Sunday 11 August
Highlights from day 2 of National Science Week
Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.
VIC: A morning with astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg at Scienceworks
NSW: Meet a dinosaur (and others) at Lizard Log at Western Sydney Parklands
QLD: Are robots rolling onto farms? Find out at Ekka
TAS: The science of chocolate – Latrobe
NSW: Can environmental arts activism save the world? – Wyangala
SA: Dancing with diprotodons with the singing palaeontologist Professor Flint – Naracoorte
Read on for more on these, including direct event contact details.
Also today:
- WA: Paint the underwater world at WA Museum Boola Bardip with artist Ian Daniell
- NT: Science at the Teddy Bears Picnic in Darwin
Coming up tomorrow:
Bugging bats and birds; NASA’s space dunny; and the man who invented Vegemite – see a preview of Monday’s highlights.
National Science Week 2024 runs from 10 to 18 August.
Visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find more stories in your area.
Media centre here. Images for media here.
General Science Week media enquiries: Tanya Ha, tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863
A morning with Aussie astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg – Spotswood
Australia’s first astronaut trained under the Australian flag Katherine Bennell-Pegg will be touching down at Scienceworks to share her love of space and science, launch a rocket, and meet visitors.
From her beginnings in Sydney, Katherine Bennell-Pegg has long had her eyes set on space. She holds four degrees across science (physics major), space and aeronautical engineering. She is passionate about using human spaceflight and space to unlock opportunities for researchers and industry, as well as inspiring the next generation of astronauts and scientists.
Sunday 11 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/journey-beyond-a-morning-with-astronaut-katherine-bennell-pegg-3/spotswood/
Media enquiries: media@museum.vic.gov.au or 0466 622 621.
Meet a dinosaur (and others) at Lizard Log – Abbotsbury, NSW
Say hello to Ginger the life-size dinosaur, touch the world’s biggest seed, make a survival shelter or visit the pop-up ocean lab.
Science in the Scrub returns to Lizard Log in Western Sydney Parklands packed with science, fun and discovery.
Engage in hands-on experiments, get up close with native animals and meet real life scientists including geologists, zoologists, physicists and marine biologists.
With over 30 stalls and exhibitors, live shows and food trucks.
Sunday 11 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/science-in-the-scrub-3/abbotsbury
Media enquiries: media@gsp.nsw.gov.au
Are robots rolling onto farms? – Royal Queensland Show, Brisbane
Find out on the ‘Ekka Learning Trail’. Wellies optional.
The self-guided tour showcases Australian Curriculum linked educational activities for children of all ages, including a focus on AgTech and the science behind food and fibres; biological diversity; natural selection; adaptations; and evolution.
On the trail, meet the AgTech wizards of the future, aka winners of the Ekka's Greenhouse Innovator Competition for schools. Tasked with the challenge of optimising food production, students used robotics while collecting and analysing data from plant growth experiments on their own classroom lettuce farms.
Saturday 10 - Sunday 18 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/royal-queensland-show-ekka/bowen-hills
Media enquiries: Veronica Carew, vcarew@rna.org.au or 0408 323 631
The science of chocolate – Latrobe, TAS
Have you ever wondered why some chocolate bars get white spots or lose their shine? Or why chocolate has that distinctive "snap" when you bite into it?
What does reflection, light, and physics have to do with chocolate? Is chocolate actually bad for dogs? And how do competitive chocolatiers create chocolate sculptures for their World Chocolate Masters competitions?
The answers to these questions and many more will be discussed at this presentation by chocolate lover and scientist, Chloë Nelson.
Chloë started her professional career working as a research scientist and did further studies in engineering. She also trained as a chocolatier at the world-renowned Savour Chocolate & Patisserie School.
Sunday 11 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/the-science-of-chocolate/latrobe/
Media enquiries: Michelle Dutton, enquiries@chocolatewinterfest.com.au or 03 6426 4444
Can environmental arts activism save the world? – Wyangala, NSW
What do our native trees have to say amidst climate change? ‘Eucalyptus Monolgues’ or the inner voices of our native trees – derived from the tree genome, field recordings and generative music from live trees – are amplified among a myriad of arts activations focused on environmentalism during ERTHWRX24.
The multi-day event by the CORRIDOR project (a not-for-profit multidisciplinary arts and cultural organisation) brings together community, scientists, cultural knowledge holders, architects, ecologists, traditional medicine, global explorers, and artists ‘to ideate, create, share and explore humanity’s entangled relationship with natural environments’.
Artists on the line-up include Angus Fisher, whose charcoal drawings capture the beauty of the Moon, impacting all life on Earth, created during a residency program at the CORRIDOR project, exploring night skies and drawing and recording the passing moon with an on-site telescope.
ERTHWRX24 involves 25 artists and 16 panellists.
Saturday 10 August & Sunday 11 August (The CORRIDOR Project, Wyangala)
Saturday 17 August & Sunday 18 August (Cowra Micro Gallery)
www.scienceweek.net.au/event/erthwrx24-national-science-week-2024/wyangala/
Media enquiries: Phoebe Cowdery, phoebe@thecorridorproject.org or 0413 910 697
Singing dinosaurs and dancing diprotodons – Naracoorte, SA
If Australian megafauna still roamed the Naracoorte Caves, do you think they’d dance to music? Get your bones moving with Professor Flint in a musical celebration of all things prehistoric with songs and dance at a special album launch inside Blanche Cave.
Prof Flint will lead kids and families on a musical journey to discover the remarkable fossil heritage of the Caves, sharing the stories of Naracoorte's prehistoric past. Unable to get to Naracoorte? Not a worry as the event will also be streamed online.
Sunday 11 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/dancing-with-diprotodons/naracoorte
Media enquiries: Michael Mills, michael@heapsgood.com.au or 0411 287 381.
Professor Flint (aka Michael Mills) is available for media interviews.
About National Science Week
National Science Week is Australia’s annual opportunity to meet scientists, discuss hot topics, do science and celebrate its cultural and economic impact on society – from art to astrophysics, chemistry to climate change, and forensics to future food.
First held in 1997, National Science Week has become one of Australia’s largest festivals. Last year about 2.7 million people participated in more than 1,860 events and activities.
The festival is proudly supported by the Australian Government, CSIRO, the Australian Science Teachers Association, and the ABC.
In 2024 it runs from Saturday 10 to Sunday 18 August. Event details can be found at www.scienceweek.net.au.