national science week 2026
Australia’s biggest science celebration
aUGUST 15 – 23, 2026
Get involved this year
More than 3 million people participated in 2,500+ registered events and activities during National Science Week 2025. It’s one of the world’s oldest and largest community science festivals. What’s National Science Week all about? Read our 2025 case studies, or visit the official website at www.scienceweek.net.au.
Journalists: get the highlights & join our media list
Each year, we read thousands of event descriptions so you don’t have to! We scour event registrations for the best stories, photo ops and talent. Media releases and story roundups are posted below.
Subscribe to our dedicated media bulletin for stories and interview opportunities in 2026. You can also reach out to state coordinators, and learn more about National Science Week on the official website.
Photo library
A Google Drive of photography, available for media use.
National Science Week Stories
Explore by theme
Explore by state
Giant Poo Palace. Milking snakes. Devil cancer. And the surprising beauty of slime moulds.
Sunday 23 August Highlights from the final day of National Science Week Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. TAS: Nature’s jewels: The tiny, enchanting world of slime moulds. QLD: Racing a contagious cancer to save the Tasmanian devil. NSW: Follow food from lips to lavatory in the giant inflatable…
Indigenous gin. Seedy insurance. Platypus venom. Wikipedia’s women problem. Seniors code.
Saturday 22 August Highlights from day 8 of National Science Week’s 9-day week Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. NSW: Native bees, seaweed, and 60,000+ years of Indigenous science at Redfern. NSW: Dinosaurs, frogs, and a First Nations Science Village: two huge family-friendly events – Mount Annan & Abbotsbury….
Beer science. Gay maths hero. What makes superbugs tick? Your brain while daydreaming.
Friday 21 August Highlights from day 7 of National Science Week’s 9-day week Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. NSW: Queer eye for AI: modern mathematician explores Alan Turing’s legacy, in Sydney. QLD: Planetarium ‘pop-rock-funk’ concert explores music, misinformation, and the cosmos. TAS: Experimenting with beer – Hobart. QLD:…
Limited attention. Hollywood anatomy. Blow-up broccoli. Aus-Chile astro connection. Who owns where you’ve been?
Thursday 20 August Highlights from day 6 of National Science Week Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. VIC: Why attention is a precious and limited resource. NSW: Anatomy according to Hollywood. NT: Alice Springs and Chile connect through poetry, astronomy, and our shared view of the stars VIC: Who…
Molecules and monsters. Ocean feelings. Where’s wedgie? Our relationship with the cosmos.
Wednesday 19 August Highlights from day 5 of National Science Week’s 9-day week Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. NSW: Australia’s nuclear reactor is 20 this year. How has it helped science and medicine? SA: Love, fear and algal blooms: how do you feel about the ocean? QLD: Monsters…
Tassie’s dark sky. Underground farm. Robot responders. Health history in a vintage caravan.
Monday 17 August Highlights from day 3 of National Science Week Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. NATIONAL: Design a robot for disasters, oceans or space. WA: The fleet of caravans that transformed chronic disease, in Busselton. NSW: A farm under Sydney’s CBD. TAS: Indigenous astrophysicist and TikTokker and…
Platypus and rakali: adorable predators. Balloon veggies. Science cabaret. What came before #WomenInSTEM?
Highlights for ACT More on these highlights below. National Science Week in the Australian Capital Territory is coordinated by Inspiring the ACT. Visit their website: inspiringtheact.org.au. National Science Week in ACT: highlights Platypus and rakali: cute predators a sign of healthy waterways – Whitlam & Tidbinbilla The waterways around the nation’s capital are home to some of…
Canberra’s platypus and rakali; balloons get kids eating veggies
Here are the Australian Capital Territory-based events and activities that were awarded grants from the Australian Government for National Science Week 2026 through the Inspiring Australia program. More on each of these below. National Science Week in the Australian Capital Territory is coordinated by Inspiring the ACT. Visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/inspiringtheact/. For general National…
Dementia. Hollywood anatomy. Quantum careers. Underground farm. Stomach in stitches.
Science Week in Sydney More on these below including contact details for interview.Also see our NSW regional highlights. National Science Week in New South Wales is coordinated by Inspiring NSW. Visit their website: inspiringnsw.org.au. For general National Science Week media enquiries, contact scienceweek@scienceinpublic.com.au. NSW state launch Science and Country. Weaving Knowledge Together Tuesday 11 August…
Regional NSW: Koala census. Solar car challenge. Marine Rescue. Flower power. And a giant inflatable Poo Palace.
Dozens of Science Week stories around regional NSW More on these highlights below. Also see our highlights in and around Sydney. National Science Week in New South Wales is coordinated by Inspiring NSW. Visit their website: inspiringnsw.org.au. For general National Science Week media enquiries, contact scienceweek@scienceinpublic.com.au. NSW state launch: Tuesday 11 August in WollongongScience and…
Secret underground food farm; tech saving animals; Poo Palace digestive jumping castle
Here are the New South Wales-based events and activities that were awarded grants from the Australian Government for National Science Week 2026 through the Inspiring Australia program. More on each of these below. National Science Week in New South Wales is coordinated by Inspiring NSW. Visit their website: inspiringnsw.org.au. For general National Science Week media…
Beer science. Health in the Red (hot) Centre. Giant inflatable surf wave. Seafood future for Groote Eylandt
Dozens of Science Week stories around Northern Territory: More on these highlights below. National Science Week in the Northern Territory is coordinated by Inspired NT. Visit their website: inspirednt.net. For general National Science Week media enquiries, contact scienceweek@scienceinpublic.com.au. Why won’t your beer hold its head? – Winnellie Making or breaking the perfect beer head is…
Poetry meets astronomy; global warming meets human health
Here are the Northern Territory-based events and activities that were awarded grants from the Australian Government for National Science Week 2026 through the Inspiring Australia program. More on each of these below. National Science Week in the Northern Territory is coordinated by Inspired NT. Visit their website: inspirednt.net. For general National Science Week media enquiries,…
An Olympian, a Paralympian and a pop-up STEM fair: Queensland launches National Science Week in the Cairns Botanic Gardens
Media Release from Queensland’s National Science Week Coordinating Committee Olympic diver James Connor and Paralympic gold medallist Korey Boddington headline the state launch of National Science Week, at Tank 5 in the Cairns Botanic Gardens, Saturday 15 August, 10am–2pm. Queensland’s official National Science Week launch, STEM in the Tropics, comes to Cairns this year, bringing…
Planetarium concert. Super-fast planes. Indigenous gin. Aussie Moon rover. And a VR tour of rugby players’ brains.
Dozens of Science Week stories around Queensland: More on these highlights below. National Science Week in Queensland is coordinated by Inspiring Australia Queensland. Visit their website: inspiringqld.com.au. For general National Science Week media enquiries, contact scienceweek@scienceinpublic.com.au. Queensland launch in Cairns: 10 am on Saturday 15 August Science in sport with guest Olympians National Science Week…
Rugby sport psychology meets VR; aerospace innovation
Here are the Queensland-based events and activities that were awarded grants from the Australian Government for National Science Week 2026 through the Inspiring Australia program. More on each of these below. National Science Week in Queensland is coordinated by Inspiring Australia Queensland. Visit their website: inspiringqld.com.au. For general National Science Week media enquiries, contact scienceweek@scienceinpublic.com.au….
Moon gardening. Cosmic collisions. Ocean love & fear. Fossils. Bubbles. AI & creative jobs.
Highlights for South Australia: More on these highlights below. National Science Week in South Australia is coordinated by Inspiring South Australia. Visit their website: inspiringsa.org.au. For general National Science Week media enquiries, contact scienceweek@scienceinpublic.com.au. South Australian launch Friday 14 August at Museum with explosive experiment National Science Week kicks off with VIPs conducting the ‘elephant…
AI, ethics and creativity; a small cartoon fish gets big screen debut
Here are the South Australia-based events and activities that were awarded grants from the Australian Government for National Science Week 2026 through the Inspiring Australia program. More on each of these below. National Science Week in South Australia is coordinated by Inspiring South Australia. Visit their website: inspiringsa.org.au. For general National Science Week media enquiries,…
Science Week opens the door to discovery across Tasmania
Media Release from Tasmania’s National Science Week Coordinating Committee National Science Week begins on Saturday, with a month-long program of events giving Tasmanians the chance to explore everything from Antarctic research and astronomy to wildlife conservation, health, technology and renewable energy. While National Science Week officially runs from 15 to 23 August, Tasmania’s extended program…
Psychedelics. Clitoral Chronicles. Trust and TikTok. Beer science. Where’s Wedgie?
Science Week in Tassie: More on these highlights below. National Science Week in Tasmania is coordinated by Inspiring Tasmania. Visit their website: inspiringtas.org.au . For general National Science Week media enquiries, contact scienceweek@scienceinpublic.com.au. Tasmanian launch – Friday 14 August: Minister at Princes Wharf with wildlife, drones and Deadly Science National Science Week kicks off with…
Beaker Street Festival; cosmic art/science in unexpected places
Here are the Tasmania-based events and activities that were awarded grants from the Australian Government for National Science Week 2026 through the Inspiring Australia program. More on each of these below. National Science Week in Tasmania is coordinated by Inspiring Tasmania. Visit their website: inspiringtas.org.au. For general National Science Week media enquiries, contact scienceweek@scienceinpublic.com.au ….
Champagne fizz. Cell therapy. Soil. Water. Wildflowers. Stem cell art. And a quantum graphic novel.
Highlights for Victoria: More on these highlights below. National Science Week in Victoria is coordinated by Inspiring Victoria. Visit their website: www.rsv.org.au/inspiring-victoria. For general National Science Week media enquiries, contact scienceweek@scienceinpublic.com.au. Victoria’s launch: 6:30pm Thursday 13 August, Melbourne Museum Inspiring Australia (Victoria) kicks off National Science Week with researchers from the Museums Victoria Research Institute,…
Flying fox art connecting creativity with environmental action; how technology is changing healthcare
Here are the Victoria-based events and activities that were awarded grants from the Australian Government for National Science Week 2026 through the Inspiring Australia program. More on each of these below. National Science Week in Victoria is coordinated by Inspiring Victoria. Visit their website: www.rsv.org.au/inspiring-victoria. For general National Science Week media enquiries, contact scienceweek@scienceinpublic.com.au. Remnant…
Mars veggie patch. Real CSI jobs. Orchids ‘liked’ to death. Missing Universe. And health research in a vintage caravan.
Science Week in Western Australia: More on these highlights below. National Science Week in Western Australia is coordinated by Inspiring Western Australia. Visit their website: inspiringwa.org.au. For general National Science Week media enquiries, contact scienceweek@scienceinpublic.com.au. Western Australian launch 5:00–7:30pm Tuesday 4 August at Kings Park and Botanic Garden National Science Week kicks off in WA…
A 60-year population health study in a vintage caravan; science festival in Broome; meet Perth’s astrophysicists, animal experts, and more
Here are the Western Australia-based events and activities that were awarded grants from the Australian Government for National Science Week 2026 through the Inspiring Australia program. More on each of these below. National Science Week in Western Australia is coordinated by Inspiring Western Australia. Visit their website: inspiringwa.org.au. For general National Science Week media enquiries,…
Giant Poo Palace. Milking snakes. Devil cancer. And the surprising beauty of slime moulds.
Sunday 23 August Highlights from the final day of National Science Week Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. TAS: Nature’s jewels: The tiny, enchanting world of slime moulds. QLD: Racing a contagious cancer to save the Tasmanian devil. NSW: Follow food from lips to lavatory in the giant inflatable…
Indigenous gin. Seedy insurance. Platypus venom. Wikipedia’s women problem. Seniors code.
Saturday 22 August Highlights from day 8 of National Science Week’s 9-day week Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. NSW: Native bees, seaweed, and 60,000+ years of Indigenous science at Redfern. NSW: Dinosaurs, frogs, and a First Nations Science Village: two huge family-friendly events – Mount Annan & Abbotsbury….
Beer science. Gay maths hero. What makes superbugs tick? Your brain while daydreaming.
Friday 21 August Highlights from day 7 of National Science Week’s 9-day week Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. NSW: Queer eye for AI: modern mathematician explores Alan Turing’s legacy, in Sydney. QLD: Planetarium ‘pop-rock-funk’ concert explores music, misinformation, and the cosmos. TAS: Experimenting with beer – Hobart. QLD:…
Limited attention. Hollywood anatomy. Blow-up broccoli. Aus-Chile astro connection. Who owns where you’ve been?
Thursday 20 August Highlights from day 6 of National Science Week Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. VIC: Why attention is a precious and limited resource. NSW: Anatomy according to Hollywood. NT: Alice Springs and Chile connect through poetry, astronomy, and our shared view of the stars VIC: Who…
Molecules and monsters. Ocean feelings. Where’s wedgie? Our relationship with the cosmos.
Wednesday 19 August Highlights from day 5 of National Science Week’s 9-day week Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. NSW: Australia’s nuclear reactor is 20 this year. How has it helped science and medicine? SA: Love, fear and algal blooms: how do you feel about the ocean? QLD: Monsters…
Tassie’s dark sky. Underground farm. Robot responders. Health history in a vintage caravan.
Monday 17 August Highlights from day 3 of National Science Week Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. NATIONAL: Design a robot for disasters, oceans or space. WA: The fleet of caravans that transformed chronic disease, in Busselton. NSW: A farm under Sydney’s CBD. TAS: Indigenous astrophysicist and TikTokker and…
