National Science Week 2025 puts marsupial moles and other unsung wildlife in the spotlight, thanks to Murdoch University’s Dr Nat Warburton (pictured here with her offsider George the giant hyeana).

This August, as National Science Week lights up Australia with a celebration of all things science, MMFS Associate Professor Natalie Warburton is spearheading a campaign to give some of the country’s most overlooked creatures their time in the sun. Known to colleagues and students alike as Nat, she’s a passionate zoologist whose work reveals the fascinating secrets of Australia’s weird and wonderful fauna.

Shedding Light on the Unseen

While many Australians can name a koala or kangaroo at first glance, fewer have heard of the elusive marsupial mole. For Nat, that’s exactly the point. “They’re the most cryptic and enigmatic of any of the living species of marsupial,” says Nat, “Nobody ever sees them.”

Marsupial moles are functionally blind, earless, and spend their lives tunnelling through the sands of central Australia. With their golden fur, backward-facing pouches, and enormous digging claws, they’ve evolved perfectly for a life underground, but remain largely invisible even to seasoned wildlife researchers.

Championing the Odd and Overlooked

This year’s National Science Week, running from 9–17 August 2025, features a fresh twist: a spotlight on Australia’s underrated animals. Through a combination of social media buzz, expert commentary, and conservation partnerships, Nat and her colleagues invite the public to discover and vote for their favourite “faunal underdog.”

Will it be the humble rakali, the mysterious marsupial mole, the velvet worm, or one of the other weird and wonderful nominees?

Nat’s enthusiasm is infectious as she shares her passion for evolutionary biology and the stories each animal has to tell. “Marsupials come in such a diverse range of shapes and sizes—from tiny planigales weighing less than 5 grams to eighty-kilo kangaroos, and even extinct giants like the 2-tonne Diprotodon,” she explains. Her own research spans the evolutionary adaptations of marsupials, from digging and burrowing to climbing, bounding, and reproduction.

Scientist, Storyteller, and Advocate

With a career spanning international recognition, Nat’s research explores how the anatomy of marsupials shapes their survival and success. She’s published widely in ecology, anatomy, and palaeontology, and her studies have helped guide conservation efforts for some of Australia’s most threatened species. “Understanding how animals live within their environment helps us manage and protect them for the future,” she says.

But it’s not all about lectures and lab coats. Nat is just as comfortable sharing her knowledge through live events, podcasts, and school visits. She’ll be a key voice during ABC Science’s coverage of National Science Week, especially as Australians cast their votes for the nation’s most underrated animal.

National Science Week — A Time to Celebrate

Whether you’re voting for the sharpshooting velvet worm, the secretive short-finned eel, or the mighty palm cockatoo, Nat Warburton hopes Australians will use this opportunity to learn something new. “So many of our amazing animals get overshadowed by the more famous ones,” she says. “But every species has a vital part to play in Australia’s story.”

As National Science Week 2025 unfolds, keep an eye out for Nat’s insights—and maybe, just maybe, you’ll discover your own new favourite Aussie animal.

-              Paramount Importance Podcast 2025 Ep 26 Evolution & Paleontology: Assoc. Prof. Natalie Warburton

-              What is Australia's most underrated animal? Vote for your favourite this National Science Week

-              What-the-duck/ underrated-animals-Marsupial-Mole-science-week

You can check out more of Nat’s media outreach here:

-             ABC Radio National What the Duck?! What's in your freezer?

-             Aussie Wildlife Show: Dr Natalie Warburton & Dr Aaron Camens | Marsupial Evolution

-             ABC iView Megafauna: What Killed Australia's Giants?

-             Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/george.at.murdoch/