Science Showcase UOW - University of Wollongong

National Science Week is Australia's annual celebration of science and technology. In 2023 it will be held from 12 - 20 August. As part of National Science Week, UOW will host several events to showcase the diverse and interesting science that is happening here.

Science Showcase UOW includes:

Tours and demonstrations at UOW Open Day - Wollongong
Robotics, reptiles, a Fire & Ice Spectacular and more at UOW Shoalhaven
A live ABC Illawarra radio broadcast
An evening of Indigenous science at the Science Space
A presentation on Antarctic science.

Scientists across multiple scientific disciplines and different stages of their study or careers will share diverse and fun science content, suitable for people of all ages and walks of life.

More information for each event is included below.

These National Science Week projects are supported by the Australian Government.

What's on: 2023 Science Showcase Events

Design a T-Shirt Competition
Open Day – UOW Wollongong
Science Showcase - UOW Shoalhaven
Indigenous Science, Song-lines and Stars – An evening in the Science Space, Innovation Campus
Live ABC Illawarra Radio Broadcasts – UOW Wollongong
Allan Sefton Memorial Lecture – UOW Wollongong

Join the University of Wollongong's Design a T-shirt Competition and be part of the National Science Week celebrations! Open to students in Years 3-8, you can showcase your creativity by designing a T-shirt that embodies the theme of Science Week 2023: Innovation: Powering Future Industries.

Discover the details: T-shirt Competition

On Saturday, 5 August, 2023 from 10am - 3pm, the areas around “Sciences Lane” will be buzzing with all sorts of science. Activities include:

Guided tours of several science teaching laboratories and research spaces.
A session of guided physical learning with anatomical models for people with low vision or who are blind.
Fire & Ice Spectacular Science shows, presented by the Science Space
Inflatable organs
Many presentations and interactive displays, such as blue light to check for bacteria on your hands, virtual reality in engineering, body scanning, liquid nitrogen ice-cream and a motor sports simulator, anatomy models, blood pressure checks.
National Science Week science passport, with prizes each hour

Discover UOW 2023 Open Day

On Saturday, 12 August, 2023 from 10am - 3pm, the UOW campus in West Nowra will be transformed into a science activities hub. Activities include:

Fire & Ice Extravaganza science shows, presented by the Science Space (flames, liquid nitrogen and more)
Dragon Training mobile zoo reptile display (lace monitor, crocodile, snake, turtle, frogs, and other smaller lizards)
Project Bucephalus Lego robotics building and competition
Shoalhaven Astronomers presentations, tours of the observatory, sun views with the solarscope
Graduate School of Medicine and School of Nursing tours, activities, health checks, simulations
Waminda South Coast Women’s Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation Birthing on Country display, and simulation mannequins.

No registration required

On Tuesday, 15 August, 2023 from 6 - 9pm the Science Space will be hosting Indigenous Science, Song-lines and Stars. This will include:

Planetarium show: A preview of the Jiigurru (the “Lizard Island) story (an excerpt from” section of The Earth Above: A Deep Time View of Australia’s Epic History planetarium show, produced with Dingaal community members).
Presentation by Dr Robert Fuller: Black Duck Songline – links to the Seven Sisters star cluster. Discussion of Aboriginal cosmologies and Indigenous astronomical knowledge, and links to songlines, oral traditions, and calendars.
Presentation by Dr Jodi Edwards: Whale Songlines that connect First Nations along the East Coast of Australia. Jodi is a proud Walbanja Yuin woman with Dharawal Kinship connections. She will interweave the cultural connections through story, song and dance, connecting the whales to land, sea and stars.
Doors open 5:45pm; presentations finish approx. 8:30pm. Food provided and drinks for sale. There will be an intermission and the Science Space exhibits will be open to explore/.

NB: This event is a ticketed event

Purchase your tickets online

On Wednesday, 16 August 2023, from 8:30am - 6pm, ABC Illawarra will broadcast the Mornings show with Nick Rheinberger and Drive with Lindsay McDougall. This will include:

Playing pre-recorded experiences of Nick and Lindsay as participants in science research and teaching at UOW. You will hear Lindsay undergoing a cycling challenge and muscle testing, and Nick being a simulated patient to have his digestive tract examined by medical students.
Playing pre-recorded interviews with different UOW scientists, recorded in laboratories, discussing diverse and interesting scientific techniques and discoveries
Live interviews with scientists spanning career stage from PhD students to Professors, and across areas including Indigenous science, environmental science, health and medical research, physics, geoarchaeology, climate change, immune responses to Strep A infections, and breast injuries in sport.
National Science Week science passport, with prizes each hour
A day-long competition, with students completing different science challenges in teams representing either the Mornings (Nick) or Drive (Lindsay).
A National Science Week quiz with prizes.

On Friday, 18 August, 2023, from 5:30 – 6:30pm, Professor Dana Bergstrom, an applied ecologist who has worked at the Australian Antarctic Division for 20 years will present on whether Antarctic science is worth the carbon miles.