We have squeezed so much inspiring science into the last nine days during National Science Week it has been mesmerising. In fact, so much, that it has spilled out and is threatening to turn August into Science Month!
While today is the official final day of Science Week there are still plenty of opportunities for you to keep exploring, engaging, questioning and discovering the incredible world of science, technology, engineering and maths in the days and months ahead.
The Science Week website continues to list events occurring during August, such as:
Sustainable Stand Up Graduation Show – Canberra, ACT
Join the graduating students of Sustainable Stand Up for a hilarious and uplifting night of comedy, honed from six weeks of training, delivered by sustainability champions.
7 – 10:30pm Sunday 25 August
Planet Organic – Darbys Falls Observatory – Darbys Falls, NSW
Legendary Darbys Falls Astronomer Mark Monk and local DJ Craig Lawler, AKA the Professor, team up, presenting in collaboration for the Orange-Cowra-Cabonne Science Hub, an evening of stargazing, understanding the construction of telescopes and galactic music.
8 – 10pm Saturday 24 August
Shifting Realities – Darwin, NT
Take a trip to another world through the wonders of virtual reality. Shifting Realities lets you see the world from a First Nations perspective or explore devastating effects in the environment.
Until Sunday 25 August
STEM Community Expo – Mackay (Dream Big Movie screening) – Mackay, QLD
‘Dream Big: Engineering our World’ is a film that explores the human ingenuity behind engineering marvels both big and small, and reveals the heart that drives engineers to create better lives for people all around the world. Screening followed by short engineering based TED talk style presentations and bbq.
3:30 – 5:30pm Friday 23 August
Science-Art at the extremes of Australian Antarctic Territorial Oceans – Renmark, SA
Charles Tambiah (artist) & Richard Arculus (scientist) have collaborated with Science-Art Photography & an Expedition Narrative: A display of scientific creativity from an expedition to the Antarctic Islands and the Southern Ocean.
Exhibition 11am – 4pm daily until Thursday 29 August
Into the vaults – an evening at the state’s zoology collection – Rosny, TAS
Unlock the vault and explore a space rarely seen by the public. You’ll have an opportunity to be guided by TMAG scientists while investigating a collection that covers whales to weevils and thousands of animals in between.
6 – 7:30pm Tuesday 20 August
Maths & Music: Maybe I could be a mathematician – Bendigo, VIC
Humorous, educational and personal, these collected stories illuminate the remarkable journey of an enquiring mind who became a mathematician. A mathematical mixtape from a lifelong road trip.
6:30 – 8pm Thursday 22 August
Perth Science Festival – Claremont, WA
The Perth Science Festival is back for another year! Experience more than 50 hands-on activities, explosive shows, roving performers, native animals, competitions and more.
10am – 5pm Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 August
There are also still competitions and activities to participate in online. Join in the ABC’s community project for National Science Week, The Aha! Challenge to help scientists investigate the kind of sudden problem-solving insight that makes you spontaneously exclaim “yes!” or “at last!” or, indeed, “aha!” You can participate all of August. Engineers Australia is celebrating its 100th birthday with the Create It Comp – if anything is possible and you had unlimited time, money, help and skill, what would you engineer? Entries close 30 September 2019. You can find even more competitions and online activities by using the blue Competitions tab on the events page on our website.
And don’t forget to take a moment to keep reading through some of the inspiring and incredible stories that have emerged from the #thisismylab and #STEMgotmehere social media challenge. People from all walks of life have been sharing a taste of their STEM journey and amazing science related experiences as part of National Science Week.
National Science Week is part of the government’s broader Inspiring Australia – Science Engagement Programme. Inspiring Australia science engagement activities are connecting with people nationwide to build an awareness and appreciation of science, and celebrate the excitement of science and scientific discovery, enhance the focus on capability and skills, and improve science communication skills.
Through the Inspiring Australia National Framework – Local Action approach, there is an Inspiring Australia Manager in each state and territory dedicated to encouraging local communities to create, collaborate, curate and participate in public science engagement opportunities throughout the whole year. This has encouraged all sorts of events and activities to develop – so look out for something happening near you via our Inspiring Australia Managers’ local websites.
Parents, teachers and students can also find activities all year round at the STARPortal website, developed by the Office of the Chief Scientist. Launched in National Science Week 2017, the STARPortal is the go-to place for families and teachers to discover local STEM activities for the children in their lives and for providers to find partners for collaboration.
And if you are still buzzing from your 2019 Science Week experiences, start thinking about what you might like to see or create as a Science Week event in 2020. Science Week runs on the creativity, energy and passion of volunteers. Get in contact with your local state or territory coordinating committee to get involved and contribute. These committees can also let you know about any grant round opportunities and networks that might help turn your event concept into a reality!
So keep on asking questions and sharing in the curious adventures that the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics bring to our lives – how will you science next?
