Counting down to National Science Week 2026

ELLIE MICHAELIDES

Manager, Inspiring Victoria

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It's August and that means it’s time to celebrate all things science and technology. National Science Week, the festival that reaches millions, is here!

From 15 to 23 August in cities and regional towns right across the State, there’ll be events and activities for all ages. And you can find details on what’s happening in your local area at www.scienceweek.net.au.

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Events hosted at RSV

At the Royal Society of Victoria (RSV), we’re kicking off the celebrations by diving into the curiosities of Maps! Co-presented with our friends at Geography Victoria, join hilarious video storyteller Julian O’Shea on Sunday 16 August as he shares true stories about maps, mapping mistakes and the surprising quirks of geography.

We’re also launching an exciting new partnership between RSV and the Victorian Tech Schools network. Hosted by RSV on Tuesday 18 August, the Student Leaders in STEM Forum will welcome 25 students from the Tech Schools network for a day of connecting with scientists, researchers and innovators. They will be developing leadership skills and discovering future STEM opportunities and pathways .

RSV’s Emerging Scientists Network (ESN) will host Science to Impact on Wednesday 19 August. This event, which starts at 6 pm, will allow university students and recent graduates to explore the diverse employment pathways and opportunities to which studying science can lead. It will combine an expert panel discussion with a multi-disciplinary team challenge to explore how scientific knowledge can be transformed into meaningful outcomes and real-world solutions. If you’d like to learn more about ESN, email esn@rsv.org.au to join the contact list.

We’re also excited to be hosting the Kids Conference at RSV for another year. This year’s topic? How can we balance nutritional food production with minimising the pressure on the natural systems we share with many other species? On Thursday 20 August, school kids from all over Australia will present their innovative ideas and smart solutions to this important problem to a panel of scientific and foodie experts. 

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Museums, gardens, zoos, anything

If you’re looking for something to keep the whole family entertained, head to Melbourne Museum on Saturday 22 August for Science on Show – a day filled with fascinating stories, rare specimens, hands-on displays, pop-up talks and activities for everyone. 

Also at Melbourne Museum, dive underground and learn about the Secret Life of Soil in a special event on Thursday 20 August, in partnership with Now or Never. Join ABC Radio National’s Life Matters host, Hilary Harper, Gardening Australia’s Hannah Moloney, and Museum Victoria’s invertebrate expert Simon Hinkley for a fascinating discussion that will change the way you look at dirt.

Healesville Sanctuary will be celebrating National Science Week with a race around the zoo. Tackle exciting tasks and come face-to-face with endangered animals along the way in this unique experience presented by Zoos Victoria. 

Immerse yourself in the wonders of the natural world with a range of tours and walks at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s Melbourne and Cranbourne gardens. From guided bird and bandicoot walks, to an Aboriginal Heritage walk exploring plant uses, customs and ongoing connection to Country. There are also solar tours at the Melbourne Observatory, where you can experience the wonders of our closest star – the sun. 

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In the ‘hood

Inspiring Victoria has awarded competitive grants of between $1000 and $2000 to public libraries and neighbourhood houses statewide to host events and activities in National Science Week. This important initiative ensures the science festivities reach the furthest corners of our State. Eleven libraries and 18 neighbourhood houses won grants. Highlights include: 

• South Kingsville Community Centre is luring Young Minds into Big Science! Children can get involved in lots of different science activities, from making fake snow to LEGO challenges, from film canister rockets to glitter slime;
• Put your dancing shoes on for Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Dance at Bridge Darebin. Combining music, creativity, engineering and environmental science, in this unique workshop children will explore how we can transform every day discarded items into musical instruments;

• Join in a community build for bugs! At Bug City: Building Biodiversity Together families, gardeners and community groups will come together at the Central Ringwood Community Centre to create a giant insect hotel for the Bedford Park Community Garden;
• Noble Park Community Centre’s Code, Create, Grow: Youth-Led STEM for the Future will introduce participants between 8 and 25 years old to robotics, coding and electronics, with a focus on uses in environmental science; 
• Learn the chemistry behind growing crystals, and experiment with generating your own crystal tree to take home, at Earth’s Hidden Treasures hosted by Cann River Community Centre; and,
• At the Science of the Fermented Kitchen, hosted by Yarraville Community Centre, work hands-on with fermenting cultures and discover how to harness the power of microbes to create delicious foods at home

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And then there is…

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The art of bats: An installation created by artists Wona Bae and Charlie Lawler which highlights the vulnerable grey-headed flying fox, and explores the relationship between humans and ecosystems. Hosted by the City of Greater Dandenong, more details here. 

Experts explore MedTech, Biotech, and Digital Health, and their ethical and social implications, in a live public lecture featuring world-class scientists and engineers. Held at the new Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery and hosted by St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, find out more here. 

Still life with stem cells: World-renowned Australian artist Patricia Piccininni will join leading stem-cell expert Professor Melissa Little to explore hope, art and science. This event is part of the EMERGENCE(Y) exhibition at the Melbourne Science Gallery, more details here.

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In regional Victoria…

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New hope for stroke patients: Join Distinguished Professor Chris Sobey at La Trobe University’s Albury-Wodonga campus to learn about his incredible career as a medical researcher, the studies driving innovative stroke therapies, and what is involved in designing and delivering large-scale national clinical trials. More details here.

Wildlife walk in the Otways: Wander through eucalypt woodlands, cool fern gullies and coastal grasslands on this guided tour led by an ecological conservationist. Children accompanying a paying adult are free, find out more here.

Family STEM Showdown in Bendigo:From robot races and tower building to science experiments, families and friends team up to test their science, technology, creativity and problem-solving skills, more details here.

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And online…

Stone tools tell ancient stories: Archaeologist and geochemist Dr Michelle Richard discusses her work using new, non-destructive analytical techniques to uncover the origins of cultural artefacts, such as stone tools, belonging to Indigenous communities. Hosted by The University of Melbourne, more details here. 

Creative Science for Kids podcast: A great listen for science-curious kids, filled with fascinating facts, intriguing discoveries, and plenty of hands-on activities for children between 8 and 12 years old (and their adults) – find out more here. 

The search is on for Australia’s Most Amazing Wildflower: ABC Radio National’s Science Week poll will pit ten native wildflowers head-to-head for top spot. Will you barrack for a flower from your own state, or pick the most beautiful, or the quirkiest?  Cast your vote from Wednesday 5 August.

DIY Science at Home: If you’d like to warm up to National Science Week with some DIY science at home you can find an impressive library of fun, hands-on experiments on the National Science Week website.

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About National Science Week

National Science Week began in 1997 and has become one of Australia’s largest festivals. Last year about 3.4 million people participated in nearly 2000 registered events and activities. 

The Royal Society of Victoria manages the National Science Week Victoria program with assistance from the Victorian Coordinating Committee as part of the Inspiring Victoria initiative. It all comes under the broader Inspiring Australia initiative, in partnership with the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science & Resources, and the Victorian Department of Education. 

Federally, National Science Week is proudly supported by the Australian Government through Inspiring Australia, the CSIRO, the Australian Science Teachers Association, and the ABC. 

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For further information and event listings, head to www.scienceweek.net.au 

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Follow National #ScienceWeek on social media: 

• Facebook: National Science Week 

• Instagram: @NationalScienceWeek 

• Threads: @NationalScienceWeek 

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Finally, if you don't already, subscribe to RSV to get the news and our digital magazine for free: subscribe.rsv.org.au