What comes but once a year? What brings joy and wonderment to young and old alike?
Yes, the annual celebration of all things amazing, astonishing and just plain mind-boggling – National Science Week 2018 – is here!!! Ready, set, go!
So, go to the event calendar to find events near you and start choosing. There really is something for everyone! The only difficulty you might have is fitting your work-life-sleep commitments around everything you want to see.
Here’s a sampler-box of National Science Week events happening this weekend across Australia.
ACT
The Curious Feast – Acton
Indulge your curiosity at this free event and find the science behind everyday moments – all while sharing tasty noms, enjoying a warm drink and listening to some sweet local sounds under the fairy lights at ANU’s MOLO Live. 6-8pm Friday 10 August
VEX Robotics Scrimmage – Griffith
This VEX Robotics Scrimmage is the season opener for the Canberra and Goulburn region VEX competition. VEX Robotics encourages students to develop STEM skills and seek solutions to different game challenges each year. This year’s opener will be held at St Clare’s College. 10am-2pm Friday 10 August
Science in ACTion Community Day – Kingston
Come and experience real life Science in ACTion! This interactive science fair is a free event for science enthusiasts of all ages. Over 50 stallholders from local STEM organisations will be there to engage you with hands-on activities that showcase how science is used every day in their work. 10am-4pm Saturday 11 August
NSW
Drones in the Vines – Pokolbin
Experience the amazing technology of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the beautiful Glandore Estate Wines in the Hunter Valley Vineyards. This family friendly event includes hands on displays and a free BBQ. 11am-2pm Saturday 11 August
Koalas in the Pub @ Paterson Allyn Williams Science Hub – East Gresford
Local ecologist, John Simpson, and Martin Fallding from the National Parks Association will be at the Hotel Beatty to talk about local koalas, their upcoming koala survey and to answer your koala questions. 6-7pm Friday 10 August
Parasites Lost by Alanta Colley – Marrickville
Girl power! The story of one woman, who has contained multitudes. After an entirely sold out season at Melbourne International Comedy Fest in 2017 Alanta is bringing her first ever solo show to Sydney! 7-8pm Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 August
A Night of Illusions – Redfern
Sydney Science Festival favourite “A Night of Illusions” returns in 2018 with an even bigger array of mind-bending exhibits. 7-10pm Saturday 11 August
NT
desertSMART EcoFair: 783 ABC Outdoor Broadcast & Great Science Quiz – Alice Springs
As part of desertSMART EcoFair, the Arid Lands Environment Centre partners with the 783 ABC Alice Springs Drive team for an outdoor broadcast with guest speakers and the Great Science Quiz, hosted by Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiadis. 4-6pm Friday 10 August
Wildlife Workshop with Bush Tales – Palmerston
Kids and adults alike will get to meet native snakes, lizards, birds and more in this interactive presentation. The primary outcome for Bush Tales is to educate the future generation and engage them in the unique biology of this land. 10-11am Saturday 11 August
Wildlife Workshop with Bush Tales – Casuarina
Kids and adults alike will get to meet native snakes, lizards, birds and more in this interactive presentation. The primary outcome for Bush Tales is to educate the future generation and engage them in the unique biology of this land. 2-3pm Sunday 12 August
QLD
Brisbane Science Festival – South Brisbane
A day of immersive science experiences from hands on workshops, to science and venomous snake shows, robotics, drones, food science and more, don’t miss this FREE day of family fun! 9am-4pm Saturday 11 August
ACEMS Public Lecture – Science and the search for missing flight MH370 – Brisbane
Two experts associated with the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Neil Gordon and Peter Foley, will speak in this public lecture, on the associated science defining the search area, and the methods used to search the deep ocean floor in a remote area of the Indian Ocean. 2-4pm Saturday 11 August
Element in the Room: a radioactive comedy about the death and life of Marie Curie – South Brisbane
Marie Curie lived an extraordinary life, and made incredible scientific discoveries in the face of unbelievable odds. This is her story, replete with breathtaking breakthroughs and seriously silly songs. 6-8pm Saturday 11 August
SA
EchidnaCSI – Adelaide
EchidnaCSI asks the public to submit echidna sightings and collect their scats using a free app. Join Prof Frank Grutzner, Dr Peggy Rismiller and Tahlia Perry to learn all about echidnas and how you can help with research and conservation. 10am-3pm Saturday 11 August
Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden – Port Augusta
Experience the wonders of heavens above with our mobile astronomical observatory at Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden. 1:30-9:30pm Sunday 12 August
Cummins Science of the Small – Cummins
Come and listen to Professor Geraint Rogers (Gut Microbiome), Dr Ash Martin (Soil Microbiome) and Mark and Janie Butterworth (Beer Microbiome) give an entertaining glimpse into the Science of the Small. Bring the whole family with a Lab Rats Club to entertain the kids. 3-6pm Sunday 12 August
Meet the NASA Scientists – Adelaide
NASA scientists are headed to Australia! They include leading scientists working on the Kepler Space Telescope and Cassini. Hear the latest information about these significant missions that have changed our understanding of the Universe. 6-7:30pm Sunday 12 August
TAS
BeakerStreet@TMAG – Hobart
A pop-up science bar at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, is a stunning two-night festival of science and art for adults. Stop in for fascinating talks by world-leading scientists, hands-on workshops, live music, the Antarctic bar, Tassie food and drink, and much more! 6pm-12am Fri-Sat 10-11 August
Dr Karl Live at City Hall – Hobart
BeakerStreet@TMAG is proud to present Dr Karl’s Extreme Moments in Science: Real or Fake? 4:30-6pm Saturday 11 August
Science Open Season – Invermay
QVMAG has a week of science-related fun 11-17 August. Saturday is our Big Day of Science, Sunday Science is all about geology, there are two nights at the Museum, and our week days are full of science-related fun. 10am-4pm Saturday 11 August to Friday 17 August
VIC
Science-Art Movie Making Workshop – Ballarat
For young filmmakers and families to create a set, write a script and film a short movie about any science topic they like. Filmmakers will work in groups of 2-3 to create a short film. Bring your favourite parasite suit or just your imagination! Please book online to attend this free workshop. 11am-1pm Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 August
The Great Debate: Greatest Discovery Ever Made – Melbourne
To celebrate National Science Week the Science Nation is going to determine once and for all what is the Greatest Discovery Ever Made. Join the fun and mayhem as the best, brightest and bravest science aficionados in the land do battle in a debate tournament of whits and wittiness. 7:30-9pm Saturday 11 August
Immersive Science II: Revealing the Invisible Universe – Sale
Take a tour of the invisible Universe. The audience will be provided with a SciVR headset to take them out of this world to the world of colliding black holes and microscopic wonders. 1:30-3pm Sunday 12 August
WA
Walbrininy – Sounds of the Universe Past and Present – Gingin
The Gravity Discovery Centre is teaming up with performance artists ‘Genrefonix’ for an amazing two-day event for National Science Week. Walbrininy, a completely new and original musical production, has been specially written for the occasion and will be awaiting visitors just an hour from Perth. 10am-4pm Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 August
The Innovators’ Tea Party – Perth
Eight free speed-networking events for students in Years 10, 11 and 12 to meet with a range of women working in a variety of science, technology, engineering, innovation and maths fields. 9am-4:30pm Saturday 11 August
Designing for Change – Jarrahdale
Find out how to design your food gardens for optimum productivity and resilience. 10am-12pm Sunday 12 August
