What does it take to connect communities with STEM experiences across New South Wales? It takes 3,750 kilometers, hire cars loaded to the brim with supplies, and the ultimate tag-team effort.
Because we share the Inspiring Australia NSW manager role it means we can be two places at once! We split the map to ensure we reached as many event possible during National Science Week. We were able to cover twice the ground, celebrate our incredible community grant recipients, and drop in on major outdoor festivals and research hubs.
Inspiring Australia funded 174 events across NSW from the Commonweath grants program, the Australian Science Teachers Association schools grants, our Inspiring Australia NSW grants and our new Inspiring Australia NSW Library grants.
The map below shows the reach across NSW in 2026
We both started our journey at the NSW launch of National Science Week with Science and Country – Weaving Knowledge Together at Science Space Wollongong. The event was opened by Aunty Joyce with her lovely Welcome to Country. Followed by the official launch by The Hon. Paul Scully MP, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong.
We had a great panel discussion on Science and Country: Weaving Knowledge Together. Guests were treated to a screening in the Science Space Planetarium of The Earth Above: A Deep Time View of Australia’s Epic History.
Meredith then kicked off the journey by heading out to Oberon for the marvelous Science in Oberon event, before returning to Sydney for an evening exploring the Theory of Relativity.
Her itinerary was a mix of hands-on festival logistics and high-impact research showcases:
Packing supplies for an all-day extravaganza at Science in the Swamp in Centennial Park.
Stopping by Wings Waverton, touring the Garvan Institute and networking at the Science Social at the Australian Museum.
Balancing remote work with a visit to St George Hospital for Gut Feelings, followed by the University of Sydney’s Impact Factor showcase.
Heading south to attend the Bundanon Art Museum for their Science Symposium
Connecting with local programs at Sydney City Farm, the Redfern Science Experience, and Ramp Up in Oatley.
Setting up for the huge day at Science in the Scrub at Western Sydney Parklands.
Meanwhile, I took to the road and travelled from Newcastle to Bermagui and everywhere in between to celebrate more of our regional grant events including:
Making a sprint down to Canberra for the Rock Hard Cabaret.
Visiting Jervis Bay for the grant-funded Luminescence event.
Heading north to the Newcastle Museum for Fabulous Fungi and Hidden Physics.
Sharing laughs at the Science Comedy Show at Ryde Library.
Driving deep into the South Coast for two grant-funded Bermagui events—Plotting the Oceans: Maps, Science and the Sea and Koalas in Our Backyard—before traveling to Nowra.
Catching hands-on STEM fun at Sydney Zoo and Science in the Scrub.
Job sharing allowed us to divide and conquer, support dozens of passionate event hosts and celebrate science. Covering 3,750 kilometers in just a few weeks is exhausting, but seeing thousands of people engaging with our state’s top researchers, knowledge holders and science communicators makes every hour in the driver’s seat worth it.
What does it take to connect communities with STEM experiences across New South Wales? It takes 3,750 kilometers, hire cars loaded to the brim with supplies, and the ultimate tag-team effort.
Because we share the Inspiring Australia NSW manager role it means we can be two places at once! We split the map to ensure we reached as many event possible during National Science Week. We were able to cover twice the ground, celebrate our incredible community grant recipients, and drop in on major outdoor festivals and research hubs.
Inspiring Australia funded 174 events across NSW from the Commonweath grants program, the Australian Science Teachers Association schools grants, our Inspiring Australia NSW grants and our new Inspiring Australia NSW Library grants.
The map below shows the reach across NSW in 2026
We both started our journey at the NSW launch of National Science Week with Science and Country – Weaving Knowledge Together at Science Space Wollongong. The event was opened by Aunty Joyce with her lovely Welcome to Country. Followed by the official launch by The Hon. Paul Scully MP, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong.
We had a great panel discussion on Science and Country: Weaving Knowledge Together. Guests were treated to a screening in the Science Space Planetarium of The Earth Above: A Deep Time View of Australia’s Epic History.
Meredith then kicked off the journey by heading out to Oberon for the marvelous Science in Oberon event, before returning to Sydney for an evening exploring the Theory of Relativity.
Her itinerary was a mix of hands-on festival logistics and high-impact research showcases:
Meanwhile, I took to the road and travelled from Newcastle to Bermagui and everywhere in between to celebrate more of our regional grant events including:
Job sharing allowed us to divide and conquer, support dozens of passionate event hosts and celebrate science. Covering 3,750 kilometers in just a few weeks is exhausting, but seeing thousands of people engaging with our state’s top researchers, knowledge holders and science communicators makes every hour in the driver’s seat worth it.
Feature Image: National Science Week 2026 events
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