National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology. Running from 10 -18 August 2024, the week aims to encourage an interest in science among the community and to encourage students to be fascinated by the world we live in.
About
Running each year in August, National Science Week features more than 1000 events for adults and children around Australia. Events include virtual tours, webcasts, talks, DIY experiments, quizzes, citizen science, competitions and more.
The school theme for National Science Week in 2024 is Species Survival - More than just sustainability. The theme aims to highlight the importance of science and innovation in ensuring the survival of different species in an ever-changing world.
Students will have an amazing variety of topics to investigate and be able to dive into issues of particular interest to them: disease-causing organisms, life-saving chemicals, clean water, photosynthesis, genetic screening, physics of building structures, artificial intelligence, and microplastics.
How schools can get involved
If you’re a teacher, there are lots of ways you can involve your students to celebrate science and technology. Useful resources and tips are available to help you organise events and activities at your school.
Teachers are encouraged to visit the National Science Week website and download the free Species Survival teacher resource book and the companion student journal . There is also a flipbook version of the resource book.
Department of Education’s support for STEM
The Department of Education regards high-quality science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education as critically important for Australia. The Australian Government works closely with states and territories to support STEM education and funds a range of STEM initiatives for schools, teachers, students, carers and families, from early years to schooling and higher education.
Some of these initiatives include:
- Little Scientists
- Digital Technologies Hub
- Curious Minds
- Science by Doing
- STEM Professionals in Schools
- Primary Connections
- Women in STEM Program
Learn more about how you can engage in School and Early Learning STEM initiatives.
During the week, the department is also highlighting the National Industry PhD Program which supports PhD candidates to undertake industry-focused research projects to better translate research into outcomes. A project funded through the program involving Macquarie University, biodiversity consultancy company Thesium and PhD student Lachlan McRae is focused on understanding the breeding habits of threatened Australian microbats to save them from extinction.
Find out more about the on the National Science Week website.
A selection of FREE events and resources for National Science Week 2024.More information
| Program/Partner | Event/Communications |
|---|---|
| CSIRO | National Science Quiz The quiz will be streamed around Australia via YouTube with game play on Kahoot. 12 August 2024 |
| CSIRO | Storytime with an Endangered Songbird (Foundation – Year 3) FREE online webinar where Coral Vass reads The Forgotten Song: Saving the Regent Honeyeater, live from Melbourne Zoo. 12 August 2024, 11:00-11:30 (AEST). Storytime with an Endangered Songbird (Foundation – Year 3) - CSIRO |
| CSIRO | The Great Koala Count (Years 4-6) FREE online webinar about monitoring, estimating and assessing our national koala population. 13 August 2024, 11:00-11:30 (AEST). |
| CSIRO | Keeping an eye on water (Years 7-9) FREE online webinar to learn about CSIRO’s AquaWatch, a national service to give water quality updates and forecasts. 15 August 2024, 11:00-11:40 (AEST). Keeping an eye on water (Years 7-9) - CSIRO |
| CSIRO | The classroom brain: Boosting attention and memory for better learning FREE Teacher Professional Learning webinar by Dr Dana Bradford about boosting attention and memory. 21 August 2024, 16:30-17:30 (AEST). The classroom brain: Boosting attention and memory for better learning - CSIRO |
| CSIRO | The classroom brain: Incorporating movement and mindfulness FREE Teacher Professional Learning webinar by Dr Dana Bradford about how moving the body helps students learn. 12 September 2024, 16:30-17:30 (AEST). The classroom brain: Incorporating movement and mindfulness - CSIRO |
| CSER | Will be promoting National Science Week leading up to the event, providing teachers with ideas on activities they can do in the classroom. The Computer Science Education Research Group will also share their latest lending library resource: Lending Library Kit (adelaide.edu.au) |
| The GiST | Launching the STEMOSPHERE on 12 August 2024 via the GiST website The Girls in STEM Toolkit | The GiST It is an interactive STEM careers map that incudes career information, job statistics, videos, professional profiles and industry insights for students to explore STEM career options. |