National Science Week

An Aussie astronaut, plants fighting climate change, scientists’ drag battle, and a giant Poo Palace

Dozens of Science Week stories around New South Wales

  • An Aussie astronaut, art therapy, deep sea science, space junk and Sky Country –all at the Sydney Science Festival.
  • Newcastle’s giant inflatable Poo Palace recreates the journey of food, from lips to loo.
  • What’s the role of plants, wetlands and phytoplankton in tackling climate change?
  • What’s the secret to happiness? An 85-year-long scientific study has some ideas.
  • Scientists by day; drag performers by night. Who will be crowned the ‘ultimate drag scientist’?
  • Who makes the ‘laws’ in space? When do you need to call a space lawyer? Who can mine the moon? – Newcastle.
  • Indigenous science, song-lines and stars – Wollongong.
  • Meet the super microbes who could save us from plastic – Orange, Sydney & Newcastle.
  • Marshmallow bazookas, leaf-blower levitation, and explosive liquid nitrogen with Dr Graham in Goulburn.
  • Become a poo, race a solar car, explore the moon – Newcastle.
  • Floods, storms and the Wyangala dam: a First Nation perspective – Wyangala.

More on these highlights below.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview throughout National Science Week.

Read on for direct contact details for each event, or contact Tanya Ha – tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863.

Visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find more stories in your area.

Media centre here. Images for media here.

[continue reading…]

Dr Karl, beer science, animal private parts, and Indigenous astronomy at a dark sky party

Dozens of Science Week stories around Tasmania

  • Dr Karl: what’s the science in future careers?
  • Science, music, Indigenous astronomy at NOCTURNA Dark Sky Retreat.
  • Cats, chemicals, brains, stress, and space junk: young scientists tour Tasmania.
  • Multi-chambered vaginas, elongated clitorises, pseudo-penises and more: improv and 3D-printed animal vaginas reveal the world of female reproduction.
  • Experimental beers with three independent breweries and two thirsty scientists.
  • Citizen scientists wanted to investigate microplastics.
  • Racing robots, seed bombs, an augmented reality sandpit, and more at the Festival of Bright Ideas.
  • How the Southern Ocean is keeping the planet from overheating.
  • Kooo-koo-kaa-kaa, croak, screeee… What is Australia’s favourite animal sound?

More on these highlights below.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview throughout National Science Week.

Read on for direct contact details for each event, or contact Tanya Ha – tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au, 0404 083 863.

Visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find stories in your area using the event listing.

Media centre here. Images for media here.

[continue reading…]

Birds soar high in poll to identify Australia’s favourite animal sound.

Banjo frog hops into the top 10. Cicada holds tight.

Is your favourite still singing? Or did it ‘croak’?

Vote now for your favourite from the remaining animal calls.

Over 90,000 voters have made their voices heard in the search for Australia’s Favourite Animal Sound.

Birds perch high in the top 10, with voters expressing their affection for the songs of the magpie, kookaburra, lyrebird, whipbird, butcherbird, black cockatoo, boobook and the fairy wren.

[continue reading…]

Spider crabs, science denial, and a play by ChatGPT

Dozens of Science Week stories around Victoria

And 5pm TONIGHT photo opportunity at launch event of Science Week in WA

  • DARK MATTERS exhibition – can art make the invisible universe visible?
  • Solving great spider crab mysteries, without getting wet, sandy or bitten.
  • Is AI the next Shakespeare? See a play written by ChatGPT.
  • Astrophysicists vs science fiction, and a sci-fi costume competition.
  • Should we care about science denialism? Ask psychologists and scientists.
  • Dog happiness and mental health.
  • A band of physicists on a road trip around Victoria to explain quantum and dark matter.
  • Software, sunscreen and STEM Sisters: pop-up science talks outside the Library.
  • What is Australia’s favourite animal sound?

More on these highlights below.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview throughout Science Week.

Read on for direct contact details for each event, or contact Tanya Ha – tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863.

Visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find more stories in your area.

Media centre here. Images for media here.

[continue reading…]

Deep sea diving, beer science, a quantum road trip, and Australians urge business to back science

This year’s National Science Week runs from 12 to 20 August, with thousands of events.

National launch with Minister at Parliament House: Wednesday 9 August.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview leading up to and throughout National Science Week. Here are some highlights:

  • National: 92% of Australians want business to take action to defend science – 3M State of Science Index 2023 results reveal what we think of science.
  • Canberra: What gets you excited about the future of Aussie science? The official launch of National Science Week at Parliament House.
  • Canberra:First Nations food and medicine in the National Museum’s garden.
  • Sydney: An Aussie astronaut, art therapy, deep sea science, space junk and Sky Country.
  • Hobart: Taste the science of experimental beers with three independent breweries and two thirsty scientists.
  • Melbourne: DARK MATTERS exhibition – can art make the invisible universe visible?
  • Brisbane: A science fair for sick kids in The Children’s Hospital.
  • Adelaide: Plants in space and the Botanic Gardens, Ngarrindjeri weaving, Indigital augmented reality, and more at a First Nations science festival.
  • Perth: Finding aliens, love, energy, innovation, and the bottom of the ocean at The Anti-conference.
  • Darwin: Paint with a UV torch at ‘Sea of Light’, a light installation at MAGNT.
  • National: A band of physicists go on a road trip to explain quantum and dark matter.

More on these highlights below.

[continue reading…]

Bird brains; raising the dead; the rise of AI; a scabby cartoon; and elemental energy.

Dozens of Science Week stories around Western Australia

And 5pm TONIGHT photo opportunity at launch event of Science Week in WA

  • The rise of AI: what are the risks and benefits?
  • Finding aliens, love, energy, innovation, and the bottom of the ocean at The Anti-conference
  • Why it’s good to have a bird brain
  • Bringing the dead back to life: Ask a palaeontologist and archaeologist how
  • ‘Scab’: a Microtoons animation bringing microbiology to people with autism
  • Noongar knowledge and elemental energies from earth, air, water and fire
  • Gems and ancient sea fossils: rocks on earth and in space
  • What is Australia’s favourite animal sound?

More on these below and visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find more stories in your area.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview throughout National Science Week.

Direct contact details for each event are below or contact Tanya Ha on tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863.

Media centre here. Images for media here.

[continue reading…]

Dark matter art; from space to the Deep; AI and First Nations; animal sounds and bits; a Poo Palace

The national festival that reaches nearly 2 million people through thousands of events is back from 12 to 20 August.

Entertainment, business, environment, food and wine, Indigenous media, the arts, health, technology, farming and agriculture, lifestyle, education, LGBTQI+, and disability media…National Science Week offers stories for every round.

Here are a few early picks:

[continue reading…]

What is your favourite animal sound? Cast your vote in our national poll

Koo-koo-kaa-kaa, crawk, howl… nationwide project to proclaim Australia’s favourite call of the wild.

Media contacts: Laura Boland, laura@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0408 166 426; or Tanya Ha, tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863.

Participate at: www.abc.net.au/sounds from 31 July.

Do you love the summer night sounds of cicadas? Or the outback howl of dingoes? Are you intrigued by the lyrebird’s mimicry or the mating croaks of frisky frogs?

The search is on to find our most-loved Aussie animal sound. This National Science Week, ABC Science wants people to go online to eavesdrop on the animal kingdom, explore the wonder and science of bioacoustics, and vote for their favourite call of the wild.

“Bioacoustics – the study of the sounds of wildlife – is really important for science,” says ecologist and science communicator Dr Jen Martin.

[continue reading…]

Dog happiness; and dark matters – on a roadtrip and in an exhibition

Dozens of Science Week stories around Victoria

  • Can art shed light on dark matter?
  • Dog happiness and mental health
  • A band of physicists go on a road trip to explain quantum and dark matter
  • What is Australia’s favourite animal sound?

More on these highlights below.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview throughout National Science Week.

[continue reading…]

Fighting cancer, tree saviours, archaeology in space, and a First Nations Science Festival

Dozens of Science Week stories around South Australia

  • Nitro Nat and animal encounters at Science Alive! – Showgroundsf
  • Plants in space and the Botanic Gardens, Ngarrindjeri weaving, Indigital augmented reality, and more at Payirri-Apinthirlu Naalityangka: the First Nations Science Festival – Adelaide
  • Can we innovate creativity? – Adelaide
  • Proton therapy for cancer – Adelaide
  • Tree scientist encourages gardeners to grow the urban forest – Aberfoyle Park, Noarlunga, Smithfield Plains, Salisbury, & Enfield
  • Using data to map dolphin migration – Kangaroo Island
  • Archaeology in space and on Earth in a changing climate – Unley
  • Tiny Adventures Inside of Me: A journey into microbiology – Mount Gambier
  • What is Australia’s favourite animal sound?

More on these highlights below.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview throughout National Science Week.

Read on for direct contact details for each event, or contact Tanya Ha – tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au, 0404 083 863.

Visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find stories in your area using the event listing.

Media centre here. Images for media here.

[continue reading…]