NASA scientists, Vitamania, colliding galaxies, gut health, and dancing with science

Media releases, National Science Week

August is a prime time to talk innovation and science—National Science Week kicks off Saturday 11 August

It’s time to plan your coverage of 2,000+ events across Australia for National Science Week, 11-19 August.

We have national touring speakers, and local events everywhere from the Tiwi Islands to Hobart:

  • NASA scientists touring Australia, including Aussie astrophysicist Jessie Christiansen, Silicon Valley astronomer Geert Barentsen, and influential planet hunter Natalie Batalha
  • using dance to teach STEM— US dancer and algebra teacher Yamilee Toussaint visits Perth
  • are vitamins worth it? Ask Derek Muller, the Canadian-Australian host of the new film Vitamania
  • what will happen when our galaxy collides with Andromeda? Astrophysicist, author and Stargazing Live TV presenter Lisa Harvey-Smith on the future of the night sky, in Sydney and Melbourne
  • actor and comedian Lawrence Leung does stand-up for science in Hobart

2,000 events across Australia during National Science Week, with more registering each day, including:

  • Virtual Reef Diver—ABC’s citizen science project will help scientists help the Great Barrier Reef
  • Good Robots/Bad Robots at the Sydney Opera House
  • the classic sci-fi thriller Rossum’s Universal Robots performed in a real-life lab in Melbourne
  • feeding the world inside you—recipes for a healthy gut, in Perth
  • a HealthLAB on wheels in the Tiwi Islands, and travelling through the Territory
  • wine science, echidna CSI, neuroscience at night, moon rocks and more at Big Science Adelaide.

Search for an event in your area via scienceweek.net.au/events/. Images for media online.

To get our media releases in the lead up to and during National Science Week, register at scienceinpublic.com.au/bulletins or email tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au.

Australians will have opportunities to meet scientists, discuss the hot topics, do science and celebrate its cultural and economic contribution to society when National Science Week kicks off in August.

Running from 11 to 19 August, National Science Week 2018 is expected to reach more than a million Australians—with everything from science festivals, music and comedy shows, expert talks, art installations and performances, interactive hands-on displays, open days and online activities.

In 2018, National Science Week celebrates its 21st birthday, with events held throughout Australia— from Corals in the Outback in western Queensland to the Australian Antarctic Festival in the Apple Isle, and from science working in rural communities in WA to The Innovation Games at Sydney Olympic Park.

First held in 1997, National Science Week has become one of Australia’s largest festivals. Last year saw around 1.2 million people participate in more than 2,100 events and activities around the country.

The festival is proudly supported by the Australian Government; partners CSIRO, the Australian Science Teachers Association and the ABC; and sponsors Cosmos, Discovery Science, New Scientist and Popular Science.

National Science Week general media enquiries: