National Science week is a celebration of science for our schools as well as our communities. There are many educational activities for school groups that overlap with the community programs.
School theme for 2023
The school theme for National Science Week in 2023 is Innovation: Powering Future Industries. The theme will incorporate the advancement in technology in all industries, especially using artificial intelligence (AI).
Sydney Science Trail is week-long science festival presented by the Australian Museum and the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. It celebrates National Science Week with a jam-packed program of excursions for primary and secondary students, featuring talks by scientists, science shows, interactive workshops and the ever-popular science Expo. It includes a day dedicated to diverse learners.
Limited places left, so book soon!
Dates: 14 – 18 August Locations: Australian Museum and Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney More information Bookings
SCIFEST 2023
Virtual Excursions are the leading online providers of science and technology content for our education sector, including those who are home schooling. The program this year is another stellar line up of collaborations with leading STEM education providers from across the state, and best of all it is free and open to all. Browse the program below or here, and click through to register online.
Taronga Conservation Society are offering design thinking skills for primary and high schools student at both Taronga Zoo and Western Plains Zoo, as well as a digital event. Students will hear presentations from scientists and keepers about one of Taronga’s legacy species, the regent honeyeater, and will then develop their own prototype harness.
For the first time during National Science Week, TIPIAC, a First Nations education business based in northwest NSW, presents a series of live online seminars on First Nations Knowledge designed for teachers, but also open to the community. Register to access the online event.
Understanding the Importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dreaming Narratives and Links to Astronomy
With Duane Hamacher FRAS, Associate Professor of Cultural Astronomy in the ARC Centre of Excellence in All-Sky Astrophysics in 3-Dimensions (ASTRO 3D) and the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne, and author of The First Astronomers: how Indigenous Elders read the stars. Date: Monday 14 August
Can Artificial Intelligence or Blockchain Help Preserve First Nations Knowledges?
With Justin Stankovic, a proud Gunai Kurnai man of the Palawa nation who has a passion for education and technology and has experience working with open-source home automation, artificial intelligence models, and blockchain technologies. Date: Tuesday 15 August More information
Understanding Scientific Knowledge and Sustainable Practices for Gathering Bush Tucker and Medicines
With Aboriginal cultural knowledge holder and expert in bush tucker, Uncle Bruce Morgan, a proud Batjala man from Queensland, and founder of Murri Tukka. Date: Wednesday 16 August More information
How Can First Nations Innovation and Invention Knowledge Contribute to the Sustainability of Future Industries?
With Alex Ibarra, a proud Aboriginal man who has extensive experience working in community development, education, conservation and environmental services on how First Nations knowledges can contribute to the sustainability of future industries. Date: Friday 18 August More information
The Physics and Chemistry of First Nations Innovations and Inventions
With Joshua Sly, the founder of an Aboriginal business Wambuul Woodworks where he creates tools and weapons as well as educates school students and teachers about this ancient practice. Date: Saturday 19 August More information
Dr Karl Fire-Ed Up Q And A
Dr Karl is teaming up with the Chief Scientist & Engineer’s ‘Fire-Ed Up’ program for this enlightening webinar, casting a spotlight on the role of Science and Technology in bolstering our defenses against bushfires amidst the escalating risks posed by climate change. Date: Monday 14 August More information
SCINEMA 2023 International Science Film Festival SCINEMA is the largest science film festival in the southern hemisphere. Registration and viewing the films is free. You can watch the films anytime in August, as many times as you like. You can also show the films at your school in either smaller class groups or to the whole school community. More information and bookings
The Grand Challenge: Igniting the Future of Renewable Fuel Year 9-10 students will spend a day learning about a real-life global problem, and brainstorm, develop and pitch their own solutions to their peers and STEM experts for a chance to win cash prizes. The grand challenge this year is hydrogen. Does it hold the key to unlocking a sustainable future? Date: Wednesday 16 August, 8.45am to 2.45pm Location: University of Sydney, Abercrombie Building (H70), Darlington NSW 2008 More information
Sydney Science Festival
The Powerhouse’s 2023 Sydney Science Festival offers multiple opportunities for schools to get involved in National Science Week this year.
Educator Led Tour: Atmospheric Memory and the weather An educator-led visit to the exhibition Atmospheric Memory will explore Babbage’s visionary ideas of computing, data and memory, and examine some of the instruments that have been used to record atmospheric memories at Sydney Observatory since 1858. For Primary students. Dates: 15–18 August 2023, 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm. 45-minute sessions More information
Educator Led: Forces and Nature Using constructionist approaches from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, students will explore known and unknown elements of science and design while investigating energy, forces and history. For Primary students. Dates: 15–18 August 2023, 10am, 11am, 12pm. 45 minute sessions More information
Young Creators Conference Meet the next generation of scientists, designers and innovators as they share their experiments and test their ideas at the Young Creators Conference (YCC). The event is open to young people in Stages 1–6. Date: Monday 14 August, 10am to 1pm. More information Location: Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris St, Ultimo NSW 2007
Exploring Space: Video Conference In teams, learners will work in a coding unplugged game with Scratch as they look at how robots learn to explore hostile worlds such as Mars. Dates: 16–18 August 2023, 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm. 50 minute sessions Location: online More information
Climate Solutions An educational webinar series exclusively for schools as part of the 100 Climate Conversations exhibition. Each free 30-minute webinar features an Australian change-maker sharing their ideas for climate solutions – including advice for students on how they can make a difference. Date: On demand through DART Learning More information
Arludo Science Week
Arludo aims to make teaching science simple and fun for all students, no matter where they are. For 2023 National Science Week three of their specially recruited science communicator Ambassadors will provide free, short and online lunch time talks on their science to inspire young people.
Tuesday 15 August Marine Science with marine biologist Vinuri Silav.
Wednesday 16 Aug Bird Brains with behavioural ecologist Lizzie Speechly.
Thursday 17 August Spider Science with biologist Anastasia Shavrova.
Monday 14 August
Across three 45min sessions Arludo Game Designers and Arludo Science Communicators will battle it out to see who can design the best science game. These sessions will feature discussions of the game design process, fun science facts and Q&A sessions with our Arludo scientists. Students can even pick a team and help out with the design by voting on what the designers do next. More information and bookings
Westmead Institute of Medical Research
As part of Sydney Science Festival, the Westmead Institute of Medical research has a great day time program of talks open to all, including groups of high school students. All talks are hosted by Nina Earl, a curator and science communicator at Powerhouse Museum.
Mapping the Human Brain Researcher and postdoctoral fellow at the Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Dr Isabella Breukelaaris, shares advancements in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore how brain regions work collectively in order to shed new light on the working of our brains Date: Tuesday 15 August, 9.30 to 10.30am More information
Cell Therapy Dr Kenneth Micklethwaite is a haematologist working in the fields of bone marrow transplant and cell and gene therapy. He will outline the current state of the field of cell therapy innovation in Australia — particularly in the field of modified immune cells — and present new developments in cellular therapy for the full range of human disease. Date: Tuesday 15 August, 11am to 12pm More information
Understanding Alzheimer’s Dr Caitlin Finney, a neuroscientist and researcher in the Neuroinflammation Research group at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) where she is currently studying the role of genetic errors, or mutations, in the development of Alzheimer. Dr Finney will share her research into Alzheimer’s using a combination of machine-learning models and stem cells turned into 3D models. Date: Tuesday 15 August, 12.30 to 1.30pm More information
Location: Westmead Institute for Medical Research, 176 Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead NSW 2145.
More schools events will be added to this page as programs are announced.
National Science week is a celebration of science for our schools as well as our communities. There are many educational activities for school groups that overlap with the community programs.
School theme for 2023
The school theme for National Science Week in 2023 is Innovation: Powering Future Industries. The theme will incorporate the advancement in technology in all industries, especially using artificial intelligence (AI).
More information and resources for schools.
Highlights
These are just some of the National Science Week activities available for NSW schools and home schooled children. Browse the National Science website for more.
Sydney Science Trail
Sydney Science Trail is week-long science festival presented by the Australian Museum and the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. It celebrates National Science Week with a jam-packed program of excursions for primary and secondary students, featuring talks by scientists, science shows, interactive workshops and the ever-popular science Expo. It includes a day dedicated to diverse learners.
Limited places left, so book soon!
Dates: 14 – 18 August
Locations: Australian Museum and Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
More information
Bookings
SCIFEST 2023
Virtual Excursions are the leading online providers of science and technology content for our education sector, including those who are home schooling. The program this year is another stellar line up of collaborations with leading STEM education providers from across the state, and best of all it is free and open to all. Browse the program below or here, and click through to register online.
Design Thinking for Conservation
Taronga Conservation Society are offering design thinking skills for primary and high schools student at both Taronga Zoo and Western Plains Zoo, as well as a digital event. Students will hear presentations from scientists and keepers about one of Taronga’s legacy species, the regent honeyeater, and will then develop their own prototype harness.
Dates: Monday 14 August and Friday 18 August, 10am to 2pm
Locations and more information: Taronga Zoo Mosman and Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo.
TIPIAC Education
For the first time during National Science Week, TIPIAC, a First Nations education business based in northwest NSW, presents a series of live online seminars on First Nations Knowledge designed for teachers, but also open to the community. Register to access the online event.
Understanding the Importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dreaming Narratives and Links to Astronomy
With Duane Hamacher FRAS, Associate Professor of Cultural Astronomy in the ARC Centre of Excellence in All-Sky Astrophysics in 3-Dimensions (ASTRO 3D) and the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne, and author of The First Astronomers: how Indigenous Elders read the stars.
Date: Monday 14 August
More information and bookings
Can Artificial Intelligence or Blockchain Help Preserve First Nations Knowledges?
With Justin Stankovic, a proud Gunai Kurnai man of the Palawa nation who has a passion for education and technology and has experience working with open-source home automation, artificial intelligence models, and blockchain technologies.
Date: Tuesday 15 August
More information
Understanding Scientific Knowledge and Sustainable Practices for Gathering Bush Tucker and Medicines
With Aboriginal cultural knowledge holder and expert in bush tucker, Uncle Bruce Morgan, a proud Batjala man from Queensland, and founder of Murri Tukka.
Date: Wednesday 16 August
More information
How Can First Nations Innovation and Invention Knowledge Contribute to the Sustainability of Future Industries?
With Alex Ibarra, a proud Aboriginal man who has extensive experience working in community development, education, conservation and environmental services on how First Nations knowledges can contribute to the sustainability of future industries.
Date: Friday 18 August
More information
The Physics and Chemistry of First Nations Innovations and Inventions
With Joshua Sly, the founder of an Aboriginal business Wambuul Woodworks where he creates tools and weapons as well as educates school students and teachers about this ancient practice.
Date: Saturday 19 August
More information
Dr Karl Fire-Ed Up Q And A
Dr Karl is teaming up with the Chief Scientist & Engineer’s ‘Fire-Ed Up’ program for this enlightening webinar, casting a spotlight on the role of Science and Technology in bolstering our defenses against bushfires amidst the escalating risks posed by climate change.
Date: Monday 14 August
More information
SCINEMA 2023 International Science Film Festival
SCINEMA is the largest science film festival in the southern hemisphere. Registration and viewing the films is free. You can watch the films anytime in August, as many times as you like. You can also show the films at your school in either smaller class groups or to the whole school community.
More information and bookings
The Grand Challenge: Igniting the Future of Renewable Fuel
Year 9-10 students will spend a day learning about a real-life global problem, and brainstorm, develop and pitch their own solutions to their peers and STEM experts for a chance to win cash prizes. The grand challenge this year is hydrogen. Does it hold the key to unlocking a sustainable future?
Date: Wednesday 16 August, 8.45am to 2.45pm
Location: University of Sydney, Abercrombie Building (H70), Darlington NSW 2008
More information
Sydney Science Festival
The Powerhouse’s 2023 Sydney Science Festival offers multiple opportunities for schools to get involved in National Science Week this year.
Educator Led Tour: Atmospheric Memory and the weather
An educator-led visit to the exhibition Atmospheric Memory will explore Babbage’s visionary ideas of computing, data and memory, and examine some of the instruments that have been used to record atmospheric memories at Sydney Observatory since 1858. For Primary students.
Dates: 15–18 August 2023, 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm. 45-minute sessions
More information
Educator Led: Forces and Nature
Using constructionist approaches from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, students will explore known and unknown elements of science and design while investigating energy, forces and history. For Primary students.
Dates: 15–18 August 2023, 10am, 11am, 12pm. 45 minute sessions
More information
Young Creators Conference
Meet the next generation of scientists, designers and innovators as they share their experiments and test their ideas at the Young Creators Conference (YCC). The event is open to young people in Stages 1–6.
Date: Monday 14 August, 10am to 1pm.
More information
Location: Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris St, Ultimo NSW 2007
Exploring Space: Video Conference
In teams, learners will work in a coding unplugged game with Scratch as they look at how robots learn to explore hostile worlds such as Mars.
Dates: 16–18 August 2023, 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm. 50 minute sessions
Location: online
More information
Climate Solutions
An educational webinar series exclusively for schools as part of the 100 Climate Conversations exhibition. Each free 30-minute webinar features an Australian change-maker sharing their ideas for climate solutions – including advice for students on how they can make a difference.
Date: On demand through DART Learning
More information
Arludo Science Week
Arludo aims to make teaching science simple and fun for all students, no matter where they are. For 2023 National Science Week three of their specially recruited science communicator Ambassadors will provide free, short and online lunch time talks on their science to inspire young people.
Tuesday 15 August
Marine Science with marine biologist Vinuri Silav.
Wednesday 16 Aug
Bird Brains with behavioural ecologist Lizzie Speechly.
Thursday 17 August
Spider Science with biologist Anastasia Shavrova.
Monday 14 August
Across three 45min sessions Arludo Game Designers and Arludo Science Communicators will battle it out to see who can design the best science game. These sessions will feature discussions of the game design process, fun science facts and Q&A sessions with our Arludo scientists. Students can even pick a team and help out with the design by voting on what the designers do next.
More information and bookings
Westmead Institute of Medical Research
As part of Sydney Science Festival, the Westmead Institute of Medical research has a great day time program of talks open to all, including groups of high school students. All talks are hosted by Nina Earl, a curator and science communicator at Powerhouse Museum.
Mapping the Human Brain
Researcher and postdoctoral fellow at the Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Dr Isabella Breukelaaris, shares advancements in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore how brain regions work collectively in order to shed new light on the working of our brains
Date: Tuesday 15 August, 9.30 to 10.30am
More information
Cell Therapy
Dr Kenneth Micklethwaite is a haematologist working in the fields of bone marrow transplant and cell and gene therapy. He will outline the current state of the field of cell therapy innovation in Australia — particularly in the field of modified immune cells — and present new developments in cellular therapy for the full range of human disease.
Date: Tuesday 15 August, 11am to 12pm
More information
Understanding Alzheimer’s
Dr Caitlin Finney, a neuroscientist and researcher in the Neuroinflammation Research group at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) where she is currently studying the role of genetic errors, or mutations, in the development of Alzheimer. Dr Finney will share her research into Alzheimer’s using a combination of machine-learning models and stem cells turned into 3D models.
Date: Tuesday 15 August, 12.30 to 1.30pm
More information
Location: Westmead Institute for Medical Research, 176 Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead NSW 2145.
More schools events will be added to this page as programs are announced.
Feature image: from SciFest2023 excursion options
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