Celebrate National Science Week 2026

National Science Week is an important part of the Australian Government’s approach to science engagement and inspiring an interest in STEM for all Australians. This year’s event has more than 2,500 in-person and online events to excite people of all ages to attend and participate.

Some events we funded

This year our department funded 28 events with $500,000 in grants around Australia. Some of the events and exhibitions we funded include:

• In the ACT, the Malunggang Connections: Science, Culture and Community Through Platypus event has activities involving platypus (malunggang) and native water rats (rakali). These will include a film screening, guided platypus walks, water bug hunt demos and a First Nations symposium on the platypus and aquatic science.
• In New South Wales, the Quantum Future Talent: Engage, Connect and Inspire event will introduce quantum technology to young students and the public. You can enjoy hands-on demonstrations, inspirational talks and interactive exhibits.
• In the Northern Territory, the Science for Health: Climate and Health Awareness in Remote Australia is an interactive STEM open day in remote Central Australia. The event will include hands-on activities, a solar centre tour and a session on antimicrobial resistance. These encourage STEM participation, environmental awareness and health literacy among remote residents. Australian climate scientists will also hold inspiring talks to showcase future pathways for youth to pursue careers in science.
• In Queensland, the Brains, Boots & Beyond: Exploring Sports Psychology in VR event involves an interactive VR installation. You can go inside the brain of an elite athlete to explore neuroscience, sports psychology and wellbeing.
• In South Australia, the Future Minds: Creativity and Ethics in the Age of AI event will show the human side of artificial intelligence. Four high-impact events will encourage community members of different ages and backgrounds in metro and regional areas to discuss good and bad aspects of AI. Students will also take part in interactive workshops, giving young people the opportunity to engage directly with AI.
• In Tasmania, the Beaker Street Festival is celebrating its 10^th year. The festival invites diverse audiences to share in immersive experiences, crucial conversations, and innovative events and exhibitions at the intersection of science and art. More than 200 scientists take part through a range of fascinating main stage presentations, expert-led field trips, hands-on workshops and intimate dinners and tours. There are Antarctic encounters at the ‘Hobartica’ precinct and the festival’s signature Roving Scientist Bar where everyone's invited to take part in the conversation. 
• In Victoria, the Remnant (by artists Charlie Lawler and Wona Bae) is an interdisciplinary exhibition and public art project highlighting the grey-headed flying fox and its vital role in biodiversity. The project integrates Indigenous Knowledge and scientific expertise, inviting audiences to connect with environmental science through creativity. The temporary public art component is activated through transmedia storytelling, immersive installations, digital simulations and citizen science. 
• In Western Australia, the Forrest Research Foundation National Science Week Showcase event will include hands-on science stations covering everything from bee hotels, a healthy heart experiment, a molecular VR experience and a black hole hunt. The organisers will also collaborate with the Supersonic Science professional edutainment team to deliver a full-package expo for the whole family.

Our portfolio agencies’ events

Some of our portfolio agencies are hosting exciting events open to the public.

• Questacon is the lead agency for National Science Week. They register, organise and support events and activities across Australia, online, on podcasts, radio or in-person. They also provide resources such as DIY science activities, trivia quizzes and other materials that people can use to organise their own events.
• The Australian Space Agency (ASA) is organising several events such as:
  
  • Plants in Space: Mission to the Moon workshop, in collaboration with the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, places attendees in the shoes of plant scientists, psychologists, food chemists and more to prepare a plant-inspired solution for a space mission. 
  • Mission Possible: The Stories of Us is a series of collaborative events with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Japanese universities and the Australia-Japan Foundation celebrating 50 years of partnership. Events are planned across multiple Australian cities (Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney).
  • General Relativity for Youth-Stretchy Spacetime workshop gets attendees hands-on with one of the universe’s most powerful forces as they build their own ‘gravity well’ and experiment with how planets and objects move through space.
  • Sketch-bot drop-in day will allow visitors to the Australian Space Discovery Centre to have their portrait drawn by one of ASA’s ‘Sketch-bot’ robot arms. Visitors can snap a photo and watch as the robot calculates the optimal path to sketch their likeness!
  • Pacific Airshow – Next Gen STEM Lab (Student with Altitude Day) event at the Gold Coast will give students a chance to check out flight simulators and experience interactive challenges. Students will engage with real-world technology and discover pathways into future careers in STEM. As part of the program, students will hear from 2026 Australian of the Year and astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg. Registrations for this event are closed and ASA is expecting around 6,000 students to attend.
  • Seeds of Science: How Australian Seeds Travelled to Space and Back Again is a webinar presented by Dr Sara Webb, Swinburne University, Nat Science Week Ambassador. It shows the incredible journey of Australian seeds that travelled to the International Space Station and back as part of Mission Sprouts. This interactive livestream will also feature a special pre-recorded message from 2026 Australian of the Year and astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg. 
• CSIRO’s robotics experts will host a couple of events:
  
  • CSIRO Robot Responders will give young people the chance to explore how people design and use robots in the real world. 
  • National Science Week Storytime will feature ‘Bear to the Rescue’.
• The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) will partner with Deaf Youth Australia to run a 4-day science camp for up to 20 deaf and hard-of-hearing youths.
• The National Measurement Institute (NMI) will host the annual Measurement Awards recognising outstanding achievements in measurement science. You can join and vote in the People’s Choice awards.