National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology. Running each year in August, it features more than 1000 events around Australia, including those delivered by universities, schools, research institutions, libraries, museums and science centres. These events attract a wide audience from children to adults and science amateurs to professionals. Over one million people participate in science events across the nation.

Queensland National Science Week in 2024 saw over 317 events registered on the official National Science Week website.

Some highlights include:

• Gympie STEM hub sponsoring a Twilight STEAMzone twilight science market with Scientists Encounter at Rainbow Beach
• Science of Brewing (Gladstone)
• Catapult Competitions at the Medieval Fesitval (Townsville), Amaroo bioblitz (Toowoomba) and Illumiate FNQ Festival (Cairns)
• iLaunch (Springfield and Toowoomba)
• Robotics with Little Alphas (Robina, Metro)
• Playmatters (Townsville)
• Future Science Talks (Cairns, Townsville, Gold Coast)
• Professor Tech (Cloncurry)
• CoralWatch (Brisbane)
• Soapbox Science (Brisbane)

STEM in the Outback – National Science Week 2024 Queensland Launch in Cloncurry
Saturday 10 August 2024

2024 saw the first launch of National Science Week Queensland in a remote outback locatio proudly presented in partnership with the Cloncurry Shire Council. Over 200 people attended the mini STEM Fair. Events and partnerships included:

• Deadly Dancers Group
• Keynote by Colin Saltmere AM
• VR experiences with Professor Tech 
• Mining Science with Dugald River MMG and Harmony Eva mines
• Sustainable Minerals Institute
• Australian Insititue for Bioengineering and nanotechnology
• National Indigenous Science Translation Centre
• Sound of Symmetry (combining maths and music)
• 3D printing pills
• Biodiveristy and conservation on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)
• Tranditional and modern science in the Torres Strait

“The event’s impact has been remarkable. The increased engagement at the Bob McDonald Library and the feedback from attendees have underscored the importance of making National Science Week a permanent fixture in our community calendar. This year’s achievements are just the beginning. Thank you for making a difference, for fostering a love of science in our community, and for reminding us all of the power of curiosity and collaboration.” – Cloncurry Shire Council

Teaching Resource Book

Download the free Species Survival teacher resource book (17.5 MB, pdf) and the companion student journal (4.8MB, pdf). There is also a flipbook version of the resource book. A listing of the web links in the book is also available if you are using a printed copy of the book.

There are a lot of ways you can get your students, class, year level, school and community involved in National Science Week. Your participation can be as simple as a display in the school library, a Brain Break quiz event or as complex as a whole-school science fair.

Here are some hints and tips (484 kB, pdf) for holding a great National Science Week event at your school.

Inspiring Australia Queensland has a number of free online resources to assist you create the perfect event:

• See our page on STEM activity resources for great projects
• Inspiring Australia teamed up with specialists in online education Virtual Excursions Australia to deliver a bespoke program to support those who deliver online science engagement programs targeting the general community.
• Citizen Science in the Classroom has been developed for teachers, however has many useful links for anyone wanting to get involved in science.