National Science Week

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National Science Week 2024 will take place from 10 to 18 August.

2.7 million people participated in 1862 registered events and activities for National Science Week 2023 – the largest number of participants in the festival’s history.

See our highlights by round:
Arts, Entertainment, Environment, Family,
Indigenous, Women in Science, Youth.

See our pick of 2023 highlights state-by-state:

Or search for stories in your area:
Images are available here:

Media alerts, stories and talent highlights for 2023 are included below for reference.

For more information contact: Tanya Ha on scienceweek@scienceinpublic.com.au, 0404 083 863 or (03) 9398 1416.

Follow Science Week stories on social media via:

You can also get in touch with the state coordinators, sign up for the National Science Week newsletter for news of grant rounds and other information, or visit the Science Week website www.scienceweek.net.au

Magpie swoops top spot in poll to find Australia’s Favourite Animal Sound

Did you ‘call it’? Or do the results ruffle your feathers?

The magpie’s warbling has won over the nation, taking out number one in ABC’s search for Australia’s Favourite animal sound. The call of the magpie was a clear winner, attracting over a staggering 36% of the votes in the final round.

“The magpie’s warble is part of almost every soundscape in Australia,” says Dr Dominique Potvin, a behavioural ecologist and senior lecturer in Animal Ecology at the University of the Sunshine Coast. “Its song has regional dialects, developed through learning from older generations. So it’s an ancient song, but it keeps evolving. Magpies come together to sing these melodies in a duet or chorus by family groups, letting others know the territory they occupy,” says Dominique.

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A heat-wave warning signal; Blade Runner; raising the dead; and a giant inflatable poo palace

Friday 18 August

Highlights from day seven of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

NSW: Climate solutions: a heat-wave warning signal; carbon capturing seaweed.

NSW: Newcastle’s giant inflatable Poo Palace recreates the journey of food, from lips to loo.

ACT: Blade Runner: what do neuroscientists and bioethics experts think?

VIC: Software, sunscreen and STEM Sisters: pop-up science talks outside the State Library

SA: First Nations perspectives of earth, air, fire and water at SA Museum’s Night Lab.

QLD: Street Science on the farm at the Ekka.

TAS: Racing robots, seed bombs, an augmented reality sandpit: Schools Day at the Festival of Bright Ideas.

WA: Bringing the dead back to life: Ask a palaeontologist and archaeologist how.

Read on for more on these, including direct event contact details.

Also today:
Coming up tomorrow:

Bird brains; an Aussie astronaut; humans’ animal nature; and learning from 60,000+ years of Indigenous knowledge – see a preview of Saturday’s highlights.National Science Week 2023 runs from 12 to 22 August.

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

Media centre here. Images for media here.

General Science Week media enquiries: Tanya Ha: tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863

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Black holes; bull shark bandits; satirical science music; and is AI the next Shakespeare?

Sunday 20 August: highlights from the final day of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

NSW: Dr Karl, furry friends, and First Nations bush food walks at the Sydney Science Trail.

VIC: Shedding light on Black Holes with Melbourne Planetarium astronomer Dr Tanya Hill.

VIC: Is AI the next Shakespeare? See a play written by ChatGPT.

QLD: Meet human and marine stars of National Geographic’s SHARKFEST and Bull Shark Bandits.

QLD: Satirical science music ‘Road to Reason’: album launch at Planetarium.

NSW: Become a poo, race a solar car, explore the moon at the Hunter Science Festival.

NSW: Who makes the ‘laws’ in space? When do you need a space lawyer? Who can mine the moon? – Newcastle.

NT: Paint with a UV torch at ‘Sea of Light’, a light installation at MAGNT.

VIC: Solving great spider crab mysteries, without getting wet, sandy or bitten.

ACT: Keeping brains young with creative computing for seniors.

ACT: Space, robotics, and engineering with LEGO: science while you shop in Canberra’s malls.

Read on for more on these, including direct event contact details.

Also today:
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Bird brains; an Aussie astronaut; humans’ animal nature; and learning from 60,000+ years of Indigenous knowledge

Saturday 19 August: highlights from the second last day of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

NSW: Lessons from 60,000+ years of continuous culture at Redfern’s Indigenous Science Experience.

NSW: Find out how Aussie engineer Meganne Christian became a reserve astronaut.

VIC: Should we embrace our animal nature? Sci fight Science Comedy Debate.

NSW: Newcastle’s giant inflatable Poo Palace recreates the journey of food, from lips to loo.

TAS: Racing robots, seed bombs, an augmented reality sandpit, and more at Festival of Bright Ideas.

WA: Why it’s good to have a bird brain.

NT: A health lab on wheels and AI ‘time machine’ shows impact of disease.

QLD: How butterflies inspire technology.

SA: Tree scientist encourages gardeners to grow the urban forest.

Read on for more on these, including direct event contact details.

Also today:
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Beer science; dog happiness; psychedelics; animal sounds; and the battle of the drag scientists

Thursday 17 August

Highlights from day six of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

TAS: Experimental beers with three independent breweries and two thirsty scientists.

NSW: The Drag Experiment: meet the people who are scientists by day and drag performers by night.

NSW: Could psychedelics unlock the answers to managing complex mental health issues? Ask the experts.

Online (VIC talent): Is your pet stressed, bored, or lonely? Dog happiness and mental health.

SA: Can we innovate creativity?

SA: Archaeology in space and on Earth in a changing climate.

QLD: A science fair for sick kids in Brisbane’s Children’s Hospital.

NSW: Marshmallow bazookas, a leaf-blower levitated basketball, and explosive liquid nitrogen in Goulburn.

TAS: Citizen scientists wanted to investigate microplastics.

NT: Young Territorians compete to take the best micro-photos.

National: Squawk versus croak! Last day to vote in the search for Australia’s Favourite Animal Sound.

Read on for more on these, including direct event contact details.

Also today:
Coming up tomorrow:

A heat-wave warning signal; Blade Runner; raising the dead; and a giant inflatable poo palace – see a preview of Friday’s highlights.

National Science Week 2023 runs from 12 to 22 August.

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

Media centre here. Images for media here.

General Science Week media enquiries: Tanya Ha: tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863

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Meet a dinosaur; whale poo; dog happiness; scabby microbiology cartoons; and a Festival of Bright Ideas

Great National Science Week stories up for grabs now around Australia

  • Whales, poo, Antarctica, and onboard a Southern Ocea research ship with Vanessa Pirotta.
  • Sky Country, bush food, and technology at Redfern’s Indigenous Science Experience.
  • Meet a dinosaur and native animals, and try your hand at science.
  • Street Science on the farm at the Ekka.
  • A science fair for sick kids in The Children’s Hospital.
  • Is your pet stressed, bored, or lonely? Dog happiness and mental health.
  • Racing robots, seed bombs, an augmented reality sandpit, and more at Festival of Bright Ideas.
  • Tree scientist encourages gardeners to grow the urban forest.
  • Paint with a UV torch at ‘Sea of Light’, a light installation at MAGNT.
  • Space, robotics, and engineering with LEGO: science while you shop in Canberra’s malls.
  • ‘Scab’: MicroToons animation brings microbiology to people with autism.

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

Scientists, experts, performers 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.

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An Aussie astronaut, a whale scientist, 3D-printed animal bits, and microbiology for neurodiversity

National Science Week offers dozens of stories featuring powerhouses of Women in Science

  • Meganne Christian: an evening with an Aussie engineer turned future astronaut.
  • Meet the female curators, artists and scientists behind the DARK MATTERS exhibition.
  • Whales, poo, Antarctica, and onboard a Southern Ocean research ship with Dr Vanessa Pirotta.
  • Rethink gender stereotypes by exploring the world of female reproduction in the animal kingdom, with science communicator Tiana Pirtle.
  • Should we embrace our animal nature? Science comedian Alanta Colley moderates the Sci fight Science Comedy Debate.
  • Software, sunscreen and STEM Sisters: pop-up science talks outside the State Library.
  • Black Holes: Journey into the unknown with Dr Tanya Hill.
  • ‘Scab’: MicroToons animation brings microbiology to people with autism, lead by scientist and author Dr Rina Fu.

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

Scientists, experts, performers 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.

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Scientists in drag; satirical science music; sci-fi costume competitions; and dark matters

Great National Science Week YOUTH stories up for grabs now around Australia

  • Scientists in drag battle.
  • Should we embrace our animal nature? Sci fight Science Comedy Debate.
  • Improv and 3D-printed animal vaginas reveal the world of female reproduction.
  • Satirical science music ‘Road to Reason’: album launch at Planetarium.
  • Can art make the invisible universe visible?
  • Shirty Science: artists and researchers team up for t-shirts.
  • Are we space-industry ready?
  • Astrophysicists vs science fiction, and a sci-fi costume competition.

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

Scientists, experts, performers 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.

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Science denialism; the new space race; happiness; plastic eating microbes; and female animal reproductive bits!

Wednesday 16 August 2023

Highlights from day five of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

NSW: What’s the secret to happiness? An 85-year-long scientific study has some ideas.

VIC: Should we care about science denialism?

VIC: Decolonising fire: Indigenous land stewardship in Australia and America.

TAS: Multi-chambered vaginas, elongated clitorises, pseudo-penises and more: improv and 3D-printed animal vaginas reveal the world of female reproduction.

SA: How can you trick your senses to help with pain relief?

SA: From giant birds to mega-marsupials, what makes South Australia’s fossil heritage so remarkable?

QLD: The new race to explore the solar system with Dr Brad Tucker.

NSW: Modifying microbes to eat plastic.

Read on for more on these, including direct event contact details.

Also today:
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Blade Runner; satirical science music; a scabby cartoon; and a celebrity science quiz, with slime!

Great National Science Week ENTERTAINMENT stories up for grabs now around Australia

  • National Science Quiz: Are you smarter than a TV personality?
  • The Drag Experiment: Meet the performers mixing scientific concepts with drag.
  • Satirical science music ‘Road to Reason’: album launch at a planetarium.
  • Blade Runner: what do neuroscientists and bioethics experts think?
  • An Aussie astronaut, art therapy, deep sea science, DNA sonification – Sydney Science Festival.
  • Racing robots, seed bombs, an augmented reality sandpit, and more at Festival of Bright Ideas in Hobart.
  • Street Science on the farm at the Ekka.
  • ‘Scab’: MicroToons animation brings microbiology to people with autism.
  • Paint with a UV torch at ‘Sea of Light’, a light installation at MAGNT.

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

Scientists, experts, performers 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.

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