A 60-year population health study in a vintage caravan; science festival in Broome; meet Perth’s astrophysicists, animal experts, and more

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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.

  • What has Busselton taught us: a celebration of 60 years of WA’s Busselton Health Study, travelling in a vintage caravan.
  • Blasting bacteria with beanbags and more at the Kids STEM Festival Broome.
  • Black holes, bee hotels, and bone replacement technology: meet the scientists at Forrest Research Foundation.

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, contact scienceweek@scienceinpublic.com.au.

Celebrating 60 Years of the Busselton Health Study: A Journey of Discovery

Grant recipient: Busselton Population Medical Research Institute (Inc.)

A mobile exhibition will transform a vintage caravan into an interactive celebration of the Busselton Health Study’s 60 years of medical research. The Study is one of the longest running epidemiological programs in the world. Thousands of people have taken part since it began in 1966.

Digital displays, hands-on exhibits and stories from participants and scientists will highlight how the Study has advanced our understanding of chronic disease from its humble beginnings in a fleet of caravans in the Sixties.

This pioneering longitudinal community health survey has grown from its early written surveys to modern genomics, artificial intelligence and precision health, to become a global leader in medical research. With clinical data and biospecimens collected from over 20,000 participants resulting in over 600 scientific publications, this exhibition on wheels pays homage to the study’s heritage, its participants, scientists, and the technological advancements that have shaped this legacy.

The Kids STEM Festival Broome

Grant recipient: Kids Research Institute Australia

Take a deep breath to measure your lung capacity, test simulated blood samples, wash your hands under germ-detecting UV light, learn about First Nations medicine, and ‘kill’ bacteria with mini beanbags – all at The Kids STEM Festival Broome.

This Festival brings scientists, educators, displays, and activities from the Telethon Kids Institute to WA’s Kimberly region to provide fun, free education sessions for students and community members. It provides opportunities to meet real scientists working in health, environment, marine science, and more. School sessions will inspire young people by showcasing local scientists and highlighting science as a future career pathway, while free community sessions will allow families to explore science together. With a strong focus on celebrating First Nations Knowledge and local research, the Festival will make science fun, accessible, and relevant to everyone in the region.

Forrest Research Foundation National Science Week Showcase

Grant recipient: University of Western Australia

How did Aussies Jack Piddington and Harry Minnett discover the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way? Find out at ‘Black Hole Hunt’ – one of a series of Science Stations at the Forrest Research Foundation National Science Week Showcase.

This annual family-friendly event builds scientific interest and culture across Greater Perth. Led by young researchers from WA universities, other Science Stations include:

  • ‘Build-Your-Bee-Hotel’ exploring the role bees play in ecology and the economy, and the threats to their survival
  • ‘Marine Animal Tag’ featuring non-invasive tracking devices and shark skeletons; and
  • ‘Built to Last’ showing advances in medical bone replacement technology.

The Showcase also includes explosive demonstrations lined up by Supersonic Science and a Keynote and Q&A Series of 15 bite-sized research talks on topics ranging from computer simulations of how the Universe evolves to cultivating new bacteria that eat plastic waste.

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