What happens to solar panels when they reach the end of their life? That was one of the many questions explored with visitors at Science Alive! Adelaide, where the ARC ITRH Photovoltaic Solar Panel Recycling & Sustainability (ARC Hub PVRS) team joined fellow researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science & Innovation (CSI), the ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide (GETCO2), and UNSW Chemical Engineering to showcase Australian innovation in sustainability and clean technologies.

Across three exciting days, the team engaged with curious students, families, and educators, discussing the challenges and opportunities of solar panel recycling and the importance of building a circular economy for renewable energy technologies.

The enthusiasm and thoughtful questions from young visitors were a reminder of why science outreach matters. Today's curiosity could become tomorrow's breakthrough in engineering, resource recovery, and sustainable manufacturing.

A big thank you goes to everyone who stopped by the exhibits, and to the researchers and volunteers who helped make the event a success — with special thanks to Dr Guoyin Yu and Dr Muhammad Bin Zia for their support and contributions throughout the event.

Together, these teams are helping build a future where renewable energy is not only clean, but also sustainable throughout its entire lifecycle.