Beaker Street Festival; cosmic art/science in unexpected places

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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.

  • 200+ scientists, 70 events, 2 weekends, food, fun, and Dr Karl: Beaker Street Festival is back!
  • ‘Cosmic Breath’ brings science and art to older people in palliative care, women in prisons, and mainstream audiences around Tasmania.
  • Asteroids and exoplanets, slime moulds, and science pub trivia in Ulverstone.

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 .

Beaker Street Festival: Celebrating 10 Years of Science, Art, and Community

Grant recipient: Beaker Street Ltd

Experience ‘scientifically proven fun’ where microscopes sit on bar tables, scientists take centre stage and late-night conversations could change the world. Welcome to Beaker Street Festival, an annual celebration of science and art in Lutruwita/Tasmania.

Celebrating its 10th year in 2026, the Festival presents more than 70 science-led events to Hobart and beyond across two weekends. More than 200 scientists take part through a range of fascinating Main Stage presentations, expert-led field trips, hands-on workshops, intimate dinners and tours, Antarctic encounters at the ‘Hobartica’ precinct, and the Festival’s signature Roving Scientist Bar — where everyone’s invited to take part in the conversation. Main Stage stars include astrophysicist and scientific TikToker Dr Kirsten Banks and National Living Treasure Dr Karl.

Cosmic Breath: Stories, Stars and Stillness

Grant recipient: Karelle Siellez

Art and the starry sky are headed to prisons and nursing homes. Blending stargazing with watercolour writing and constellation making, Cosmic Breath brings the night sky to the public, and to people often excluded from science events: older people in palliative care and women in prison.

This astronomy and art program will deliver eight workshops reaching about 160 participants across Tasmania through public events, hospice sessions, and prison workshops. Activities include telescope observation, storytelling, journaling, art, and meditation.

Each participant will create a personal ‘Cosmic Journal’ and experience the sky in ways that are likely new to them. Cosmic Breath engages underrepresented groups, raises awareness of the need for Dark Sky protection, blends science with creativity, and trials an innovative way to engage people with science.

Seeds of Curiosity – Hive’s 2026 National Science Week Program

Grant recipient: Central Coast Council

Asteroids and exoplanets, slime moulds, and science pub trivia will converge in and around Hive for a three-week feast of science, art, and culture in North West Tasmania, centred around the theme of ‘Seeds of Curiosity’.

This program will explore ecosystems, agriculture, and astronomy through events ranging from stargazing and school science sessions to family expos, exhibitions, and science‑in‑social‑spaces. Highlights will include an astronomy keynote and public stargazing session led by Hive Principal Astronomer Dr Martin George and Planetarium volunteers, science pub quizzes at Penguin Beer Co in Penguin and The Pier in Ulverstone, slime mould photography, and Aboriginal environmental managers sharing First Nations ecology and regeneration knowledge.

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