The Inspiring Australia NSW Executive Committee is delighted to announce the 19 successful recipients of grants from Inspiring Australia NSW. National Science Week 2025 will bring science to life across New South Wales, with events happening in cities, towns, and regional communities.
In the Bega Valley, families can explore interactive science stations and talks at the local library, while in Shoalhaven, an ecology symposium will uncover the hidden worlds of fungi, aquatic systems, and pollinators. Western Sydney will host inclusive, hands-on science days, including events tailored for migrant and refugee families. In Ryde, children can come face to face with dinosaurs, dig for fossils, and learn from palaeontologists. Newcastle will showcase electric vehicles, live science performances, and talks from emerging researchers. Further inland, a multi-day gathering on Wiradjuri Country will combine Indigenous and Western knowledge to explore biodiversity, renewable energy, and regenerative land management.
In the north of the state, events in Armidale will include bushwalks, wildlife spotlighting, and community races, while young people in the Hawkesbury will lead workshops focused on sustainability and climate resilience. In Bankstown and Rhodes, families will take part in STEM activities that celebrate community, curiosity, and culture. Sydney will host a variety of public engagement programs, including outdoor science talks, evening shows for adults, and a musical performance using DNA sequences as a creative medium. Marine science will be on display at an after-hours event in the city’s aquarium, and people across the state will be able to join the fun from home through a virtual festival offering science shows, storytime, quizzes, and career panels.
Science Fun Day at Bega Library
Discover how to extract the DNA from strawberries, have a go at collaborative gaming and digital drawing, find out about nesting boxes from Bega Valley Shire Council’s environment team, chat to members of the Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness group, delve into robotics with Ozobots or take a robotic lunar rover on a moon mission. Plus, talks from renowned botanist, David Jones on native orchids and from Australian National University medical students.
With interactive activity stations and talks for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, delve into a range of scientific pursuits – from medicine to environment, from technology and robotics to biology and botany.
Blacktown Community Science Fun Day: Inspiring the Next Generation ofInnovators
Blacktown Community Science Fun Day – Inspiring Curiosity, Celebrating Innovation. An interactive event to spark curiosity through hands-on STEAM workshops, live exhibits, and career talks—celebrating science, creativity, and inclusion while empowering diverse young minds to explore, imagine, and shape the future through innovation and discovery.
Into the Deep: Science today, for our oceans tomorrow
Hosted after-hours at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, this inspiring event will connect high school students, early-career researchers, and the wider community with marine scientists, conservation leaders, local universities and Traditional Knowledge holders. Through interactive science stations, hands-on demonstrations, and a Women in STEM panel, guests will explore cutting-edge projects from SIMS and SEA LIFE, as well as gain a deeper understanding of the vast career paths and opportunities that exist in the marine science and conservation space. This immersive experience celebrates both science and story, highlighting how collaboration, culture, and curiosity are shaping a more resilient ocean future.
6 – 9pm on Thursday 14 August at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
This Science Week, City of Ryde libraries is “Digging Up Ryde”! Our community will have a roaring good time coming face to face with reptiles and dinosaurs in our reptile show, virtual dino safaris and animatronic dino party. We’ll also be digging up fossils and learning what it’s like to be a palaeontologist from Macquarie University researcher Sally Hurst.
ERTHWRX25 – Celebrating science, environment, arts and culture
Celebrating a decade of programming, ERTHWRX25 will present a 10-year retrospective of science, arts and cultural initiatives that have explored regional environmental knowledge systems through both Indigenous and Western scientific perspectives.
Live panels, exhibitions, and workshops will feature leading experts and creatives in science, environment, and the arts, offering dynamic discussions and interactive experiences.
10am – 4pm on Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 Augustat the Corridor Project Wyangala (Cowra area) NSW
Join this peer reviewed and interactive gossip session with science experts answering the questions you desperately want to know about the science and pseudoscience of the health and science world but can’t be bothered to lookup. Does this device actually enhance my skincare routine? Can I life hack my way to better sleep? Is my social media feed messing with my mind? No topic is off the table – we’ll help you separate trends from truth. We are grappling with more trends and fads than ever before as we click, scroll, and swipe our way through our daily lives. But we don’t often get the time to properly ‘do our own research’ to make informed decisions. That’s where peer-reviewed gossip comes in. Our panel of credible gossips Lee Constable, Dr. Naomi Koh Belic, and Elfy Scott have trawled through the peer reviewed articles, talked to researchers, and done the hard yards to dish up their juicy findings as they spill the well-cited tea.
7:00pm – 8:30pm on Wednesday 13 August at the Vanguard
Bundanon’s Science Week Symposium returns in 2025 with an engaging day of talks, displays, and immersive experiences exploring the often-overlooked elements of the Shoalhaven ecosystem. With presentations from 15–20 leading voices in STEM—alongside artists and First Nations custodians—the event will uncover the intricate worlds of micro fungi, aquatic systems, pollinators, threatened species, and more.
Held in the Boyd Education Centre Hall and Forecourt, the symposium includes lunch, afternoon tea, and access to exhibitions. Optional guided birdwatching walks and cultural bushwalks offer deeper engagement with the landscape.
Get ready for a jam-packed day of science fun at the Hunter Science Festival during National Science Week 2025! Experience hands-on activities for all ages, including building and racing solar cars and boats, exploring the HMRI Poo Palace, climbing aboard a real garbage truck, and discovering your environmental footprint.
Enjoy science shows, meet local scientists, and take part in interactive exhibits from organisations like Hunter Water, Irukanji Shark & Ray Centre, Hunter Astronomical Society, and many more. Relax with LEGO®, grab a free plant, and refuel with tasty treats from the BBQ or KT Bakes Cakes. Bring the family, your curiosity, and a picnic for an unforgettable day on the Museum Lawn!
10:00am – 2:00pm on Sunday 17 August at the Newcastle Museum
Dr. Amelie Vanderstock presents an engaging blend of ecology and musical theatre, exploring native bee communication, ultraviolet vision, and their ecological roles. The program includes interactive shows, talks, and hands-on workshops for all ages.
The Hidden Language of Plants and Pollinators Talk: uncover how plants and pollinators communicate through colour, scent, and ultraviolet signals.
The Bee-rilliant Bee Musical: a playful, musical celebration of bees, pollination, and the magic of nature. Combining science, theatre, and hands-on fun, this interactive show invites families to sing, dance, and create insect art from fruit, veg, and origami.
PARA Science Family Fun Day is designed especially for families supported by PARA, a community organisation set up to assist Palestinian migrants and refugees to arrive and settle in Australia. Our science family fun day is a hands-on event that invites the PARA community (children of all ages and their grown-ups!) to explore science and engineering through engaging, bilingual STEM activities. From making slime to extracting DNA from strawberries, participants will learn by doing at stations led by scientists and science communicators. Free take-home science kits and books will keep the fun going beyond the day. This event celebrates curiosity, community, and the exciting world of STEM.
Re-Gen Z Science – Western Sydney University
Re-Gen Z Science is a week of interactive activities designed to inspire young changemakers through hands-on learning about sustainability. Explore water management, soil care, plant pollination, ecosystem restoration, and regenerative agriculture with expert-led sessions and demonstrations.
The program includes two days on a demonstration farm and sessions at Western Sydney University, with panels, discussions, and a design challenge focused on solving real-world challenges in the Hawkesbury, using cutting-edge tools like GIS and AI.
10:00am – 2:30pm on Monday 11 – Friday 15 August at Western Sydney University Richmond
Rhodes Science Fair is a fun-filled and free family event that celebrates science through interactive play, discovery and engagement with real-world experiments. In 2025 there will be a range of activities and presentations that invite families to explore patterns in nature, hidden systems in technology and dive into First Nations knowledge and storytelling that reveal deeper understandings of our world.
Presentations and activities will be provided this year by the wonderful Fizzics Education, Koori Kinnections, Children’s Discovery and are sure to spark scientific curiosity and inspire inquisitive minds.
10am – 2 pm on Saturday 9 August at The Connection, Rhodes
Science After Dark is a dynamic five night science festival packed with engaging formats and thought provoking topics. From candid interviews and audience Q&As with top scientists, to improvised theatre inspired by cutting edge research, to an interactive science quiz showdown. Witness a spirited debate on whether quantum or biological advances will shape our future, and explore the edgier side of science with taboo-breaking talks on AI, addiction, and more.
Science After Dark is aimed at adults to help connect science professionals with the general public. Activities will take place across Sydney during National Science Week. Science has never been this entertaining!
7 – 8:30pm on Monday 11 – Friday 15 August
SciFest 2025
SciFest 2025 is a vibrant celebration of science, ensuring equitable access by offering its programs online through a series of virtual events. The festival presents a comprehensive lineup of 15 live events, designed to inspire and empower participants to engage with science long-term. These virtual events are available to audiences across NSW. Scheduled from Monday, August 11 to Friday, August 15, the virtual events are designed to reach a wide variety of audiences, including families, children, youth, and seniors. The interactive programs include Science Story Time, Lunchtime Trivia, Science Shows, and a Careers in STEM panels.
11am, 1pm & 2pm on Monday 11 – Friday 15 August Online
Science Week New England consists of 3 events across Armidale including Science @ the Markets & Imagination Playground and the Amazing Science Race on Sunday 10 August. The Discovery Walk & Nature Spotlighting is on Friday 15 August and you can join experts for a guided bushwalk followed by evening spotlighting to discover nocturnal wildlife.
Soapbox Science Sydney 2025
Amplifying the Voices of Women and Non-Binary Scientists: celebrating the inspiring women and non-binary leaders changing the face of STEM and helping shape a brighter, more equitable future. In 2025, Soapbox Science Sydney will continue to provide a platform where inclusion and accessibility are at the core, breaking down barriers between researchers and the public and making science approachable, relatable, and fun.
This exciting public engagement event transforms a busy outdoor space into a dynamic, interactive learning environment where women and non-binary scientists share their research and passion for STEM directly with the community. Soapbox Science Sydney, proudly delivered by STEM Sisters, will return in 2025 as part of National Science Week.
Music compositions and performance made from artificial DNA sequences is a one-of-a-kind evening where art and science converge. This live performance transforms edited DNA sequences into dynamic musical compositions.
Visual projections of the DNA sequences accompany the performance, offering a multi-sensory exploration of genetic code as music. Experience the frontier of generative composition and bio-sonification in an innovative blend of sound, science, and storytelling.
7 – 8.30pm on Tuesday 12 August at Sydney Opera House
Science in the Scrub is a FREE family fun day out at Western Sydney Parklands. The Lizard Log will transform into a pop−up village of scientific wonder this National Science Week, with live science shows, hands−on experiments, native animals and many stalls to explore.
Sydney Science Trail Community Days
Join us for a family-friendly science festival at the Australian Museum on Saturday 9 August as we kick off National Science Week. Explore the famous Sydney Science Trail Expo full of interactive stalls where you can meet scientists and get up close to science and technology – it’s a kids STEM bonanza!
Adventure to the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan on Saturday 16 August for a free interactive program of science talks, nature experiences and hands-on activities.
These grants are in addition to the grants from the Commonwealth for 2025 National Science Week activity.
National Science Week is the time to celebrate our scientists and scientific achievement in NSW, foster an interest in science in the next generation, connect communities with research that matters to them, and feed the natural curiosity and wonder for the world in us all.
No matter where you are in NSW, there’s a way to get involved, be inspired, and discover the impact of science in everyday life. For a comprehensive list of events happening across NSW and Australia visit the official National Science Week website: scienceweek.net.au
The Inspiring Australia NSW Executive Committee is delighted to announce the 19 successful recipients of grants from Inspiring Australia NSW. National Science Week 2025 will bring science to life across New South Wales, with events happening in cities, towns, and regional communities.
In the Bega Valley, families can explore interactive science stations and talks at the local library, while in Shoalhaven, an ecology symposium will uncover the hidden worlds of fungi, aquatic systems, and pollinators. Western Sydney will host inclusive, hands-on science days, including events tailored for migrant and refugee families. In Ryde, children can come face to face with dinosaurs, dig for fossils, and learn from palaeontologists. Newcastle will showcase electric vehicles, live science performances, and talks from emerging researchers. Further inland, a multi-day gathering on Wiradjuri Country will combine Indigenous and Western knowledge to explore biodiversity, renewable energy, and regenerative land management.
In the north of the state, events in Armidale will include bushwalks, wildlife spotlighting, and community races, while young people in the Hawkesbury will lead workshops focused on sustainability and climate resilience. In Bankstown and Rhodes, families will take part in STEM activities that celebrate community, curiosity, and culture. Sydney will host a variety of public engagement programs, including outdoor science talks, evening shows for adults, and a musical performance using DNA sequences as a creative medium. Marine science will be on display at an after-hours event in the city’s aquarium, and people across the state will be able to join the fun from home through a virtual festival offering science shows, storytime, quizzes, and career panels.
Science Fun Day at Bega Library
Discover how to extract the DNA from strawberries, have a go at collaborative gaming and digital drawing, find out about nesting boxes from Bega Valley Shire Council’s environment team, chat to members of the Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness group, delve into robotics with Ozobots or take a robotic lunar rover on a moon mission. Plus, talks from renowned botanist, David Jones on native orchids and from Australian National University medical students.
With interactive activity stations and talks for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, delve into a range of scientific pursuits – from medicine to environment, from technology and robotics to biology and botany.
10am – 1pm on Saturday 16 August at Bega Library
Blacktown Community Science Fun Day: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators
Blacktown Community Science Fun Day – Inspiring Curiosity, Celebrating Innovation. An interactive event to spark curiosity through hands-on STEAM workshops, live exhibits, and career talks—celebrating science, creativity, and inclusion while empowering diverse young minds to explore, imagine, and shape the future through innovation and discovery.
10am – 12pm on Wednesday 16 July at Blacktown
Into the Deep: Science today, for our oceans tomorrow
Hosted after-hours at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, this inspiring event will connect high school students, early-career researchers, and the wider community with marine scientists, conservation leaders, local universities and Traditional Knowledge holders. Through interactive science stations, hands-on demonstrations, and a Women in STEM panel, guests will explore cutting-edge projects from SIMS and SEA LIFE, as well as gain a deeper understanding of the vast career paths and opportunities that exist in the marine science and conservation space. This immersive experience celebrates both science and story, highlighting how collaboration, culture, and curiosity are shaping a more resilient ocean future.
6 – 9pm on Thursday 14 August at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
Digging Up Ryde
This Science Week, City of Ryde libraries is “Digging Up Ryde”! Our community will have a roaring good time coming face to face with reptiles and dinosaurs in our reptile show, virtual dino safaris and animatronic dino party. We’ll also be digging up fossils and learning what it’s like to be a palaeontologist from Macquarie University researcher Sally Hurst.
Saturday 9 – Saturday 16 August at Ryde Library
ERTHWRX25 – Celebrating science, environment, arts and culture
Celebrating a decade of programming, ERTHWRX25 will present a 10-year retrospective of science, arts and cultural initiatives that have explored regional environmental knowledge systems through both Indigenous and Western scientific perspectives.
Live panels, exhibitions, and workshops will feature leading experts and creatives in science, environment, and the arts, offering dynamic discussions and interactive experiences.
10am – 4pm on Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 August at the Corridor Project Wyangala (Cowra area) NSW
Gossip: Trend or Truth?
Join this peer reviewed and interactive gossip session with science experts answering the questions you desperately want to know about the science and pseudoscience of the health and science world but can’t be bothered to lookup. Does this device actually enhance my skincare routine? Can I life hack my way to better sleep? Is my social media feed messing with my mind? No topic is off the table – we’ll help you separate trends from truth. We are grappling with more trends and fads than ever before as we click, scroll, and swipe our way through our daily lives. But we don’t often get the time to properly ‘do our own research’ to make informed decisions. That’s where peer-reviewed gossip comes in. Our panel of credible gossips Lee Constable, Dr. Naomi Koh Belic, and Elfy Scott have trawled through the peer reviewed articles, talked to researchers, and done the hard yards to dish up their juicy findings as they spill the well-cited tea.
7:00pm – 8:30pm on Wednesday 13 August at the Vanguard
Hidden messages from the Shoalhaven’s Ecologies
Bundanon’s Science Week Symposium returns in 2025 with an engaging day of talks, displays, and immersive experiences exploring the often-overlooked elements of the Shoalhaven ecosystem. With presentations from 15–20 leading voices in STEM—alongside artists and First Nations custodians—the event will uncover the intricate worlds of micro fungi, aquatic systems, pollinators, threatened species, and more.
Held in the Boyd Education Centre Hall and Forecourt, the symposium includes lunch, afternoon tea, and access to exhibitions. Optional guided birdwatching walks and cultural bushwalks offer deeper engagement with the landscape.
10am – 3pm on Friday 15 August at Bundanon
Hunter Science Festival 2025
Get ready for a jam-packed day of science fun at the Hunter Science Festival during National Science Week 2025! Experience hands-on activities for all ages, including building and racing solar cars and boats, exploring the HMRI Poo Palace, climbing aboard a real garbage truck, and discovering your environmental footprint.
Enjoy science shows, meet local scientists, and take part in interactive exhibits from organisations like Hunter Water, Irukanji Shark & Ray Centre, Hunter Astronomical Society, and many more. Relax with LEGO®, grab a free plant, and refuel with tasty treats from the BBQ or KT Bakes Cakes. Bring the family, your curiosity, and a picnic for an unforgettable day on the Museum Lawn!
10:00am – 2:00pm on Sunday 17 August at the Newcastle Museum
Hidden Language of Native Bees: Blackheath
Dr. Amelie Vanderstock presents an engaging blend of ecology and musical theatre, exploring native bee communication, ultraviolet vision, and their ecological roles. The program includes interactive shows, talks, and hands-on workshops for all ages.
The Hidden Language of Plants and Pollinators Talk: uncover how plants and pollinators communicate through colour, scent, and ultraviolet signals.
5.30- 6.30pm on Thursday 14 August at Bates Hall, Blackheath
The Bee-rilliant Bee Musical: a playful, musical celebration of bees, pollination, and the magic of nature. Combining science, theatre, and hands-on fun, this interactive show invites families to sing, dance, and create insect art from fruit, veg, and origami.
1 – 2pm on Saturday 16 August at Blackheath Presbyterian Church Hall
See like a bee in UV!: a fun, hands-on workshop on how native bees see the world, communicate through dance, and help our environment.
10 – 11am on Saturday 16 August at Bates Hall Blackheath
PARA Science Family Fun Day
PARA Science Family Fun Day is designed especially for families supported by PARA, a community organisation set up to assist Palestinian migrants and refugees to arrive and settle in Australia. Our science family fun day is a hands-on event that invites the PARA community (children of all ages and their grown-ups!) to explore science and engineering through engaging, bilingual STEM activities. From making slime to extracting DNA from strawberries, participants will learn by doing at stations led by scientists and science communicators. Free take-home science kits and books will keep the fun going beyond the day. This event celebrates curiosity, community, and the exciting world of STEM.
Re-Gen Z Science – Western Sydney University
Re-Gen Z Science is a week of interactive activities designed to inspire young changemakers through hands-on learning about sustainability. Explore water management, soil care, plant pollination, ecosystem restoration, and regenerative agriculture with expert-led sessions and demonstrations.
The program includes two days on a demonstration farm and sessions at Western Sydney University, with panels, discussions, and a design challenge focused on solving real-world challenges in the Hawkesbury, using cutting-edge tools like GIS and AI.
10:00am – 2:30pm on Monday 11 – Friday 15 August at Western Sydney University Richmond
Rhodes Science Fair 2025
Rhodes Science Fair is a fun-filled and free family event that celebrates science through interactive play, discovery and engagement with real-world experiments. In 2025 there will be a range of activities and presentations that invite families to explore patterns in nature, hidden systems in technology and dive into First Nations knowledge and storytelling that reveal deeper understandings of our world.
Presentations and activities will be provided this year by the wonderful Fizzics Education, Koori Kinnections, Children’s Discovery and are sure to spark scientific curiosity and inspire inquisitive minds.
10am – 2 pm on Saturday 9 August at The Connection, Rhodes
Science Talks After Dark
Science After Dark is a dynamic five night science festival packed with engaging formats and thought provoking topics. From candid interviews and audience Q&As with top scientists, to improvised theatre inspired by cutting edge research, to an interactive science quiz showdown. Witness a spirited debate on whether quantum or biological advances will shape our future, and explore the edgier side of science with taboo-breaking talks on AI, addiction, and more.
Science After Dark is aimed at adults to help connect science professionals with the general public. Activities will take place across Sydney during National Science Week. Science has never been this entertaining!
7 – 8:30pm on Monday 11 – Friday 15 August
SciFest 2025
SciFest 2025 is a vibrant celebration of science, ensuring equitable access by offering its programs online through a series of virtual events. The festival presents a comprehensive lineup of 15 live events, designed to inspire and empower participants to engage with science long-term. These virtual events are available to audiences across NSW. Scheduled from Monday, August 11 to Friday, August 15, the virtual events are designed to reach a wide variety of audiences, including families, children, youth, and seniors. The interactive programs include Science Story Time, Lunchtime Trivia, Science Shows, and a Careers in STEM panels.
11am, 1pm & 2pm on Monday 11 – Friday 15 August Online
Science Week New England
Science Week New England consists of 3 events across Armidale including Science @ the Markets & Imagination Playground and the Amazing Science Race on Sunday 10 August. The Discovery Walk & Nature Spotlighting is on Friday 15 August and you can join experts for a guided bushwalk followed by evening spotlighting to discover nocturnal wildlife.
Soapbox Science Sydney 2025
Amplifying the Voices of Women and Non-Binary Scientists: celebrating the inspiring women and non-binary leaders changing the face of STEM and helping shape a brighter, more equitable future. In 2025, Soapbox Science Sydney will continue to provide a platform where inclusion and accessibility are at the core, breaking down barriers between researchers and the public and making science approachable, relatable, and fun.
This exciting public engagement event transforms a busy outdoor space into a dynamic, interactive learning environment where women and non-binary scientists share their research and passion for STEM directly with the community. Soapbox Science Sydney, proudly delivered by STEM Sisters, will return in 2025 as part of National Science Week.
2 – 5pm on Saturday 9 August at Tumbalong Park
Synthetic Music
Music compositions and performance made from artificial DNA sequences is a one-of-a-kind evening where art and science converge. This live performance transforms edited DNA sequences into dynamic musical compositions.
Visual projections of the DNA sequences accompany the performance, offering a multi-sensory exploration of genetic code as music. Experience the frontier of generative composition and bio-sonification in an innovative blend of sound, science, and storytelling.
7 – 8.30pm on Tuesday 12 August at Sydney Opera House
Major Projects
Science in the Scrub
Science in the Scrub is a FREE family fun day out at Western Sydney Parklands. The Lizard Log will transform into a pop−up village of scientific wonder this National Science Week, with live science shows, hands−on experiments, native animals and many stalls to explore.
Sydney Science Trail Community Days
Join us for a family-friendly science festival at the Australian Museum on Saturday 9 August as we kick off National Science Week. Explore the famous Sydney Science Trail Expo full of interactive stalls where you can meet scientists and get up close to science and technology – it’s a kids STEM bonanza!
Adventure to the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan on Saturday 16 August for a free interactive program of science talks, nature experiences and hands-on activities.
These grants are in addition to the grants from the Commonwealth for 2025 National Science Week activity.
National Science Week is the time to celebrate our scientists and scientific achievement in NSW, foster an interest in science in the next generation, connect communities with research that matters to them, and feed the natural curiosity and wonder for the world in us all.
No matter where you are in NSW, there’s a way to get involved, be inspired, and discover the impact of science in everyday life. For a comprehensive list of events happening across NSW and Australia visit the official National Science Week website: scienceweek.net.au
Feature Image: Rhodes Science Fair 2024
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