11 Aug Indigenous science: beer boffins: shark innards and COVID recovery: it’s National Science Week!

This year’s festival runs 14 to 22 August, with thousands of events around Australia. Explore the big topics, brilliant minds, and unexpected ideas from the world of science.

Hundreds of events, both virtual and physical, are set for around the country, from a shark dissection in Darwin to drinking in Hobart to virtual reality tours of the Universe. Plus, many schools and workplaces are holding ‘Brain Break’ science-themed morning tea Zoom catch-ups.

In-person events are back (where local restrictions allow) and the online opportunities and activities continue, with organisers mindful of the need for COVID-safety.

Events and activities include:

• Sydney: Bush medicine, astronomy, sustainability, tool design and more: what we can learn from 60,000 years of continuous culture – the Indigenous Science Experience (online).
• Northern Territory: The touring ‘Time Machine’ that shows how you will age depending on your key health and lifestyle choices.
• Canberra: Bushfires, COVID, climate change: hear from the experts about the science of recovery, resilience and renewal (online).
• Hobart & livestream: Four breweries, four brews, and two thirsty scientists explore the science behind brewing and beer.
• Melbourne: Charlie Pickering hosts a battle of six science boffins in the National Science Quiz (online).
• Queensland: Make a melon go boom.
• Adelaide: How does a dinosaur grow to 20 tonnes on a vegetarian diet? Find out from the singing palaeontologist, Professor Flint.
• Podcast via Western Australia: Edible insects, plant proteins, and the future of food – hear food scientists interviewed on the podcast Generation Ag.

National Science Week began in 1997. Last year about 1.1 million people participated in more than 1200 events—despite a global pandemic—exploring topics from art to astrophysics, chemistry to climate change, and forensics to fermented food.

National Science Week is proudly supported by the Australian Government, CSIRO, the Australian Science Teachers Association, the ABC, and Cosmos Magazine.

Visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find stories in your area using the event listing.