Biodiversity events happening during National Science Week in South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory
Sprigg lecture series – the woodland recovery initiative
Venue: The South Australian Museum, 17 Aug 5:30 – 7:30 PM
The Woodland Recovery Initiative aims to re-establish woodland habitats across the heavily cleared Mt Lofty region of South Australia.
Plants in a changing climate
Venue: Adelaide Botanic Garden, 16 Aug 10:00 AM
What can plants tell us about climate change? How can they help us in the future?
Face to face with science
Venue: SA Museum, 16 – 20 Aug
Science workshops for school students from reception to year 9, focusing on South Australia’s biodiversity.
Microbes underground: extraordinary life from the world of caves
Venue: Mt Gambier Public Library, 22 Aug 2:30 – 4:00 PM
Join international microbiologist and caver, Dr Hazel Barton, who has been caving in more than 1000 caves on five continents over the past 20 years. …
South Australian marine biodiversity
Venue: South Australian Maritime Museum, 16 Aug 10:00 AM
Learn about the fascinating marine life that lives in South Australia’s 8 marine bio-regions.
Khemia: living alchemy exhibition launch
Venue: The Science Exchange, 5 – 27 Aug 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival aligns with National Science Week and the UN International Year of Biodiversity with an exploration of the wonderful …
Propagation of local native seeds
Venue: TAFE SA Renmark, 5 Jul – 28 Aug 1:00 PM
Propagation and caring of seedlings from local native seeds by Outside School Hours Care students. Seedlings to be donated to local event – Early Childhood …
Additional SA events from the National Science Week website…
To investigate the effect on biodiversity of seasonal waterflow at Urrbrae Wetlands
Venue: Urrbrae Wetlands, 14 Aug 9:00 AM
Special Needs Students will look at the effect of winter rainfall on the plant and animal life in the wetlands.
Curramulka Parklands
Venue: Curramulka Primary School and Curramulka Parklands, 14 Aug 10:00 AM
During National Science Week, the students and staff of Curramulka Primary School will be visited by community groups and local experts who will be sharing information about biodiversity. As the culmination of this project, students from local schools are invited to attend a ‘Discovery Day’ at the Curramulka Parklands.
Professor Blubber’s Grossology – gooey science for kids at the South Australian Whale Centre
Venue: South Australian Whale Centre, 14 Aug 11:00 AM
Kids can learn all about the icky, sticky, smelly and gross science of whales and marine animals at the South Australian Whale Centre!
Plant diversity
Venue: Waikerie Primary, 16 Aug 9:00 AM
Plants germinate and grow in different ways. During Science Week we will look at how plants grow from seeds to seedlings. Older children will be teaching the younger students how to plant their seeds and help to observe the differences. The whole school will learn how to plant and sustain ‘No-Dig’ garden beds.
Biodiversity at the creek
Venue: River Torrens near Walkerville Primary School, 16 Aug 10:00 AM
Groups of trained year 5 students act as mentors and guides for other classes and their teachers and parent support to learn about the biodiversity at the local river, and the importance of healthy river systems.
Eco-education learning in the forest
16 – 20 Aug
“Discovering the Forest” – explore the jarrah forest ecosystem; learn why it’s important and how to reduce your impact on forests (Years 4-9).
Ocean outrage – save Nemo and his friends
Venue: Esperance Public Library, 19 Aug 5:30 – 8:30 PM
Discover the wonders beneath the sea and participate in hands-on activities highlighting the impact we are having upon our coastal environment.
Marine superhighway – wonders of the Kimberley coast (two moons)
Venue: Two Moons Whale Research Station, 14 – 22 Aug
From the pristine coral reefs of the Rowley Shoals to the humpback whale nurseries stretching from Broome to Camden Sound.
Maintaining Mettams pool
Venue: Mettams Pool, 16 Aug 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Celebrate National Science Week by participating in an annual Plant Day at Mettams Pool, North Beach.
A dance of science
Venue: Canning River Eco Education Centre, 15 Aug 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
The movement or ‘dance’ of plants, animals, tectonics, planets, and more, from both western and Indigenous perspectives will be showcased.
Bird and frog ramble
Venue: Baldivis Children’s Forest, 15 Aug 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Explore Outridge Wetland to discover some of its frogs; peer down a microscope at the macro-invertebrate life in the waters of the swamp; and join Birds Australia on a walk in the Tuart woodlands
Family night stalk
Venue: Baldivis Children’s Forest, 14 Aug 5:15 – 7:15 PM
Explore the Forest by torchlight to discover its nocturnal critters; listen to echolocation bat calls; spot scorpions that glow in the night.
Western Australia: challenges and opportunities in a biodiversity hotspot
Venue: Western Australian Museum – Maritime, 20 Aug 6:100 – 8:00 PM
Join WA’s Chief Scientist, Professor Lyn Beazley as she describes the wonders of Western Australia.
Anzang nature photography
Venue: WA Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder, 13 Jul – 28 Aug 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
ANZANG Nature Photography is an exhibition that celebrates the depth and diversity of nature in Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and the New Guinea region.
Seashells of Western Australia
Venue: Glauert Room – Perth Cultural Centre, 20 Aug 12:30 – 1:30 PM
From the subtropical coasts of the Kimberley and offshore islands to the temperate southern coasts, molluscs adapt to a wide range of conditions to survive and flourish.
Biodiversity in the ‘burbs
Venue: WA Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder, 18 -19 Aug
Do city dwellers know what’s in their backyard, parklands and ponds?
Searching in the deep seas of the southwest
Venue: Co-operative Building WA Museum – Albany, 19 – 20 Aug
What lives in the deep seas? Exploring in the Southwest in depths of 100 to 1000 meters reveals many exciting discoveries.
Creatures of the night: frogs and geckos of WA
Venue: WA Museum Theatre Geraldton, 19 – 20 Aug
Recent research into the two strictly nocturnal groups of frogs and geckos have revealed more diversity than previously thought.
Biodiversity – the barrow island story
Venue: Albany Town Hall, 17 Aug 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Join Harry Butler as he presents the Barrow Island story, including a short term history of the island and more.
Biology day
Venue: Education and Conference Centre, Perth Zoo, 18 Aug 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
A one-day conservation conference for senior secondary students that focuses on current conservation issues relating to Western Australia and the different control strategies.
Additional WA events from the National Science Week website…
Science palooza
Venue: John Curtin College of the Arts, 16 Aug 8:00 AM
A range of activities that promote environmental science and biodiversity including competitions for both staff and students, guest science speakers, Biodiversity breakfast, ‘Brain break’ for staff and fundraising through palm oil free cupcakes, green ribbon day, free ‘green’ dress day with all funds going to the Australian Orangutan Project.
Australia’s biodiversity
Venue: Christmas Island DHS, 16 Aug 8:00 AM
Year Groups will be given a different environment of Australia. They will complete a series of activities related to this environment and then complete a diorama. The school will then make a diorama wall.
Roebuck biodiversity investigation
Venue: Roebuck Primary School, 16 Aug 8:00 AM
A whole school activity to make a record of all the different living things that can be found on the grounds of Roebuck Primary School.
Plantech
Venue: CSIRO lab, 16 Aug 9:30 AM
Explore the fascinating world of plants at the CSIRO lab, Scitech.
EcoEducation ‘investigating Tuart woodlands’
Venue: Henderson Centre, 16 Aug 10:00 AM
Explore the Tuart woodlands with the Department of Environment and Conservation.
Biodiversity of Leschenault Peninsula and Inlet vegetation
Venue: 2nd Sea Scouts Hall, Bunbury, 16 Aug 6:00 PM
Biodiversity of Leschenault Peninsula/Inlet vegetation
Biology Day – a Perth Zoo conservation conference
Venue: Perth Zoo, 18 Aug 9:00 AM
A one-day conservation conference for senior secondary students.
Science in the park
Venue: Biodiversity Conservation Centre, 18 Aug 9:30 AM
Discover behind the scenes at Kings Park.
Biodiversity science tabloid
Venue: Glendale Primary School, 18 Aug 1:00 PM
Planting waterwise seedlings to regenerate native bushland around the school grounds. Wind-powered flight contest.
Biodiversity and climate change: past, present and future
Venue: Horizon-The Planetarium, 18 Aug 7:00 PM
Biodiversity and Climate Change: Past, Present and Future- a series of fascinating short talks by scientists plus two Planetarium shows on Climate.
The Biodiversity of the Pilbara
Venue: DEC Conference Room, Mardie Rd, Karratha Industrial Estate, 20 Aug 6:00 PM
Illustrated talk on Biodiversity of the Pilbara Coastal Zone
The Biodiversity of the Pilbara Coastal Zone excursion
Venue: Karratha Visitors Centre, 21 Aug 9:00 AM
Saturday Excursion, 21st August, on the Biodiversity in the Pilbara Coastal Zone. Meet at 9 am at the Karratha Visitor Centre.
Mangroves of Port Hedland
Venue: Civic Centre, Port Hedland, 21 Aug 6:00 PM
An illustrated talk with hands-on activities about the Mangroves of the Port Hedland area.
Mangroves of Finucane Island excursion
Venue: Port Hedland Civic Centre, 22 Aug 9:00 AM
Bus excursion to the mangroves of Finucane Island led by Dr Vic Semeniuk from the Royal Society of Western Australia.
Tropical gardening
Venue: Maningrida Nursery, 22 Aug 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Investigating the growing of non-tropical plants in a tropical environment (herbs, fruits, vegetables). Growing seeds under a variety of different conditions. Preparing garden beds. Harvesting. This event includes cooperation with members of the community.
Amazing caves: amazing microbes
Venue: State wide, 12-19 Aug
Dr Hazel Barton, caver and microbiologist will present a talk on Amazing Caves: Amazing Microbes. Dr Barton is an internationally recognized cave explorer and cave microbiologist.
Biodiversity at Darwin High School
Venue: Darwin High School, 14-22 Aug 1:00 PM
Students will be involved in collecting ecological data that affects the biodiversity of the areas surrounding Darwin High School.