Hosting a National Science Week program at your library

Makers space at Darling Square

We are always delighted to see how libraries throughout NSW embrace National Science Week as an opportunity to provide engaging activities for children and adults. If you are not sure where to start, Inspiring Australia NSW has some great ideas about how you can celebrate National Science Week in your Library.

There are different ways you can get your local community involved in National Science Week between 10 – 18 August. Your participation can be as simple as a display in the library, or a whole a science fair.

A National Science Week event should:

  • be fun for the participants
  • be focused on quality science outcomes
  • encourage the participants to want to try more science
  • raise the general profile of science within the community

Here are some ideas!

Science Fair – Evening

  • Invite local scientists or engineers to speak
  • Have science displays from the local schools
  • Highlight specific science books
  • Have hands on activities

Quiz and Trivia

Run your own Trivia or join one of the FREE online trivia sessions below

    • Mon 12 at 1pm                    Biology TriviaTues 13 at 1pm                   Ocean Life TriviaWed 14 at 1pm                   Australian Animal TriviaThurs 15 at 1pm                 Plant Life Trivia
    • Fri 16 at 1pm                       Environment Trivia

  • Join the 2024 National Science Quiz!

After School Activities

  • There are 4pm Live online science sessions for SciFest 2024 between Monday 12 and Friday 16 August. You can register for these sessions and watch and interact with the live program from your library.

  • Host an afternoon STEM club with some of the DIY Science activities or Science Challenges.

DIY Science

These DIY Science projects are great options to engage people of all ages in STEM. Try these as demonstrations or let participants have a try. The experiments demonstrate that science is fun and applicable to many areas of everyday life. https://www.scienceweek.net.au/diy-science/

Science Challenges

  • Bridge Building Competition
    • The challenge is to build a bridge to span 40cm to carry a matchbox car using straws or uncooked spaghetti and tape.
  • Build a Catapult
    • The challenge is to build a catapult that can send a ping pong ball or pom-pom the furthest using rubber bands and paddle pop sticks.

Try a theme

The school theme for National Science Week in 2024 is Species Survival – More than just sustainability. The theme aims to highlight the importance of science and innovation in ensuring the survival and thriving of different species in an ever-changing world. There is a huge variety of topics to investigate with this theme.

Please reach out and contact us it you want more ideas or suggestions on how you can celebrate National Science Week 2024.


Feature image: Darling Square Makers Space © City of Sydney

Inspiring Australia NSW logo lockup