National Science Week Grants 2010

 

State	Project	Applicant Organisation
ACT*	SCINEMA Festival of Science Film	CSIRO Discovery
ACT	Canberra Family Science Spectacular	CSIRO Discovery
ACT	Intellectual Self Defence	Alison McGregor
ACT	Jevons	Boho Interactive
NSW	Biodiversity in the City	Australian Museum
NSW	Engaging Indigenous Secondary Students from Rural NSW in Science	Macquarie University
NSW	Science NON-fiction: The History and Science of Lasers	SMART, The University of Newcastle
NSW	Border Stargaze 2010	Astronomical Society Albury/Wodonga
NSW	Plants = Life: Exploring Biodiversity at the Royal Botanic Gardens	Botanic Gardens Trust
NSW	Live Futures 2020: A World of Transformation	Future Journeys
NT	After Hours at the Museum	Darwin Festival Association
NT	Metamorphosis: Origins and Ancestors	Nomad Art Productions
NT	Motion and Machines	Maningrida School
QLD	Science for Life!	Queensland Museum South Bank
QLD	National Science Week at the EKKA	Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland
QLD	Gold Coast Science Fair	Gold Coast City Council
SA	Science Alive!	National Science Week CC (SA)
SA	Science@Playford Alive	City of Playford
SA	Would you like some gene technology with that?	The Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics
SA	An Evening/Afternoon of Mystery and Intrigue	Forensic Science SA
SA	Mawson Lakes Science Week 2010	The Mawson Centre
SA	Outback Astronomy Tour 2010	Astronomical Society of South Australia
TAS	Celebration of Science	Tasmanian Academy, Don Campus
TAS	Conservation Crusaders	Devonport City Council
TAS	Tasmanian Science Festival	University of Tasmania
VIC	City Science 2010	National Science Week CC (VIC)
VIC*	Great Big Science Gig	CSIRO Education
VIC*	Planet of the Primes: An Adventure in Maths Comedy – 8 City National Tour	Numbercrunch - Mathematical Communication
VIC	Mathemagical Mystery Tour 2010	Mathematical Association of Victoria
VIC	Riverina Twisted Science Safari	The Scientwists
VIC	Dare to be different	Discovery Science and Technology Museum Inc
VIC	The Art of scientific observation	Museum Victoria
WA	Tuning In	International Research Centre for Radio Astronomy
WA	Shopping Trolley Science	Scitech
WA	A Dance of Science	Australian Association for Environmental Education
WA	Anatomy, Art and the Skull	University of Western Australia
WA	Science Ninja Van	Scitech
WA	Marine Superhighway – Wonders of the Kimberley Coast	Environs Kimberley

 

*project has national activities

Project Descriptions

National Projects

SCINEMA Festival of Science Film (Australian Capital Territory)

SCINEMA will distribute a program of science and natural history short films in 400 venues throughout Australia. Where possible, local scientists will introduce the films and speak about their careers. This project will also coordinate the National Student Short Science Film Competition for primary, secondary and tertiary students, with the theme of ‘Global Biodiversity’.

Great Big Science Gig (Victoria)

A science rock cabaret that will tour nationally to both regional and metropolitan areas. The show will highlight the relevance of scientific developments to the audience’s daily lives and offer reasons to be excited about the future.

Planet of the Primes: An Adventure in Maths Comedy (Victoria)

An innovative maths comedy show aimed at families and maths lovers, touring every state and territory capital with at least one show for the general public and one show for schools. Additional online videos will provide extra maths content for inspired participants to explore themes further.

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Australian Capital Territory

Canberra Family Science Spectacular

Over four days, CSIRO’s Discovery Centre will become a hub for the region’s National Science Week activities, with venues for shows, film pieces, public lectures and interactive booths for local science agencies to showcase their work. Activities will include tours to neighbouring institutions and a musical theatre piece ‘Science is Golden’.

Intellectual Self Defence

A fun, interactive theatre show at Gorman House presented in the style of a 1970's kung fu movie, covering scientific topics such as evolution, climate change, vaccination, homeopathy and genetically modified food. The show will also be aired on the radio program Fuzzy Logic and published as video segments on the internet.

Jevons

Following initial performances in the Canberra region, the program will be presented over five days at the Ultimo Science Festival. This is an audience-driven theatre performance, examining William Stanley Jevons’ groundbreaking ideas in fields as diverse as meteorology, geology, social demographics, economics and music.

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New South Wales

Biodiversity in the City

This project will introduce Sydneysiders to their nearest neighbours be they birds, bugs, barnacles or bacteria on the Biodiversity in the City Discovery Trail. Six linked stations will include specimens, activities and scientists discussing biodiversity and its relevance to our lives.

Engaging Indigenous Secondary Students from Rural NSW in Science

This project will train Year 8-12 students to demonstrate aspects of science, such as the chemistry of household items and the microbes we harbour, to Year 7 students and the broader community. The project will be presented in Casino and Maclean.

Science NON-fiction: The History and Science of Lasers

To mark the 50th anniversary of the laser, the SMART science communication group at the University of Newcastle will tour NSW with a show including stories, interactive demonstrations, real-time experiments, and examples of laser-equipped devices to inform and involve audiences about lasers. Each session will culminate in a multimedia laser light show.

Border Stargaze 2010

Phase 1 of this project will deliver a science fair at Charles Sturt University, with interactive workshops covering a wide range of science based activities for primary students. In Phase 2 Wymah Valley Holiday Park will host a ‘Star Party’ for the general public and amateur astronomers. Tours, interactive workshops, astrophotography, Indigenous astronomy and a mobile planetarium will complete the program.

Plants = Life: Exploring Biodiversity at the Royal Botanic Gardens

Focusing on biodiversity, visitors will engage with the Trust’s scientists, horticulturalists and education staff, experiencing science in behind-the-scenes talks and tours, gardens tours, hands-on activities, displays and demonstrations, culminating in an Open Day on Sunday 22 August.

Live Futures 2020: A World of Transformation

This festival will explore the future of science and technology through exhibitions, interactive workshops, presentations and engagement with science both in real and virtual worlds.  Artists, designers, scientists and engineers will collaborate prior to the event to design and create their displays.

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Northern Territory

After Hours at the Museum

An interactive opportunity for children and adults to learn factual details and to see life sized replicas of Australia’s prehistoric dinosaurs. The project includes museum performances, community and school visits, as well as roving performances in Darwin.

Metamorphosis: Origins and Ancestors

Artists, scientists and academics will gather together in Arnhem Land for a cross-cultural art project to create new work, and to record and share knowledge of the natural environment, traditions and change. The artwork will be exhibited as part of the Darwin Festival.

Motion and Machines

Maningrida School will host a series of interactive workshops involving physics. Simple and complex machines will be built to demonstrate how heavy loads may be more easily managed, and a community soap-box derby will highlight the physics used in the construction of these racing go-carts.

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Queensland

Science for Life!

During National Science Week the Queensland Museum will host events including hands-on activities, public lectures, films, science theatre and web based events. The Museum’s scientists will engage with the public to showcase their work and careers, as well as to discuss current research and its relevance to everyday life.

National Science Week at the EKKA - Ignite Your Imagination

This project will fund a pavilion at The Brisbane Exhibition and draw together a large variety of organisations including government, industry and education to present interactive science exhibits, hands-on workshops, career displays and information for the broader community.

Gold Coast Science Fair

As part of the Council’s TechGC strategic program, the fair will showcase local scientific talent and host a range of events, demonstrations, hands-on activities, debates, lectures and quizzes to provide the public with a practical and educational insight into scientific opportunities.

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South Australia

Science Alive!

This three-day festival at the Adelaide showgrounds will feature up to 50 booth holders from science organisations, industry, education and government.  They will provide interactive science experiences to school students and the general public. There will also be regular science shows throughout the event and science show bags for sale.

Science@Playford Alive

The event will provide the public and primary school students with hands-on, interactive opportunities to explore and be exposed to principles of maths, physics and engineering, insects, human anatomy, biodiversity, environmental research and the importance of the local wetlands in urban planning.

Would You Like Some Gene Technology with That?

Hosted by The Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, a panel of experts and members of the public will discuss the implications of gene technology in the production of modern cereal crops. Community members will participate through question time and further discussion will be encouraged on a chat room site.

An Evening/Afternoon of Mystery and Intrigue with Forensic Science SA

At the University of South Australia, two public presentations and a third presentation to upper secondary school students will lead audiences through modern forensics to solve a complex crime witnessed on video. Participants will gain interesting insights into scientific discoveries that have had significant impact on forensic science.

Mawson Lakes Science Week 2010

Science at the Lakes will include one student day as well as four additional days for the general public to experience wetland tours and interactive science shows highlighting achievements in robotics, lasers, forensics and bionics. Young scientists from the Tall Poppies program will discuss career possibilities with participants throughout the project.

Outback Astronomy Tour 2010

A series of one-hour astronomy programs for students and local communities in outback South Australia.  Activities will include a portable planetarium show, night-time star viewing with telescopes and giant binoculars, as well as naked eye tours of the sky led by astronomers. All events are planned to highlight the development of new technologies with applications beyond astronomy.

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Tasmania

Celebration of Science

This project will include a week of hands-on science activities at the Tasmanian Academy, Don Campus. Coordinated by Year 11-12 students for primary school students, activities will encompass a community science fair including local industry and the University of Tasmania, a range of science competitions and challenges aligned with the theme of biodiversity, and a project-based peer support program for kindergarten to tertiary science students.

Conservation Crusaders

The Devonport City Council will offer an outreach program to the four regional communities of Flinders Island, Scottsdale, Bridport and Cape Barren Island. Qualified presenters, providing interactive science shows and hands-on activities focussing on the International Year of Biodiversity, will seek to increase awareness of the importance of biodiversity in ensuring quality of life for future generations.

Tasmanian Science Festival

The Tasmanian Science Festival will offer a diverse program of over 50 events, including talks, shows, tours, expos and interactive workshops, based in regional centres and at schools around the state. It will include the Young Tassie Scientist program, involving early career researchers with a passion to communicate their field of expertise to audiences across the state.

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Victoria

City Science 2010

Research, community and industry partners will use Federation Square, Melbourne Museum and the Queen Victoria Market to present a variety of performances, forums, demonstrations, quizzes and tours, creating engaging ways for a diverse audience to interact with and learn about science, technology and innovation.

Mathemagical Mystery Tour 2010

Following a competition to select the region, the Mathemagical Mystery Tour will tour several venues to deliver demonstrations, public lectures, discussions and special maths content workshops about the mathematical sciences. The program will highlight how accessible the great ideas of mathematics can be and what they mean for the world around us.

Riverina Twisted Science Safari

An evening event presented for the general public in the three regional areas of Deniliquin, Hay and Balranald. Activities will include a science show, hands-on activities, displays and an opportunity to examine arthropods and learn about their role in ecosystem biodiversity.

Dare to be Different

The Bendigo-based Discovery Science and Technology Centre will host a week-long series of events aimed to engage the local community in science and nature.  Activities will include a biodiversity presentation, reptile shows, “Ask-a-vet” afternoon, a nature-based scavenger hunt and a science careers day.

The Art of Scientific Observation: A Regional Outreach Program

Presented at cultural venues in several regional centres, this project will include theatrical performances of scientific discovery, drawing workshops encompassing scientific observation, and public discussions highlighting current conservation projects being undertaken locally, to raise awareness of biodiversity.

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Western Australia

Tuning In

Presented in Perth and other regional centres, ‘Tuning In’ will be a hands-on demonstration of the differences between optical and radio astronomy using pinhole cameras, sun spotters, optical solar telescopes and a radio telescope. The project will also highlight the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) international science projects to participants.

Shopping Trolley Science

Over two days this project will deliver outreach programs, including live science shows and hands-on exhibits, to school groups and the general public at the Cockburn Gateway shopping centre.

A Dance of Science

Showcasing modern and Indigenous knowledge, this community science fair will explore the movement or ‘dance’ of plants, animals, tectonics and planets. Hands-on activities, presentations and a guest speaker will highlight these movements in the natural environment, together with the associated impacts.

Anatomy, Art and the Skull

This facial reconstruction project will be presented in the main foyer of the Art Gallery of Western Australia. One group of participants will each build the muscles up over the replica skull of a unique individual, while two other groups will be instructed in the art of drawing an approximation from photographs.

Science Ninja Van

Science ninjas will travel to regional pubs in the areas surrounding Perth to deliver a comedy-style science show, hands-on activities and a talk on recent advances in research.

Marine Superhighway – Wonders of the Kimberley Coast

Marine science and biodiversity will be the focus of this project involving guest speakers and displays at Cable Beach, a travelling science show to remote communities in the Broome shire, and a weekend of hands-on survey work on migrating humpback whales.

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