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Posted by SASTA

on 10/08/2020

What do you have planned for National Science Week this year?


Check out some of the great activities we've come across. Let us know what you have planned to feature on our National Science Week round-up blog!

Plus don't forget to check out the National Science Week website for all upcoming events and the Teacher Resource Book from the Australian Science Teachers Association. You can find a collation of events and activities developed by the South Australian community for National Science Week here

DIY Science

The DIY Science series includes tips on how to make a weather station, and for doing a backyard biolblitz: dissect a flower, identify insects and suss out what animals are living nearby.

There are also astronomy activities including making a sundial, observing satellites and identifying stars and planets using our August star charts, as well as astronomy to do when it's cloudy.

Primary Connections

  • Short engaging videos - these videos from the Australian Academy of Science link to the National Science Week theme nad the Australian Curriculum
  • Linking science with maths - support your students to explore and describe marine animal behaviour using a mathematics lens with this lesson from reSolve: Maths by Inquiry
  • What's making waves in ocean science? - Dive into this webinar with an expert panel of scientists to find out the impact of the biggest problems that our oceans are facing, and how science can solve them on 17 August

SCINEMA International Science Film Festival Community Screenings

SCINEMA is the largest science film festival in the southern hemisphere showcasing the best in science cinema from around the world. It's a celebration of the power of the moving image to inspire the young, satisfy the curious, explain the baffling and ask the impossible.

Sign up to watch this year's selection of SCINEMA films for FREE during August as part of National Science Week.

CSIRO National Science Week Challenge

Challenge yourself to explore your own vital connections to the ocean.

Use the ideas and links on the website to inspire you or come up with your own deep dive – your idea or project can be as simple or complex as you like, everyone's connections to the ocean are different. Share what you've learnt on social media and check out other ideas and projects using #STEMchallenge.

Check out this Ocean Animals book from CSIRO with the weirdest, smartest and sneakiest sea creatures!

Deadly Slime: a choose your own adventure animated experience

Dive deep into the fascinating and slimy world of biofilms in a choose-your-own-adventure animation experience. Navigate your way through a dramatic story inspired by real-life events. Will you make the right decisions and defeat the infection?

Scientists around the world are working hard to defeat biofilms, and South Australian researchers are at the forefront of this raging battle. As the second component of this activity, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more directly from the experts in an online Q&A session on 26 August with Adelaide-based researcher, Dr Katharina Richter, and surgeon, Dr Markus Trochsler. Find out more and register here.

Celebrating Marine Environments - Underwater with Arduino

Join Techspace Learning online and investigate our local water environments whilst also learning about Arduino and basic programming skills. There are some basic mathematics and science principles used in this session. These activities will be delivered via Zoom Webinar and a link will be sent you before the activity. There is a limit of one Arduino Kit per family and the kit will need to be picked up from an Onkaparinga Library. Find out more.

Deep Blue Oceans: Innovations for the future of our oceans

Join the Department of Defence during National Science Week as we speak to scientists from Defence and industries working at the forefront of science and technology and transforming the future of our oceans.

Does your class want to know more about how oceans fit into global systems or the water cycle? Do they wonder about how we can leave the seas a better place than we find them? Or ponder on how we can benefit economically from the seas, whilst not taking advantage of their riches? Do they wonder how cutting-edge technology can benefit all lifeforms both in and out of the water?

Sign up now to register your interest and you will be sent details on how to access these three exciting online sessions once they are available.

Cool Australia - Science Week 2020

This year National Science Week is all about the ocean, engaging students in ocean science and supporting young people to be active and aware of science-driven research. 

Cool Australia have projects for all year levels – from understanding our impact on the ocean, marine life and its importance in the eco-system to citizen science projects to get your students active and engaged in our environment through science. Find out more here.

The Great South Australian Fossil Debate

The Great South Australian Fossil Debate will be an on-line event, broadcast live on August 23rd at 4pm through Dinosaur University, in which four of South Australia's leading palaeontologists will argue in favour of a particular position.

Each palaeontologist will be given seven minutes to make their points, which will then be followed by a panel discussion amongst all four, moderated by world-renowned palaeontologist, and Dinosaur University Dean of Science, Professor Flint. Find out more here.

The Big Watermelon Experiment: Physics, Forces and Flying Fruit 

Have you ever wondered how many rubber bands it takes to implode a watermelon? This is your chance to find out! Register online and check out the mini-lessons available on the website.

Super STEM Careers Q&A

This live streamed Q&A will run on Wednesday 19 August from 4pm - 5pm (AEST). Hear from Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith, a black hole wrangling astrophysicist and Australia’s Women in STEM Ambassador, Marita Cheng AM, roboticist and CEO of Aubot and Dr Kalinda Griffiths, epidemiologist and Superstar of STEM, as they talk about their jobs and how they started on their STEM career pathways. Find out more and register.

ACEMS National Science Week Virtual Quiz

With National Science Week approaching – ACEMS is hosting a National Science Week Virtual Quiz on Thursday 20 August from 6pm-7pm AEST via Zoom Webinar – with a fantastic cast of panelists from different areas of science that will ponder a set of  the set of intriguing scientific questions - and there’s a chance to play along, test your knowledge and win some great prize packs while you're at it! It will be a fun hour of great scientific discovery for everyone to enjoy. Register and find out more here.

Cool Aeronautics

The team from Cool Aeronautics is pleased to be presenting a range of aerospace specific, webinars, live Q&A sessions and screenings during National Science Week, 15th – 23rd August.

The webinars are ideal for students (grade 7 +), teachers and the community with an interest in aerospace and will highlight how STEM is used in the workplace. Our guest speakers will talk about what they do on a day-to-day basis and how they apply what they learnt at school to what they are doing now. They will highlight the diversity of career options in aerospace in Australia. Find out more and register here.

Marine Stewardship Council Education Resources

The resources will be launched on Monday 17 August, 11.30 am AEST via an online lesson for teachers and students, Ending Overfishing: Virtual Classroom with Marine Scientists

This one-hour session will be hosted by Ocean Conservationist and Former presenter of Channel 7’s ‘Get Clever’ Laura Wells, Shark Biologist Dr Adrian Gutteridge and our resident Star Teacher, Mark Dunn. The lesson is targeted at Science and Geography students in Primary (Stage 3), however, classes from all subject areas and age groups are welcome to join!

Teachers and students will also have the opportunity to test their knowledge in a ’Sustainable Oceans’ quiz to win an annual subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine. Find out more here.

Street Science

Students are taken on a journey through the depths of our oceans as we explore the impacts of modern technology and scientific discoveries on our Oceans. Find out more in the video below and on the website.