Dozens of Science Week stories around New South Wales
- Performance art in zero gravity; habitat beyond Earth; and what is a space environmentalist? – Sydney Science Festival goes off planet
- Saving turtles with a smartphone – Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee
- Meet a dinosaur (and others) at Lizard Log – Abbotsbury
- Meet your match and find love at the Love Lab – Sydney
- Family tree of Tassie devils – Sydney
- Whale snot, poop and other mysteries on the ‘Humpback Highway’ – North Ryde
- Sharks in Dubbo!
- Can environmental arts activism save the world? – Wyangala & Cowra
- Sleeping with cancer – Westmead
- Can you see the stars? Dark skies versus light pollution
More on these highlights below.
National Science Week in New South Wales is coordinated by Inspiring NSW. Visit their website: inspiringnsw.org.au.
Looking for life in space: NSW launch today at 8:30am at WSU Observatory
National Science Week in NSW will be officially launched at the Campbelltown Rotary Observatory, the home of the Australian Optical SETI (OZ OSETI) Project, searching the Universe for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence. It is the only dedicated optical SETI project in the Southern Hemisphere.
With:
- Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer and Natural Resources Commissioner
- astronomy demonstrations.
Where: WSU UniClinic Brian Smith Dr, Campbelltown NSW 2560
Media enquiries: Meredith Hall, Inspiring NSW, meredith.hall@sydney.edu.au, 0421 614 145.
Dr Karl, the Surfing Scientist, slugs and snails, plant invasions, and a T.rex autopsy at the Sydney Science Trail – Sydney
Hear the weirdest science questions answered by Dr Karl, try plant science experiments with the Garden’s botanists, and learn about First Nations science knowledge. Chat to scientists and discover the latest innovations in their research at our Science Expo. Watch a T.rex Autopsy show, learn about megafauna, and meet Winny the Muttaburrasaurus, our roving puppet dinosaur.
This day of science is presented by the Australian Museum in collaboration with Botanic Gardens of Sydney. This family-friendly event is hosted by the Surfing Scientist, Ruben Meerman.
Saturday 17 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/sydney-science-trail-community-day-2/sydney
Talent available for media interviews from Australian Museum; media contact: Claire Vince, claire.vince@australian.museum or 0468 726 910.
- Curator of Fishes Dr Yi-Kai Tea (Kai the fish guy)
- Malacology (slugs and snails) researcher Dr Isabel Hyman.
From Botanic Gardens of Sydney; media@botanicgardens.nsw.gov.au or 02 9231 8122.
- Dr Hannah McPherson from can discuss the latest active research on Australia floral diversity
- Living Collection Curator Mike Elgey can discuss how the garden plantings and nursery contribute to conservation
- Dr Patricia Lu-Irving can discuss her work understanding plant invasions.
For Ruben Meerman, contact Tanya Ha, tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863.
Telescopes and TikTok: meet Indigenous astrophysicist and social media star Kirsten Banks – Ryde & Albury, NSW
Gaze at stars, learn about Indigenous astronomy, and find out the secrets of black holes with Dr Kirsten Banks, a passionate astrophysicist and science communicator with a lifelong fascination for the cosmos.
Kirsten has pursued a life-long love for space, earning a PhD in astrophysics, and delving into the depths of the Milky Way galaxy. As a proud Wiradjuri woman, Kirsten explores the mysteries of the universe and honours the rich knowledge of her ancestors.
You’ll often find Kirsten sharing her love for astronomy and space with more than 500,000 followers across social platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
Ryde: Tuesday 13 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/first-nations-astronomy-and-stargazing-with-dr-kirsten-banks/ryde/
Albury: Friday 16 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/first-nations-astronomy-and-stargazing/albury/
Media enquiries: astronomerkirsten@gmail.com
Step inside the Poo Palace – Newcastle
Experience the journey that food goes on, and ask the experts about digestion, farts and faeces, gut health and good bacteria.
The Poo Palace is a giant inflatable re-creation of the digestive system where children take a sensory adventure through the gastrointestinal tract, from lips to lavatory.
The Poo Palace is made up of 4 modules that mimic the journey food takes along the digestive tract (mouth, stomach, small intestine, large intestine).
Children learn first-hand how food moves through the body, and through live experiments with researchers from the Hunter Medical Research Institute.
Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/the-poo-palace/newcastle
Media enquiries: Tracy McKelligott, tracy.mckelligott@hmri.org.au or 0415 499 409.
Passport to Space: overcoming barriers to diversity, equity and inclusion in the space sector – Parramatta
Participation of diverse and minoritised groups is one of the biggest challenges facing the space sector globally. On the question of gender parity alone, just one in five workers are women.
Indian space entrepreneur and habitat designer, Dr Susmita Mohanty, and Lebanese remote sensing scientist, Dr Maya Nasr, join forces to disucss their shared vision for space exploration that is accessible to all.
‘Passport to Space – Susmita Mohanty and Maya Nasr’ is a National Science Week event at Paramatta Town Hall which forms part of the Sydney Science Festival, presented by Powerhouse.
Thursday 15 August: https://www.scienceweek.net.au/event/passport-to-space-susmita-mohanty-and-maya-nasr/parramatta/
Media enquiries: Michelle Lollo, media@powerhouse.com.au or 0419 523 735.
The Indigenous night sky, bush food, and technology – Redfern
What can Aboriginal astronomy tell us about the night sky? How are native flora used in bush medicine and soap making? How do Indigenous Australians make axes from stone and other artefacts? What can deadly science tell us about seaweed, birdlife, engineering, textiles, and more? What can 60 000+ years of Indigenous culture tell us about sustainable living?
The Indigenous Science Experience at Redfern is a celebration of Indigenous and Western science, and the achievements of Indigenous youth and Elders. This annual event demonstrates the value of traditional and contemporary Indigenous knowledge in science and technology. Indigenous students assist in demonstrating activities.
Saturday 17 August. www.scienceweek.net.au/event/indigenous-science-experience-at-redfern-4/redfern/ Media enquiries: Joanne Jamie, joanne.jamie@mq.edu.au, 0439 170 683 or 02 9850 8283.
Indigenous student leaders, First Nations activity providers, and event organiser Joanne Jamie (non-Indigenous) are available for media interviews. View video from 2023 event.
Creative genius and your ‘visual brain’ – Sydney
What happens in your brain when you encounter multi-sensory experiences, like art?
David Alais, a Professor of Experimental Psychology at University of Sydney, is fascinated by the way art can reveal the ‘visual brain’ at work.
In ‘Study in Visual Perception’, he examines how the work of Austrian born artist, Lily Greenham, reveals the brain’s visual processes in action and its limitations.
Bottom line: science is catching up with recent advances in neuroscience, shining new light on the mysteries of vision, creativity and aesthetics.
Thursday 15 August: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/study-in-visual-perception-a-public-lecture-by-professor-david-alais-4/the-university-of-sydney
Media enquiries: media.office@sydney.edu.au or 02 8627 0246 (diverts to mobile)
Your brain on AI, with Paul Davies and experts – Sydney
“The development of artificial intelligence may well imply that man will relinquish his intellectual supremacy in favour of thinking machines,” says theoretical physicist, cosmologist, astrobiologist and best-selling author Paul Davies.
What makes a mass of cells come together to think, do and become self-aware?
Technologies like DishBrain, brain organoids and organic AI – using the computing power of brain cells – could revolutionise fields from neuroscience and psychology to data science and robotics.
But how do intelligence and consciousness arise? How are emotions and feelings generated? How do our brains adapt to technological evolution?
The University of Sydney AI expert Sandra Peter will explore these topics in a panel event at the Sydney Opera House, featuring:
- renowned British quantum physicist, cosmologist, author and TV presenter Paul Davies
- neuroscientist, DishBrain co-inventor, and Chief Scientific Officer at Cortical Labs Brett Kagan
- cognitive scientist and expert on brain-computer interfaces Inês Hipólito.
Saturday 17 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/sydney-opera-house-your-brain-on-ai/sydney
Paul Davies, Ines Hipolito, Brett Kagan, and Sandra Peter are available for media interviews.
Media enquiries: Emily Cook, ecook@sydneyoperahouse.com, 0484 566 133.
The Vagina Bible author on menstruation, menopause, and medical mythology – Kensington
“It’s a vagina, not a piña colada.”
Canadian-American gynaecologist Dr Jennifer Gunter’s 2019 book The Vagina Bible became a New York Times best seller. Then she followed it up with The Menopause Manifesto:
“If we applied that same tone to erectile dysfunction, we’d expect textbooks to declare that the penis is worn out. In medicine, men get to age with gentle euphemisms and women get exiled to Not Hotsville.”
Over half the world’s population have had a period or could be having a period right now – so why do menstruation and menopause remain such medical mysteries?
Jen Gunter is in Australia for National Science Week to demystify female anatomy and women’s health.
She will debunk misinformation, discuss why women are sidelined by the medical profession, and outline the steps we need to take to put women’s bodies and healthcare in the spotlight. She’s in conversation with cancer researcher and STEMMinist Book Club founder Caroline Ford at the UNSW Centre for Ideas.
Thursday 15 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/jennifer-gunter-menstruation-menopause-and-medical-mythology/kensington
Media enquiries: Media enquiries: Todd Eichorn, t.eichorn@unsw.edu.au or 02 9065 0485.
Performance art in zero gravity; habitat beyond Earth; and what is a space environmentalist? – Sydney Science Festival goes off planet
- Building sustainable habitats beyond Earth, with Indian spaceship designer, entrepreneur, climate action advocate, and space diplomat Susmita Mohanty
- Celestial Emu: Gamilaroi astrophysicist Karlie Noon and Bangarra Dance Theatre dancer Daniel Mateo share Indigenous astronomy in a short film directed by Olivia Costa.
- Crowded skies: American space environmentalist Moriba Jah and artist Trevor Paglen reveal the unseen, crowded sky, from space junk to ‘invisible’ surveillance satellites.
- Creativity in space: Australia’s first female astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg in conversation with visiting Asian American artist and engineer Xin Liu.
Hear from compelling speakers on science’s hot topics. Sydney Science Festival is back with events in multiple locations around Sydney and online.
Saturday 10 – Saturday 17 August. Multiple dates and locations.
Many of the speakers and international visitors are available for media interviews.
Media enquiries: Michelle Lollo, media@powerhouse.com.au or 0419 523 735.
Saving turtles with a smartphone – Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee
Help scientists save turtles and platypuses with smartphone apps, find out about chimps and orangutans, or build a bee or bug hotel. These are some of the things Sydney locals, visitors and an online audience will be invited to do as part of Sydney Zoo’s Science of Survival festival, located in Western Sydney.
Activities and workshops include wildlife friendly gardening workshops, virtual excursions for schools, protecting local turtles with First Nation knowledge and TurtleSAT-enabled citizen science, and a Discovery Trail to view endangered species including the green and golden bell frog, koalas, bilbies, potoroos, eastern quolls, orangutans, tigers, giraffes, elephants, cheetahs, African painted dogs, and lions. Signs and QR codes to short videos explain the importance of the species survival and the science involves.
Saturday 10 – Sunday 18 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/sydney-zoo-presents-science-week-the-science-of-survival/bungarribee
Media enquiries: media@sydneyzoo.com or 02 7202 2558
Find love at the Love Lab – Sydney
Move over, CupidGTP! Exit swipe right and join ‘The Love Lab’ – a scientific experiment that marries the ancient art of village matchmaking with speed dating, without skirting the tough questions on what really matters.
Like, sex, climate change, or wearing shoes inside the house.
“We’re not saying there’s a right answer but there is probably a scientifically correct answer,” say Love Lab copilots, aka Dr Naomi Koh Belic (she/her – a biracial, bisexual first-generation university graduate with a PhD in stem cell biology) and Shu Ezackial (they/them – a queer, mixed-race science communicator and engagement specialist).
The Love Lab is an inclusive, sex-positive experiment aimed at making science accessible, while helping people form meaningful connections.
Tuesday 13 August: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/the-love-lab/sydney
Dr Naomi and Shu are both available for interviews. Photographs: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kLW6bEDHglVh3pPUhc7sXr-T4jvBpzq_?usp=sharing
Media enquiries: Dr Naomi Koh Belic, drnaomikohbelic@gmail.com or 0422 213 119.
Meet a dinosaur (and others) at Lizard Log – Abbotsbury
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
Whale snot, poop and other mysteries on the ‘Humpback Highway’ –North Ryde
Each winter, Australia’s coastal waters transform into a bustling ‘humback highway’, when 40,000 whales migrate from the Antarctic to breed. But what else do they get up to?
Whale scientist, Dr Vanessa Pirotta, from Macquarie University – also the author of new book, Humpback Highway – explores ‘out of sight’ behaviors of these gentle giants in the Southern Ocean; the intriguing properties of whale snot; and importance of whale poop to marine ecosystems.
Wednesday 14 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/humpback-highway-diving-into-the-mysterious-world-of-whales/north-ryde
Media enquiries: Kelly Sharpless, fse.outreach@mq.edu.au or 02 9850 2888.
Dr Vanessa Pirotta is available for media interviews.
Family tree of Tassie devils – Sydney
For most people, it’s fun to look at genetic data to understand a family tree, but for scientists, this data can be a critical tool to help conserve threatened species.
Discover how scientists use genetic data to help recover threatened species like the Tasmanian devil and bilby with Professor Carolyn Hogg.
Carolyn is the founder of the Threatened Species Initiative which collaborates with scientists, government, and ‘big tech’ to help scientists access valuable genomic data. Learn about her work and how genomic technology has become an essential tool to manage Australia’s threatened wildlife.
Wednesday 14 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/biodiversity-bilbies-and-battling-extinction/sydney
Media enquiries: Events Office, Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, nswchiefscientist@chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au
Sharks in Dubbo, NSW
The stars of National Geographic’s Bull Shark Bandits, marine scientists, climate experts, and an astronomer equipped with telescopes are headed inland to Dubbo for ‘Science at Heart’ (S@H) to foster curiosity in this regional community.
A day of interactive sessions and talks will offer Dubbo residents the opportunity to hear about the science of oysters, mangroves, human choice (economics), and the physics of climate change, before seeing the stars through telescopes in an evening astronomy session. They bring marine science inland, and space science down to Earth.
Marine biologists Mariel Familiar López and Johan Gustafson, who featured in Nat Geo TV shows Bull Shark Bandits and SHARKFEST, will share their knowledge of frogs and sharks.
Saturday 17 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/science-heart/dubbo
Media enquiries: Marian Vidal-Fernandez, m.vidal-fdez@sydney.edu.au or 0451 818 612.
Speakers are available for media interviews.
Can environmental arts activism save the world? – Wyangala & Cowra, 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)
Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/erthwrx24-national-science-week-2024/wyangala/
Media enquiries: Phoebe Cowdery, phoebe@thecorridorproject.org or 0413 910 697
Sleeping with cancer – Westmead, NSW
Cancer patients have enough to deal with without sleep apnoea. Learn about the biology of how cancer impacts rest and how patients can improve their sleep quality with Associate Professor Kristina Kairaitis.
Kristina leads the Sleep & Cancer Group at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, the first group in Australia to investigate why disturbed sleep may be relevant in cancer.
Thursday 15 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/westmead-institute-for-medical-research-science-week-2024/westmead
Media enquiries: Kylie Ironside, kylie.ironside@wimr.org.au or 0413 611 959.
Why can’t you see the stars? – online
What happened to the night sky? The Milky Way is no longer visible to an estimated third of humanity, including more than half of Australians, thanks to light pollution.
This August, the ABC is exploring the dark sky and the impact of light pollution on science, creatures, and culture. Light pollution in the night sky is a problem for astronomers and stargazers, it confuses the circadian rhythms of some creatures and misguides the navigation of others, impacts Sky Country and Indigenous cultural practices, and contributes to sleep deprivation in humans.
ABC Science will invite people to explore the dark sky, contribute to an Australian National University study of the Milky Way’s visibility, see solutions to light pollution, stargaze with Radio National and guest astronomers, and vote in their poll on ‘the most amazing thing you’ve seen in the night sky.’
Monday 31 July – Friday 16 August: www.scienceweek.net.au/exploring-dark-skies-with-abc/ or www.abc.net.au/nightsky.
Media enquiries: Shelley Thomas, shelley@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0416 377 444.
Scientists available for media interviews.