Sex in the sea, the science in sci-fi, dance hall becomes a lab, and measuring a Footy Quake

2 August, 2022
Exclude from Home Page, National Science Week

Dozens of Science Week stories around ACT

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 ACT: event highlights

Reaching organism: an adults-only marine science show – Canberra

Flatworms cross their double-pronged penises in the heat of foreplay. Sharks hold each other close by biting into their tangled bodies while writhing in passion. A single whale crosses a surging ocean to find a lover, singing into the darkness ‘where are you’ in whale song.

Science communicator Alice Ryder invites you to join these organisms down below it’s wet and dimly-lit: the ocean.

In ‘The Sex on the Beach Science Show’, Alice’s adults-only comedic one-woman show, she will be exploring underwater animal sex and drawing on her own experiences working in marine science.

Date: Saturday 13 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/the-sex-on-the-beach-science-show/canberra

Media enquiries: Alice Ryder, ryder.alice@gmail.com

Alice Ryder is available for media interviews.

Footy Quake: can a rugby crowd register on the Richter scale? – GIO Stadium

The ‘footy quake’ made by rugby league crowd cheers is set to be measured by researchers.

Scientists from ANU’s Research School of Earth Sciences will install a seismometer–a piece of equipment normally used to measure earthquakes–under the main stand at the GIO Stadium for the Raiders versus Dragons NRL match.

They want the Raiders crowd making seismic noise by stamping on the ground when the Raiders score and during the famous Viking clap, to see how large a footy quake fans can make.

Sunday 14 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/footy-quake/bruce

Media enquiries: Jillian Matthews, actscienceweek@gmail.com or 0406 355 996

Earth scientists available for media interviews.

Science in the shopping centres – multiple locations

Science while you shop! Pop-up science activity centres will give shoppers the chance to meet scientists, engineers and daleks, and learn about space, mushroom growing, engineering with LEGO, parasites, chemistry, geology, space, robotics, and more.

Westfield Belconnen, Westfield Woden, South.Point Tuggeranong, Cooleman Court, and the Canberra Centre will host a variety of displays and hands-on science activities during the weekends of National Science Week (13 – 14 and 20 – 21 August).

Multiple dates and locations. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/science-in-the-centres

Please contact Jillian Matthews, actscienceweek@gmail.com or 0406 355 996

Flying drones, engineering defence, art-robots, and biology balloons: meet the women of science and art – Canberra

  • Katie Vidal from She Maps has taught hundreds of children how to fly drones.
  • Molecular biologist and balloon artist Dr Chloe Lim created a balloon show to introduce the concept of genetics to children.
  • Entrepreneur Claire Harris sparked the start of a Canberra tribe of art-robots.
  • Naomi Duckworth from the Department of Defence is a systems engineer and is working on Australia’s future Navy ships.

They provide interesting perspectives on art and science in a series of events hosted by science writer and performer Dr Phil Dooley.

Multiple dates and locations.

Media enquiries: Claire Harris, claire@innovatecommunicate.com

Speakers are available for media interviews.

What do experts make of the ‘science’ in Mars Attacks!? – Acton

Have you wondered what an alien scientist looks like and what their science might be? What do scientists think how their work is depicted in movies? And how do movies and pop culture influence public understanding of science, for better or worse? Join two expert as they discuss the spaced-out science from Tim Burton’s film ‘Mars Attacks!’

  • Dr Brad Tucker is an astrophysicist and cosmologist. He’s leading programs using the NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope and TESS to understand why and how stars blow up. He’s also building a network of ultraviolet telescopes in the upper atmosphere and a search to find Planet 9. He is interested in how science fiction increases awareness, inspiration, and knowledge of these topics.
  • Dr Anna-Sophie Jurgens is a Lecturer in Popular Entertainment Studies at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science. Her research explores the cultural meanings of science.

A screening of ‘Mars Attacks!’ at the National Film and Sound Archive will be followed by a discussion of the popular image of science in space cinema, our cultural fascination with clowns and scientists in space, and why it’s all worth investigating.

Thursday 18 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/science-art-film-mars-attacks/acton  

Media enquiries: Media enquiries: Brad Tucker, brad@mso.anu.edu.au, 02 6125 6711 or 0433 905 777

Brad Tucker and Anna-Sophie Jurgens (anna-sophie.jurgens@anu.edu.au) are available for media interviews.

Why mushrooms rule the world – Belconnen

The Kingdom – How Fungi Made Our World tells the evolutionary story of how fungi shaped all terrestrial life — including us. This documentary is a fascinating exploration of a spectacular yet little known world with a series of pay-offs that can change our lives and future for better.

See the movie and join Fungi Co and a panel of mushroom experts to answer your questions in a post-screening discussion:

  • Dr. Claudia Carrasco, Founder of Alma Funga – mushroom chemistry, dyes, biomaterials
  • Peter Marshall, Terra Preta Truffles – everything truffle, ecosystem interactions
  • Jim Fuller, Co-founder of Fable Foods – chef, chemist, mycologist
  • Peter Wenzel, Fungi Co – mushroom cultivation and innovation.

Saturday 20 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/how-fungi-made-our-world/belconnen

Media enquiries: Peter Wenzel, peter@fungico.com.au or 0408 301 778

Could swing dancing help teach Newtonian physics? – Ainslie, ACT

Savoy Dance is the unlikely lab for some new research and human ‘guinea pigs’ are needed!

ANU science communicator Giselle Dreyer is calling on beginner and experienced swing dancers to take part in a science-themed dance workshop and social.

Participants will learn about Newtonian physics, inertia, tension and momentum in dance. Then they’ll put their knowledge and skills to work on the social dance floor, with six-count lindy hop, send-outs, pass-bys and returns.

They’ll then fill out a questionnaire as part of a research project that tests this novel way of teaching science.

Saturday 20 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/lets-get-physical-savoy-swings-science-dance-workshop-social/ainslie

Media enquiries: Giselle Dreyer, giselle.dreyer@anu.edu.au, or 0411 289 352.

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.