National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology. On again this August, the schedule of events across Victoria will attract an inquisitive audience of children, adults, science amateurs and professionals.
From 10-18 August, more than 2000 events are being held nationally to invite everyone to engage with science.
In Victoria, the public launch will be celebrated at Melbourne Museum, and from there, we are set to experience a captivating week of programming: science-themed music and comedy shows, panel discussions, exhibitions, laboratory open days and special events held by libraries, science centres, museums and universities.
The Royal Society of Victoria manages the National Science Week Victoria program. One of their top picks is the launch event: Science at the Extreme– an evening launch on 9 August – that boasts a dream team of science adventurers to address “the frozen tundra of Antarctica to the deserts of central Australia, from the lava flows of Hawaii to the depths of the world’s deepest abyss off the Eastern coast of our continent.” Speakers on the night include ABC News Breakfast’s weather presenter, meteorologist Nate Byrne; Museums Victoria’s senior curator of vertebrate zoology, Dr Dianne Bray; as well as Earth scientist Dr Kate Selway.
If you can’t attend the opening night, visit Parliament of Victoria to see, hear, smell, taste and feel Extrasensory. A Saturday night event combining performance, storytelling and experiment, it’s recommended for a 16+ audience.
Regional scientists needn’t miss out, National Science Week invites participation outside the city too. Consider Family Science Games Night at Deakin University in Warrnambool.
Something more outdoorsy? Perhaps a spot of frog calling, water bug identification or koala spotting? Head towards the Mornington Peninsula to meet NASA geobiologist, Dr Darlene Lim at Coolart Wetlands and Homestead in Somers for Science in the Park, hopefully featuring all of the above, and much more.
Explore the full program of events
