We take a lot of things for granted; almost everything when you think hard enough about it. The main thing we forget to be grateful for is how easy and accessible information is. We can discover what the world looked like 200 years ago, what causes acidic rain, why we see rainbows, what dinosaurs looked like … all with the click of a button or a trip to the library.
August 10-18 marks National Science Week, so it’s appropriate to take a moment to reflect on the abundance of knowledge at our fingertips and how lucky we are to have access to it.
National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of all things science and technology. It features more than 1000 events around Australia hosted by universities, schools, libraries and museums. With over one million participants across the nation, it aims to encourage a public interest in scientific pursuits and promote curiosity within the younger population. National Science Week was established in 1997 and acknowledges the contributions of Australian scientists to the world of knowledge.
What’s on?
Scinema International Science Film Festival @ Perth Cultural Centre (Aug 1-31)
The largest science film festival in the southern hemisphere showcasing the best in science cinema from around the world.
Destination Moon in the WA Museum’s Discovery Zone (Aug 10-18)
An array of free activities and hands-on workshops to teach you about the moon, space craters and meteorites.
Virtual reality experience @ Bridgetown Community Resource Centre (Aug 12-16)
Participate in a free VR experience ranging from “Apollo 11 Experience”, “the Body Journey Inside a Cell”, “Fruit Ninja” and more.
Use ‘real-life’ forensic science techniques to solve a murder @ Freo Prison (Aug 16)
Solve the fictional murder of a prison guard using techniques like fingerprinting and hair analysis at Fremantle Prison. Oh, did I mention there’s pizza and a licensed bar too! (18+)
Speed date a sustainability expert @ Hidden Coffee, Kelmscott (Aug 21)
Looking to meet some sustainability experts? Kelmscott has got you covered. There’ll be experts offering free one-on-one advice ranging from renewable energy to garden designers.
Check out the hundreds activities available at the science week website, and prepare to get your nerd on.