Get ready to uncover one of Australia’s strangest and coolest secrets, the mystery of platypus venom! Brought to you by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science (CIPPS), this exciting event will take you on a journey into the world of the platypus, one of the most unusual animals on Earth.

Imagine an animal with a duck’s bill, a beaver’s tail, and the ability to both lay eggs and make milk. No wonder people once thought it was fake! But that’s not even the most surprising part. Did you know that the platypus is one of the very few mammals in the world that can produce venom? Even more amazing, only male platypuses make venom, and only during the spring breeding season, using it to compete with other males.

This event will explain how their venom works and why it’s so different from the venom of snakes or spiders. You will also learn how scientists are discovering new and fascinating things about platypuses all the time, helping us understand and protect these incredible animals for the future.

Do not miss this chance to learn something truly wild and wonderful!