, presenting research, or managing digital content, I keep coming back to this: science is powerful, but it’s even more powerful when we share it.
