National Science Week 2026 across NSW offers a vibrant mix of hands-on activities, performances, workshops, and talks that bring science to life for all ages. With events unfolding in parks, libraries, museums, theatres, and outdoor spaces, National Science Week 2026 invites everyone to be curious, get hands-on, and celebrate the wonder of science.
Blue Mountains
Upper Blue Mountains Science Hub presents – Interactive Story Time at Katoomba Library centered around wombats! Designed to engage young minds through storytelling, conversation and hands-on learning, this session shows children how caring and connecting with nature can make a real difference.
Dive into fascinating discussions, engage with fellow science enthusiasts, and explore the wonders of the natural world. There will also be time to ask questions at the end.
10.30 – 11.30am on Sunday 9 August at KatoombaLibrary
Join in for Science at the Local at Springwood Sports Club on Sunday, 9 Augustfor an inspiring afternoon of science featuring two captivating talks. First, Dr Nathan Emery from the Botanic Gardens of Sydney presents “Botanical Backup: How Seeds Can Save Our Most Threatened Species,” exploring how seed banking protects critically endangered flora. Then, Dr Hayley Green from Western Sydney University takes the stage with “Dead Reckoning: How Forensic Scientists Determine Time Since Death,” offering an insider’s look into the fascinating world of forensic science and taphonomy.
What happens when an entire landscape burns and yet some places survive? Presented by Science at the Local with Eli Bendall from the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University. This fascinating Science Week journey takes you into the hidden refuges that help bushland and wildlife persist through some of Australia’s most extreme bushfires.
Have you ever really looked at a plant? With pencil in hand, you’ll explore Ngarra Ngurang, the museum’s Aboriginal Teaching Garden, zooming in on the tiniest details of leaf, flower and seed to uncover the secrets of how nature works. Draw what you see and bring colour to your illustrations with watercolour palette and paintbrush.
All materials provided. Workshop suitable for adults and teenagers aged 15+.
Discover the beauty of fractals – repeating patterns found in snowflakes, trees, and even our lungs. In this syllabus-linked workshop, students will learn about the geometry of triangles and create their own artwork inspired by the Sierpinski Triangle, blending mathematics with creative expression.
Hawkesbury Library Service will be hosting interactive pop-up displays at Richmond Branch Library and Central Library, Windsor.
Packed with hands-on activities for all ages, these displays offer a fun and engaging experience for the whole family. Journey through the history of inventions to see how a simple idea can develop into something extraordinary over time, dig into the world of paleontology, explore environmental science, to see how living things grow and respond to their environment.
Visit the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum to discover a spectacular museum which houses the Somerville Collection of fossils and minerals from across the world.
Visit the new exhibition Unearthed – Critical Minerals and the Energy Transition. What are critical minerals, why are they critical and how are they used in the energy transition?
9am – 4.30pm on Saturday 15 – Sunday 23 AugustBathurst
To mark National Science Week 2026, Oberon Citizen Science Network (OCSN) is proud to present a free community event on Saturday 15th August: “Science in Oberon: More than you imagine!” at the Malachi Gilmore Hall, an art deco architectural gem.
From 10:00am to 12:30pm on Saturday 15th August, the Malachi Gilmore Hall will open to the public for viewing of a number of science- and technology-related exhibits. From 12:30pm to 3:45pm, there will be a series of talks by guest and local speakers
10:00am – 4:00pm on Saturday 15 at Malachi Gilmore Hall Oberon
Science at the Museum program is back at Orange Regional Museum for 2026. They have free 90-minute visits to schools and home school families during National Science Week connecting to this year’s school theme ‘Seeds of Science’.
The program includes:
a facilitated tour of our upcoming exhibition Untamed, exploring wild weeds, created in partnership with local public primary schools and Orange Regional Gallery; and
a curriculum-linked science workshop exploring seeds, how they depend on energy and how they are adapted for survival.
9.30am – 2.30pm Monday 17 – Friday 21 August at Orange Regional Museum
If you are heading out to the Mundi Mundi Bash make sure to visit Western Landcare to experience the science behind the spectacular landscapes of the Far West.
Wednesday 19 – Friday 21 August at the Mundi Mundi Bash
National Science Week 2026 across NSW offers a vibrant mix of hands-on activities, performances, workshops, and talks that bring science to life for all ages. With events unfolding in parks, libraries, museums, theatres, and outdoor spaces, National Science Week 2026 invites everyone to be curious, get hands-on, and celebrate the wonder of science.
Blue Mountains
Upper Blue Mountains Science Hub presents – Interactive Story Time at Katoomba Library centered around wombats! Designed to engage young minds through storytelling, conversation and hands-on learning, this session shows children how caring and connecting with nature can make a real difference.
Dive into fascinating discussions, engage with fellow science enthusiasts, and explore the wonders of the natural world. There will also be time to ask questions at the end.
10.30 – 11.30am on Sunday 9 August at Katoomba Library
Science at the Local
Join in for Science at the Local at Springwood Sports Club on Sunday, 9 August for an inspiring afternoon of science featuring two captivating talks. First, Dr Nathan Emery from the Botanic Gardens of Sydney presents “Botanical Backup: How Seeds Can Save Our Most Threatened Species,” exploring how seed banking protects critically endangered flora. Then, Dr Hayley Green from Western Sydney University takes the stage with “Dead Reckoning: How Forensic Scientists Determine Time Since Death,” offering an insider’s look into the fascinating world of forensic science and taphonomy.
Sunday 9 August | 2pm | Springwood Sports Club
What happens when an entire landscape burns and yet some places survive? Presented by Science at the Local with Eli Bendall from the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University. This fascinating Science Week journey takes you into the hidden refuges that help bushland and wildlife persist through some of Australia’s most extreme bushfires.
Wednesday 19 August | 6:15pm – 7:30pm | Penrith City Library
Hawkesbury Regional Gallery
Botanical Illustration in the Garden
Have you ever really looked at a plant? With pencil in hand, you’ll explore Ngarra Ngurang, the museum’s Aboriginal Teaching Garden, zooming in on the tiniest details of leaf, flower and seed to uncover the secrets of how nature works. Draw what you see and bring colour to your illustrations with watercolour palette and paintbrush.
All materials provided. Workshop suitable for adults and teenagers aged 15+.
1:00 – 3pm on Sunday 16 August
Digging up the Past
Discover the beauty of fractals – repeating patterns found in snowflakes, trees, and even our lungs. In this syllabus-linked workshop, students will learn about the geometry of triangles and create their own artwork inspired by the Sierpinski Triangle, blending mathematics with creative expression.
Saturday 15 – Sunday 23 August
Hawkesbury Library Service
Seeds of Science – Growth of an idea
Hawkesbury Library Service will be hosting interactive pop-up displays at Richmond Branch Library and Central Library, Windsor.
Packed with hands-on activities for all ages, these displays offer a fun and engaging experience for the whole family. Journey through the history of inventions to see how a simple idea can develop into something extraordinary over time, dig into the world of paleontology, explore environmental science, to see how living things grow and respond to their environment.
9:00am – 5:00pm on Saturday 15 – Monday 31 August
Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum
Visit the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum to discover a spectacular museum which houses the Somerville Collection of fossils and minerals from across the world.
Visit the new exhibition Unearthed – Critical Minerals and the Energy Transition. What are critical minerals, why are they critical and how are they used in the energy transition?
9am – 4.30pm on Saturday 15 – Sunday 23 August Bathurst
Science in Oberon – More than you imagine
To mark National Science Week 2026, Oberon Citizen Science Network (OCSN) is proud to present a free community event on Saturday 15th August: “Science in Oberon: More than you imagine!” at the Malachi Gilmore Hall, an art deco architectural gem.
From 10:00am to 12:30pm on Saturday 15th August, the Malachi Gilmore Hall will open to the public for viewing of a number of science- and technology-related exhibits. From 12:30pm to 3:45pm, there will be a series of talks by guest and local speakers
10:00am – 4:00pm on Saturday 15 at Malachi Gilmore Hall Oberon
Science at Orange Regional Museum
Science at the Museum program is back at Orange Regional Museum for 2026. They have free 90-minute visits to schools and home school families during National Science Week connecting to this year’s school theme ‘Seeds of Science’.
The program includes:
9.30am – 2.30pm Monday 17 – Friday 21 August at Orange Regional Museum
Discover the Science of the Outback
If you are heading out to the Mundi Mundi Bash make sure to visit Western Landcare to experience the science behind the spectacular landscapes of the Far West.
Wednesday 19 – Friday 21 August at the Mundi Mundi Bash
For a comprehensive list of events happening across NSW and Australia visit the official National Science Week website: scienceweek.net.au
Feature Image: Klae McGuinness – Stars above The Sound Chapel
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