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Ignite your curiosity at Perth Science Festival

Media release – The Hon Colin Barnett, Premier; Minister for State Development; Science

14 Aug 2015

National Science Week 2015 (August 15-23) to be officially launched at the third annual Perth Science Festival at the Perth cultural precinct
Hundreds of events held throughout WA by a range of individuals and organisations

Premier and Science Minister Colin Barnett has invited the West Australian community to ignite their curiosity for science by getting involved in National Science Week 2015, which will be launched at the Perth Science Festival this weekend.

Mr Barnett said National Science Week provided an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of scientists to our knowledge base, and communicate the benefits of science to the broader community.

“National Science Week is a time when the State’s community groups, corporations, tertiary and State institutions can all show the remarkable contributions in science made by leading scientists and everyday citizens,” he said.

National Science Week highlights $9.7B investment in science

Media release – The Hon Ian MacFarlane MP, Minister for Industry and Science

14 August 2015

From the hands-on science of making food in Western Australia to a photographic exhibition of the Auroa Australis night sky colours in Tasmania, over one million Australians will celebrate the contribution science makes to Australia as part of National Science Week 2015.

Launching National Science Week today, Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane said the week’s festivities will play an important role both in inspiring the young Australians who are the next generation of innovators, and increasing community awareness of science in our everyday lives.

“National Science Week is one of Australia’s largest events and from tomorrow, a staggering 1500 activities will be held during the week, collectively reaching over one million people,” Mr Macfarlane said. [Read more…] about National Science Week highlights $9.7B investment in science

Audio: Todd Sampson and others tell us why science is important

Here is a selection of audio interview grabs suitable for radio news. Feel free to download and use them.

Todd Sampson, advertising guru and presenter of ABC’s The Gruen Transfer and Redesign My Brain, who also has a biology degree, explains

Fireworks at the footy; dancing science; and asking ‘should science be sexy?’

Queensland kicks off National Science Week

Today, national launch with Ian Macfarlane in Toowomba and 120 other schools

Tonight, 14 August 2015, 7.45pm, Science of fireworks with Brisbane Broncos at the footy

15 August 2015, official State launch at 4.30pm, Tanks Arts Centre Cairns, 46 Collins Ave, Edge Hill – with Chief Scientist, science activities, fire twirlers and parasites!

Queenslanders will be celebrating science in the tropics, discovering the chemistry of cocktails, being Sea World citizen scientists for a day and combining science with dance.

There are more than 240 National Science Week events across the state. These are just a handful of the highlights:

…and there’s more on each below. [Read more…] about Fireworks at the footy; dancing science; and asking ‘should science be sexy?’

Galaxy of events across New South Wales for National Science Week

Media release – Office of the Chief Scientist & Engineer, NSW Government

13 Aug 2015

Join a stargazing world-record attempt in Sydney; accompany geologists on a ‘Time Walk’ in Newcastle; knit a neuron in Albury-Wodonga; or explore a bush-medicine trail in Armidale.

These are some of the hundreds of events planned for New South Wales during National Science Week, to be launched by NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, Professor Mary O’Kane, at the Museum of Arts and Applied Science (MAAS) today.

Now in its 19th year, the annual celebration of science and technology runs from Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 August 2015.

It features a wide variety of exhibitions, presentations and activities at venues across the state, aimed at an equally diverse range of audiences – from children to adults and armchair science enthusiasts to academics.

Professor O’Kane will also officially open the inaugural Sydney Science Festival, which has been developed to consolidate and amplify the promotion of National Science Week events across the metropolitan area. [Read more…] about Galaxy of events across New South Wales for National Science Week

Knitting neurons; bringing science to wellness; Blossom the possum and 300 more events across NSW

NSW launches National Science Week today – 13 August

Sydney Science Festival & NSW Science Week launch at 5pm, The Powerhouse Museum

Australian Museum Science Festival launch at 8.30am, The Australian Museum

From arts colliding with science in Lismore to astronomy and the ‘End of the Universe’ in Albury Wodonga; from breaking a world record in Broken Hill to celebrity scientists in Sydney; there are so many events registered across the state for National Science Week, it needed TWO launches!

Local talent, international guests and asking: “can science save humanity?”

National Science Week launches in the ACT

Some of the best scientists on – and off – the planet will set the stage for National Science Week in the ACT, with the official launch at the National Library of Australia next Thursday 13 August.

Showcasing talent from local school students, artists and scientists, the launch will feature Nobel Laureate Professor Brian Schmidt AC, and Director General of the National Library of Australia Ms Anne-Marie Schwirtlich AM.

The diversity of talent and expertise at the launch is a fitting preview of the broad and interesting program of events on offer in the ACT region during Australia’s biggest festival.

National Science Week 2015 begins with a family favourite, Science in ACTion, which returns for schools on Friday 14 August and opens to the public on Saturday 15 August, in the Former Transport Depot (Old Bus Depot) in Kingston.

This community event will feature some famous intergalactic guests, a huge inflatable plant cell and the opportunity to see some of the cutting edge science, technology, engineering and maths being done in and around the ACT. [Read more…] about Local talent, international guests and asking: “can science save humanity?”

Astronauts, fossil fossicking, and a giant brain you can walk inside

South Australia launches National Science Week tonight

6 August 2015, launch at 5pm, Goyder Pavilion Mezzanine, Adelaide Showground

South Australians will have the opportunity to meet scientists, discuss the hot topics, do science and celebrate its cultural and economic impact on society.

There are more than 100 National Science Week events across the state; these are just a few of the highlights:

Walk through the human body and brain, and jump on a giant plant cell at Science Alive!
See astronaut and YouTube star Chris Hadfield, and some incredible cosmic photography
Meet SciBabe, the woman who survived an ‘overdose’ of 50 homeopathic sleeping pills
It’s not all about ice caps and polar bears: how will climate change affect our health?
My Research Rules: science meets comedy in a battle of the brains
Caves, calcite and fossils on Kangaroo Island
Bettongs and bilbies on the big, blow-up screen

… and there’s more on each below. [Read more…] about Astronauts, fossil fossicking, and a giant brain you can walk inside

Supernovas, synapses and salt-water crocodiles

73 - 4208 - Saltwater Crocodile — Saltwater Crocodile, Justin Gilligan

Ten stunning images from the Australian Museum New Scientist Eureka Prize for Science Photography – from WA, QLD, SA, ACT, NSW.

From the fading tendrils of a long-exploded star to the new connections between nerve cells in our brains: this year’s Australian Museum New Scientist Eureka Prize for Science Photography finalists give glimpses into life at every level.

The three finalist and seven highly commended images will be published publicly on Friday 24, on the Australian Museum and New Scientist websites, and are also available for publication in connection with stories on the Eureka Prizes.

If you need high resolution copies for publication you’ll need a password to access the following link: www.scienceinpublic.com.au/embargoed/high-res-photography-protected

Please drop us an email saying which images you need and why.

High-res versions of the Eureka Prize Photographs

High-resolution images from the Australian Museum New Scientist Eureka Prize for Science Photography – from WA, QLD, SA, ACT, NSW.

You can see the media release and low resolution copies here: www.scienceinpublic.com.au/eureka/finalists-and-highly-commended

But if you need high resolution copies for publication you’ll need a password to access the following link.

www.scienceinpublic.com.au/embargoed/high-res-photography-protected