Dr Niraj Lal

Dr Niraj (Nij) Lal is a researcher, writer and presenter in Melbourne communicating at the interface of science, the environment, and society. He graduated from the University of Cambridge with a PhD in physics as a Gates Scholar in 2012, has lectured in Renewable Energy at the ANU and University of Melbourne, and his book Behind The Screens – a young person’s guide to the internet, was published by UQP in 2026.

His awards include being one of the ABC’s Top 5 Scientists in 2016, the 2021 Celestino Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science and the 2022 Royal Societies of Australia and New Zealand Piasecki Prize for Outstanding Writing on Social Change.

Nij has been a guest on Play School, presented multiple Catalyst documentaries, features regularly on ABC News Breakfast, and been an invited speaker at TEDxSydney salons, the Australian Singularity Summit and the Junkee Unconference. He is the current host of the award winning ABC Kids Podcast Imagine This.

His areas of expertise include:

• Power system security in the energy transition (he currently is a Principal in Future Energy Systems at AEMO).
• Young people’s engagement with the online world (as author of Behind the Screens).
• Advanced photovoltaics and the integration of consumer energy resources into the grid (as a current IEA Academic Expert).

Niraj has additionally written and spoken widely about press freedom, transparency and human rights. He was a guest on the Walkley-nominated documentary Ithaka: A Fight to Free Julian Assange, and served as a National Council member for Australians For War Powers Reform. He lives in Melbourne with his partner Sally and their three kids. More info, including his showreel and contact details, can be found on his website www.nirajlal.or