Patrick Helean has been a science communicator on Ngunnawal Country, at Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre for over 20 years. In 2003 he joined the Excited Particles – Professional Science Theatre Troupe at Questacon. The “Particles” were an experiment combining actors who like science and Scientists with theatre skills together. (The experiment seems to be working as Patrick has not been fired…yet!)

Before moving to Australia in 2021 Patrick Trained as a professional actor and director in the US and spent his last 13 years there with Prairie Fire Theatre, a professional touring youth theatre company, ending up as Managing Director.

Career Highlights

• Questacon’s 2014 ‘Science Circus Japan’ tour of the Tohoku region affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
• Partnering with ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optics (TMOS)
• Working with students in the Youth Justice System
• Working with the First Nations Young Men’s Group at Gugan Gulwan
• 20 years collaboration with Professor Hans Bachor AM
• Being awarded the ‘Unsung Hero’ of Australian Science Communication 2025.