Seed to STEM, Under the Pavement – Vertical hydroponic farm tour. 17 – 21 August, Barangaroo.
Step inside Urban Green Sydney’s underground hydroponic farm at Barangaroo and discover how food is being grown beneath the city.
Explore innovative hydroponic systems and learn how light, water and nutrients influence plant growth, while uncovering how urban farming can support food security and sustainability. This hands-on experience includes planting your own microgreens to take home, tasting specialty varieties used by Sydney’s top restaurants, and the chance to purchase fresh produce directly from the farm.
Anatomy According to Hollywood. 20 August, UNSW.
Have you ever watched a movie scene and thought, “There is no way the human body works like that”?
Step inside the Museum of Human Disease this National Science Week for an entertaining and fact-filled journey through human anatomy on screen. From cartoons and cult classics to horror films, comedies and medical dramas, this event explores famous movie and TV scenes to uncover what Hollywood gets right, what it gets very wrong, and what real anatomy can teach us along the way. Dr Kosta Kotsidis from the UNSW School of Biomedical Sciences will guide audiences through the body part by part, unpacking the myths, mistakes and misconceptions that shape how we think bodies work.
Quantum Future Talent – From Curiosity to Career. 18 August, Chatswood.
Curious about where quantum could take you? Discover how quantum technologies are transforming everything from computing to cybersecurity and explore the exciting career opportunities emerging in this rapidly growing field.
At Quantum Future Talent: From Curiosity to Career, you’ll hear from industry professionals, learn about study pathways, and gain a practical introduction to quantum and its real-world impact. Connect with representatives from Macquarie University, UNSW, the University of Sydney and UTS, explore interactive demonstrations, and get your questions answered.
Indigenous Science Experience at Redfern. 22 August, Redfern.
How do native bees, seaweeds, bush medicines and Indigenous technologies help us better understand the world around us?
Discover the answers at the Indigenous Science Experience, a free National Science Week event celebrating Indigenous and Western science, technology and knowledge. Through hands-on activities, cultural performances and interactive experiences, explore topics including bush foods and medicines, native bees, environmental sustainability, weaving, Torres Strait Islander virtual reality, and physics and chemistry.
Meet Indigenous Elders and student leaders from the National Indigenous Science Education Program, and discover how STEM connects to everyday life, culture and caring for Country.
Gut Microbiome National Science Week Event. 20 August, Kogarah.
Explore the Gut Feelings exhibition, where science and art come together to reveal the fascinating connection between the gut, the brain and the trillions of microbes that make up our microbiome.
Meet researchers from the Microbiome Research Centre, take part in hands-on microbiome-themed crafts, and discover how gut health influences mental wellbeing. Featuring a giant soft-sculpture gut and a collection of imaginative textile artworks, the exhibition transforms complex science into playful, accessible and thought-provoking experiences.
A unique blend of creativity, community and science, Gut Feelings offers a fresh perspective on the hidden systems that shape our health and wellbeing.
ANSTO x Auslan. 16 August, Lucas Heights.
Come and see Australia’s nuclear capability first-hand and celebrate the achievements of Deaf STEM professionals.
Take a free tour of ANSTO’s nuclear reactor, research and medical manufacturing facilities, followed by a careers Q&A panel, featuring amazing examples of diversity in the STEM workforce. Deaf STEM professionals tell their stories in Auslan about studying and working in the sciences.
Auslan interpreters will be available for both the tour and Careers Q&A panel.
Growing conservation through innovation at Sydney Zoo. 15 – 23 August, Bungarribee.
Step into a world where wildlife, science and innovation come together at Sydney Zoo’s Conservation Through Innovation.
Follow an interactive Discovery Trail to uncover the stories of threatened species and the technologies helping to protect them, from thermal imaging and citizen science to youth-led conservation initiatives. Along the way, become a wildlife detective and discover how science is shaping conservation in Australia and beyond. Enjoy hands-on STEM activities, learn from First Nations educators and conservation scientists, explore ecosystem challenges, and experience cutting-edge tools used in environmental research.
Dementia Prevention by Prof. Chan (presented in Mandarin). 20 August, Ryde.
Join Professor Daniel Chan, a leading researcher in vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease and geriatric health, for an informative Mandarin-language session on dementia prevention and care.
Learn how dementia differs from normal ageing, how to recognise the signs, whether it can be prevented, and the latest advances in treatment and research. The session will also explore diagnosis, prognosis and what matters most after a dementia diagnosis.
Presented at Ryde Library, this talk includes an opportunity to ask questions during a Q&A with Professor Chan.
The Infinite Look – A history of gazing skyward. 15 August, Kensington.
Explore The Infinite Look: A History of Gazing Skywards, an exhibition tracing humanity’s evolving understanding of the cosmos, from ancient stargazers to modern astronomy.
Curated by UNSW Library in collaboration with the School of Physics and School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, the exhibition combines research, cultural collections and contemporary art to examine how scientific discovery and cultural storytelling have shaped our relationship with the night sky.
The Infinite Look invites visitors to reflect on the traditions, technologies and perspectives that continue to expand our view of the universe.
Sydney Science Trail – Community Day. 15 August, Darlinghurst.
Get ready for Sydney Science Trail Community Day – a science bonanza, packed with live shows and hands-on activities for kids of all ages.
Catch the spectacular Let’s Go! Science Show by Creative Science, see special appearances from Winny, the Australian Museum’s resident dinosaur, and meet Australian Museum Research Institute scientists sharing their favourite objects throughout the galleries.
Armidale Farmers Markets – Pop-up botany science stall. 9 August, Armidale
Ever wondered how a tiny seed, no bigger than a speck of dust, can grow into a giant gum tree? Or how plants manage to keep the very ground we walk on from washing away during a storm?
Join the University of New England Discovery Voyager team and real-life botanists for a hands-on adventure into the incredible world of plants! This isn’t your average gardening talk—we are diving deep into the biology that makes life on Earth possible.
The Science Behind Saving Lives at Sea. 15 August, Port Macquarie
How do life-jackets fill up with air? How do emergency beacons know where you are? Where do flood waters like to go first?
Join Marine Rescue Port Macquarie for an exciting day of discovery, adventure, and hands-on activities as we explore the science, technology, and people behind marine rescue operations. Held at the Marine Rescue Port Macquarie boat shed, this free community event will give visitors a unique opportunity to meet real rescue volunteers, step aboard rescue vessels, and learn how science and technology are used every day to keep people safe on the water.
Koalas in Our Backyard. 22 August, Bermagui.
A free community education day and gain real-world citizen science skills alongside experts and elders.
Hosted by the Far South Coast Koala Action Network on Yuin Country, this fun and informative day for all ages and abilities will feature hands-on demonstrations, up-to-date research and unique insights from the field. Community education is a key component in protecting our wildlife and their habitat for the long-term, so come along and learn skills which will allow you to contribute to koala conservation.
Hunter Science Festival at Newcastle Museum. 23 August, Newcastle.
The Hunter Science Festival is Newcastle’s biggest and most exciting day of science, where curiosity comes to life and everyone is invited to join the fun.
Held at Newcastle Museum, this free one-day event transforms the museum into a buzzing science playground. The festival is packed with hands-on activities, interactive displays, live stage shows and demonstrations designed especially for families and primary school-aged kids. You won’t just be looking at science – you’ll be doing it. Whether you’re a curious kid, a parent, or just someone who loves discovering new things, there’s something here for you. Highlights include science shows and demonstrations, Indigenous science, The Bubble Laboratory, roving entertainment, and Hunter Medical Research Institute’s famous ‘Poo Palace’.
Find more events in New South Wales by visiting scienceweek.net.au.
