Science, engineering and mathematics – boring subjects and not something you want to waste your weekend with – right? Wrong! Science, engineering and mathematics have given us so many wonderful toys such as mobile phones, iPods, computers and television (all of which may play a part in your weekend plans).
National Science Week, which runs from 14 – 22 August, is a chance to explore and enjoy the discoveries of Australians working in science, innovation, mathematics, engineering and technology.
Remember
Rosie, the wisecracking robot maid from The Jetsons? We might not yet have robotic maids to cater for our every whim but young Queenslanders are working on it. Taking place on 21 – 22 August at UQ, the
Robocup Junior Championship is a teams based robotics event where robots designed by primary and secondary school children will compete in dance, rescue and soccer competitions.
Other family friendly science activities celebrating National Science Week include
Science on Saturdays, a CSIRO education program for children aged 7 – 14 or visit the
Sciencecentre at South Bank and get hands on.
The brain will be the centre of attention on 13 – 14 August at Noosaville with the
Queensland's Big Brain event. Featuring lectures on topics as diverse as how the brain makes sense of scents to understanding schizophrenia, it could well be a day of brain overload. On the other coast, the Gold Coast will host the Gold Coast Science Fair on the weekend of 21 – 22 August which aims to showcase the innovation of the Gold Coast.
A highlight of National Science Week is the
National Tour which features eminent scientists from Australia and overseas visiting every state in the country. This year, Dr Chris Smith who founded the
Naked Scientists will be a tour participant. National Science Week events include lectures, public demonstrations, art and theatre, hands on experiments and science displays in museums, public spaces, schools, universities and zoos. Over 800 events will take place Australia wide for National Science Week and the week is the largest festival of any kind in Australia. Full details of all events can be found on the National Science Week
website.
Images & Video
Robocup Junior Soccer
National Science Week Launch Video
Fun with the colour spectrum at Sciencentre
There's electricity in those hands – Sciencentre
