2020 National Science Week

We celebrate National Science Week each year to inspire more students to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects at school.

National Science Week is an opportunity for everyone to talk science, see science and do science.

In light of COVID-19 restrictions, we delivered a virtual program in 2020.

Take a look below and check out these websites to see what other fun and informative National Science Week activities took place:

    Why do you love STEM? Video interviews with STEM professionals

    We interviewed five Queensland scientists with very different backgrounds and skills to showcase the variety of pathways an interest in STEM subjects can take you. Take a look at the videos below to get inspired!

    These videos premièred during National Science Week on the Queensland Science Facebook page. The video featuring marine scientist Katharine Robertson also featured in the foyer of the EcoSciences Precinct.

    • Olympic athletes: maybe they’re born with it, maybe it’s sport science. In this episode, Dr Kirstin Morris from The Queensland Academy of Sport talks all about sport science: her career, how she uses the latest…

      Olympic athletes: maybe they’re born with it, maybe it’s sport science. In this episode, Dr Kirstin Morris from The Queensland Academy of Sport talks all about sport science: her career, how she uses the latest scientific innovations to help elite athletes become their best, and how sport science could be used in the army and in space.

    • How can studying stars 14 billion light years away influence our future gadgets and technology. Learn about space and careers in physics from Professor Tamara Davis AM from The University of Queensland as she discusses…

      How can studying stars 14 billion light years away influence our future gadgets and technology. Learn about space and careers in physics from Professor Tamara Davis AM from The University of Queensland as she discusses astrophysics, what “dark energy” is and how many galaxies there are in the universe.

    • How does science keep firefighters and the community safe. In this episode, Dr Matt Smith from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services speaks about working as a chemist in the Research and Scientific Branch – testing…

      How does science keep firefighters and the community safe. In this episode, Dr Matt Smith from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services speaks about working as a chemist in the Research and Scientific Branch – testing for potentially dangerous substances in warehouses, at road accidents and in shipping containers to keep our emergency responders safe.

    • Did you know Raine Island is the largest green turtle nesting site in the world? Sir David Attenborough visited Raine Island in the Great Barrier Reef in 2015 and described it as, ‘one of his…

      Did you know Raine Island is the largest green turtle nesting site in the world? Sir David Attenborough visited Raine Island in the Great Barrier Reef in 2015 and described it as, ‘one of his favourite places in the world.&rsquo. Hear from Katharine Robertson from Queensland National Parks speak about working with these green turtles and other marine creatures as part of the Raine Island Recovery Project, and why these turtles still need our help.

    • What do solving mysteries, psychology, coding and communication have in common? They’re all essential in cybersecurity. In this episode, Professor Ryan Ko talks all things cyber security – it’s not just about the code, but…

      What do solving mysteries, psychology, coding and communication have in common? They’re all essential in cybersecurity. In this episode, Professor Ryan Ko talks all things cyber security – it’s not just about the code, but also about communicating cyber safety messages and potentially working with cyber-augmented colleagues in the future.

    Flying Scientists ‘virtual’ visits to regional schools

    In the lead up to National Science Week 2020, the Wonder of Science Flying Scientists created a series of videos explaining their fields of study and fun experiments you can try at home. Take a look at the videos on the Wonder of Science website.

    The Wonder of Science team also held live virtual events during National Science Week 2020 featuring a Flying Scientist visiting schools around regional Queensland:

    • Happy Valley State School, Happy Valley
    • Emerald State School, Emerald
    • Cairns School of Distance Education, Cairns
    • St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon
    • Spinifex State College, Mt Isa
    Image of Ms McCallum speaking about seaweed biofabrication to create bio-plastics, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the importance of transdisciplinary research.

    Ms McCallum speaking about seaweed biofabrication to create bio-plastics, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the importance of transdisciplinary research.

    Visit to Moreton Bay College – Deep Blue

    Moreton Bay College learned about the depths of the ocean  as part of the National Science Week 2020 theme ‘Deep Blue’.

    An Engaging Science Grant 2019/20 recipient from The Fabricated Frame and The University of Queensland, Jo McCallum, visited the school on Tuesday 18 August.

    Ms McCallum spoke about seaweed biofabrication to create bio-plastics, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the importance of transdisciplinary research.

    Students also spent the week building a 10,000 piece Lego™ diorama of the ocean ecosystems.

    STEM Awesome activities

    Check out our 2020 Awesome activities book (PDF, 9.4MB) for a host of experiments, colouring-in and word puzzles.

    It was designed by some of Queensland’s leading professionals working in STEM fields:

    • Associate Professor Chamindie Punyadeera
    • Dr Anu Choudhary
    • Professor Jonti Horner
    • Dr Larisa McLoughlin
    • Dr Bonnie Quigley
    • Dr Jenni Gunter
    • Dr Ben Allen
    • Dr Amanda Dawson
    • Dr Andreas Kupz
    • Dr Sara Herke
    • Dr Maryam Shirmohammadi
    • Dr Jodie Rummer
    • Dr Shaneel Chandra
    • Dr Linlin Ma
    • Dr Robert Clemens
    • Dr Rob Capon
    • Dr Stephanie Schoeppe
    • Julia Lackenby

    If you have primary school aged children who love science, download the:

    Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science awards ceremony

    On 27 August, winners of the 2020 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science awards were announced.

    Dr Celine Frere from the University of the Sunshine Coast was awarded the 2020 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Scientist of the Year.

    Nine other researchers were acknowledged with a Young Tall Poppy Science Award on the night.

    All delivered a one minute pitch on the research and communication activities that led to them being short listed for the award.

    Read more and watch videos featuring this year’s award-winning scientists and their research.

    Find out about the awards, an initiative of the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS), which aim to recognise excellence in research as well as enthusiasm for communicating science beyond the walls of the laboratory at the AIPS website.

    STEM awesome activities

    Meet some of Queensland’s scientists and professionals working in STEM fields and have some fun doing colour-in, word games and experiments. Download (PDF, 9.4MB) .