From engaging science shows, robotic surgery demos to a walk-through digestive system known as the “Poo Palace”, this year’s National Science Week celebration at Newcastle Museum promises to ignite curiosity and spark inspiration in scientists of every age.
Hosted by the Hunter Innovation and Science Hub (HISH) and supported by the Inspiring Australia NSW initiative, this free, family-friendly event will take place from 10am to 2pm on Sunday 17 August.
It’s the 10th year the Science Festival has been held in Newcastle and Emeritus Professor Tim Roberts AM FRSN, who helps coordinate the day, says it’s shaping up to be the biggest yet.
“We always aim to make science fun, hands-on and accessible,” he says.
“This year we’ve got everything from electric vehicles and hydrogen car demos to medical engineering displays, telescopes, tiny forests and even an 18-kilogram seed from the Botanic Gardens.”
At its core, the event is about sparking a love of science in children and showcasing the remarkable scientific activity happening in the region.
“We want young people to see science as a potential career path and to understand that there are exciting science-based industries right here in the Hunter,” Professor Roberts adds.
A major highlight this year will be a series of engaging presentations inside the MacIntyre Theatre.
Two former University of Newcastle science students, Lily Mickaill and Alicia Watt, will share their inspiring journeys from local classrooms to dream jobs in science.
Lily, who first fell in love with orchids during a 2018 student trip to Borneo, now works at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney.
Alicia is an accomplished singer-songwriter (find her on Spotify as Ali Jam), has travelled the globe giving science lectures aboard cruise ships bound for Antarctica.
“They’re both brilliant role models,” says Professor Roberts.
“Seeing young women talk about their careers in science, and hearing Ali perform one or two of her original songs is such a powerful way to connect with students who are looking to make career choices.”
Younger visitors can also look forward to hands-on experiments, build-your-own solar car kits, and the ever-popular Poo Palace, a jumping castle where kids “enter through the mouth and exit through the anus as a piece of poo,” laughs Roberts.
“It’s wildly popular, so get in early!”
Outside, emergency vehicles, garbage trucks and hydrogen car prototypes used in school competitions will line the forecourt, offering kids the chance to get up close and chat with experts.
Inside the museum, displays will range from robotic hands (controlled by muscle signals) to seed-growing stations and a showcase by The Fab Lab (digital fabrication lab) Windale, a creative tech hub offering 3D printing, laser cutting, and coding programs.
There will also be telescopes on hand, courtesy of the Astronomical Society, with experts available to explain everything from asteroid threats to solar flares.
The event is part of National Science Week and proudly supported by the Inspiring Australia NSW initiative, an Australian Government program encouraging community engagement with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
No registrations are required, and entry is free, simply turn up on the day, ready to explore.
“This isn’t just for science buffs,” Professor Roberts says.
“It’s for families, for curious kids, for anyone who wants to learn how the world works and what science looks like in everyday life.
“And most of all, it’s a whole lot of fun.”
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