Crushed lollies change from a solid to a liquid and back to a solid to create beautiful decorations. This cooking activity uses a technique of glassmaking called fusing. Materials change during the activity. The dough starts soft and can be pulled, pushed, rolled and bent into shapes. After baking, the dough is hard and cannot be…
Archives: Events
Make a Light Bulb
Though LED light bulbs are common now, the incandescent light bulb was such a useful invention it has come to symbolise innovation itself. It’s even on the National Science Week logo! Much attention is paid to the material used in the light bulb filament. Edison famously tried hundreds before having success with carbonised bamboo. Tungsten filaments have been in use in light…
Glass Blowing with Bunsen Burners
Glass is made up of silica, which is a high-quality type of sand. Other materials, such as metals and metal oxides, are added to silica to lower the melting point of the mixture. Glassblowers mix these ingredients to make a batch of glass, which they will melt in a furnace in their workshop. The batch…
100 Climate Conversations Victor Steffensen: Cultural burning
Founded on generations of knowledge, Firesticks Alliance is an Indigenous-led network reinvigorating the use of cultural burning practices. Co-founded by Tagalaka man Victor Steffensen, the alliance encourages the uptake of cultural burning practices in land and fire management to increase biodiversity and the health of Country. See Steffensen in conversation with presenter Nate Byrne, recorded…
Family Science Day
Sydney Science Festival comes to Parramatta for a day of demonstrations, talks and hands-on activities designed to inspire people of all ages. The theme Revival is applied to diverse scientific topics and brings attention to sustainability, environmental rejuvenation and recovery. This free family-friendly event invites participants to engage with a range of scientific disciplines including…
100 Climate Conversations Maria del Mar Palacios: Blue carbon
Some coastal wetlands – known as blue carbon ecosystems – capture carbon dioxide 30 to 50 times faster than terrestrial forests. With the Blue Carbon Lab, Dr Maria del mar Palacios studies how these natural carbon sinks can help mitigate climate change and support aquatic biodiversity. See del Mar Palacios in conversation with presenter Nate…
100 Climate Conversations Johanna Johnson: Biochar from waste
Logan City Council in Queensland is transforming human waste into biochar, a process which sequesters carbon, destroys microplastics and saves the community resources. Johanna Johnson spearheads the Australian-first project, which will help the Council meet its target of carbon neutral operations this year. See Johnson in conversation with presenter Nate Byrne, recorded live at the…
Future Space
An intergenerational panel will discuss the inspiring and engaging opportunities for young people to participate in Australia’s space future. Hear space industry professionals, educators and students talk about turning STEM passions into meaningful learning experiences, as well as their own study and research pathways and what continues to inspire their practice. Speakers to include Ted…
Viruses and Variants
Professor Sarah Palmer is the Co-Director of the Centre for Virus Research at The Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR). In this talk she will discuss WIMR’s vital research as part of the global Covid-19 response and detail some of her team’s findings particularly in relation to the Omicron variant. Her team are at the forefront…
Zoe Clayton: Repairing the heart
Heart transplantation is currently the only viable option for patients with advanced heart failure. In Australia, our ageing population means there will never be enough donor organs to meet this growing pressure. Dr Zoe Clayton is a project coordinator in the Cardiac Regeneration group at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) where she is…