Soil, seafood, and seeing your future health

Exclude from Home Page, National Science Week

Dozens of Science Week stories around the Territory

More on these highlights below.

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

Read on for contact details for each event, or call:

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

Media centre here. Images for media here.

National Science Week in Northern Territory: event highlights

An AI ‘Time Machine’ and a health lab on wheels – Darwin and Northeast Arnhem Land

Chronic diseases – such as diabetes and heart disease – cause suffering for thousands of Australians, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

The Menzies School of Health Research is letting people experience the effects of long-term diseases before they get sick. HealthLAB – a clinic on wheels – lets people see heart and kidney ultrasounds, hear their heart beating, and try on ‘alcohol goggles’ that mimic raised blood alcohol levels. An award-winning interactive Time Machine app completes the picture – literally – by showing how those choices affect appearance.

HealthLAB will travel to locations around Darwin and Northeast Arnhem Land, giving locals the opportunity to talk to a range of scientists and health professionals about the science behind the inner workings of the human body, the technology behind the equipment we use, and exciting future careers in science.

Karama Shopping Plaza: Friday 12 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/healthlab-karama-shopping-plaza/karama

Parliament House: Monday 15 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/healthlab-parliament-house-2/darwin-city

Gunyangara: Wednesday 17 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/healthlab-dhupuma-barker/gunyangara

Nhulunbuy: Wednesday 17 – Friday 19 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/healthlab-nhulunbuy/nhulunbuy

Yirrkala: Thursday 18 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/healthlab-yirrkala-school/school

Multiple dates and locations

Media enquiries: Nicole Boyd, healthlab@menzies.edu.au or 08 8946 8539.

Heidi Smith-Vaughan is available for media interviews.

Students survey the Territory’s soil, from Darwin’s dirt to sands in Central Australia – multiple locations across NT

Students from 30 remote schools will get their hands dirty digging into the variety and science of the Territory’s soils, including the red sands of Finke in Central Australia, rich dark soils in Tiwi Islands, and the silty deposits of the Roper River.

Each school will collect soil samples from their local area and send them to Darwin for analysis. The samples will then be split 30 ways, so that each school receives a full NT-wide set and soil science activity kit.

Multiple dates and locations.

Media enquiries: Lachlan Hallett, ednt1@ausearthed.com.au or 0432 906 335

Lachlan Hallett from Australian Earth Science Education is available for media interviews.

Will we have enough prawns for Christmas? – Darwin

Can we have marinara forever? Ask the experts form the Northern Prawn Fishery, which operates off Australia’s northern coast, landing prawns in Darwin, Cairns and Karumba.

It is Australia’s largest and most valuable prawn fishery, harvesting nearly $84.8 million worth of prawns each year, and is internationally recognised as a leader in sustainable fishing.

‘Prawn to Be Wild: A Science Treasure Hunt’ is a family-friendly activity exploring how science is used in Australia’s Northern Prawn Fishery, organised by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is a non-profit organisation working with scientists and the seafood industry to set a globally recognised benchmark for sustainable fishing.

Saturday 13 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/prawn-to-be-wild-a-science-treasure-hunt/darwin-city

Media enquiries: Sally Bolton, sally.bolton@msc.org or 0435 621 574

MSC scientists and fisheries managers available for media interviews. Footage and images available for media use.

Wattle vs woollybutt: what is Australia’s favourite tree? – online

Do you love the water-bulging boab or the towering mountain ash, the world’s tallest flowering tree? Are you intrigued by the carbon capturing power of grey mangroves or the ‘living fossil’ story of the Wollemi pine?

The search is on to find Australia’s favourite tree. This National Science Week, ABC Science wants people to go online to explore the wonder and science of the plant kingdom, and vote for their favourite tree.

33 different tree species have been long-listed by ABC’s resident tree-lovers in consultation with horticulturalists so that people can get to know our natives and vote for their favourites.

Monday 1 – Friday 26 August. Visit: www.abc.net.au/trees.

Media enquiries: Laura Boland, laura@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0408 166 426

Experts available for media interviews. Media kit at: www.scienceinpublic.com.au/abc/trees.

About National Science Week

National Science Week is Australia’s annual opportunity to meet scientists, discuss hot topics, do science and celebrate its cultural and economic impact on society—from art to astrophysics, chemistry to climate change, and forensics to future food.

First held in 1997, National Science Week has become one of Australia’s largest festivals. Last year—despite a global pandemic—1.3 million people participated in more than 1,750 events and activities.

National Science Week is proudly supported by the Australian Government, CSIRO, the Australian Science Teachers Association, the ABC, and Cosmos magazine.

National Science Week 2022 will run from Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 August. Event details can be found at www.scienceweek.net.au.