Upcoming events
Inspired NT Roadshow
Each year Inspired NT takes to the road loaded up with eager and enthusiastic university students wanting to share their knowledge in STEM. We deliver exciting and engaging STEM learning experiences for K-10 in remote schools and libraries.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science
Sunday the 11th of February is International Day of Women and Girls in Science! Inspired NT and Casuarina Library are collaborating to showcase the wonderful women of the world and inspire the next generation on Friday the 9th of February. We believe that you can only be what you can see, so we’d really like to show off the significant and valuable contributions made by women in science in the Territory. Our goal is to celebrate our community of female scientists and foster excitement in the next generation.
Power and Water BITE OF SCIENCE at CDU Open Day
This year Inspired NT is partnering with Power and Water, Charles Darwin University, Geek Culture Collective, and Larrikin Interactive to bring you the biggest and best Bite of Science yet. Bite of Science is a free family-fun day of activities and experiences for all, where the exciting world of science in the NT will be showcased by schools, researchers, industry, and practitioners alike. A range of free activities and experiences are available for all ages including Game On (an arcade of gaming delights), Zone 3 Laser Tag, and Amazing Miss Deb’s VR experience.
CDU Open Day - Casuarina Campus
Explore your study and career opportunities at Charles Darwin University’s Open Day.
Talk to our friendly staff about our range of courses and flexible study options.
Participate in workshops, interactive activities and tours across our campuses and online.
Let's investigate new technologies
Moil Primary School is holding a Science Day on 16 August for the Primary School and a Mini Science Day for Preschool on 15 August. We are inviting the Moil community to join us and rotate through different classrooms. Each classroom will have a new investigation or activity around renewable energy technologies. Dripstone Middle School is also involved. The Preschool will have various interactive activities suitable to their ages.
The students will gain an understanding of the variety and development of alternative energies which will conserve our environment. The middle school students participation will demonstrate a career path into the sciences.
The Science Day will go from 10.00am to 1.30pm, with a half hour recess break at 11.00.
HealthLab - Palmerston Library
The HealthLAB Team will be visiting Palmerston Library. HealthLAB is an interactive, mobile lab that promotes healthy lifestyles.
With the HealthLAB team you can:
Test your hydration
Find out your reaction time
Test your agility
See inside your body
Test your strength
See your future with HealthLAB Time Machine
and so much more
HealthLAB aims to increase science and health awareness, and encourage youth into STEM pathways.
This National Science Week project is supported by the Australian Government.
City of Darwin Libraries Build a brush-bot Workshop
Join City of Darwin Libraries to learn and play with robots and build your very own brush-bot to take home.
Brush Bots are constructed with small components including AA batteries and the manufacturer age guidance is for 8+ years. Workshops to build the Brush-bots are only open to children 8 years and above.
We recommend children attend with a parent or guardian to assist in the construction of the Brush-bot.
Bookings required.
Darwin City Library | Monday 14 August 3-4.30pm
Casuarina Library | Friday 18 August 3-4.30pm
SCOPE Photomicrography Competition
Discover the tiny wonders of the Territory!
SCOPE is a photomicrography (the art of taking photos through a microscope) competition, giving Territorians the opportunity to explore the tiniest details of the Territory.
Sixty smartphone microscope converters will be distributed to 30 remote and rural schools and libraries, giving kids the opportunity to explore the world of minutia around them and share their experiences with the whole of the Northern Territory.
Harry Potter Spells at Taminmin Community Library
If you’re a lover of Harry Potter, and are curious about spells, then this event is for you.
As part of National Science Week, the Taminmin Community Library located in Humpty Doo is hosting a free Harry Potter inspired science demonstration.
Join us in the library for live presentations of science-based spells on 12 August. Bookings are required via Eventbrite.
Teddy Bears Picnic
https://www.darwinfestival.org.au/events/teddy-bears-picnic/
At 9.15am get set for a dynamic adventure in Junklandia. Three out-of-this-world musical misfits repurpose the junk the world has forgotten in a spectacle of rhythm, dance, circus and comedy. Make a costume from recycled materials (inspo here), bring a well-loved toy for the toy swap and something like a bucket or shaker to make some noise to create a recycled instrument. This is your chance to be part of one-of-a-kind junkyard band to end this high-octane show!
We’ll be led on our recycle journey through the day by MCs Sparkle and Debarkle, wowed with magic from Hyper the Clown, shown displays of grace from Darwin School of Ballet, rapped with heart felt tunes by Yello and led in a didgeridoo (mägo) and dance workshop with Adam Yates.
Check out a range of stalls, munch on some yummy treats, get your face painted and of course be delighted by performances on our main stage and throughout the parkland.
Daminmin Festival
A beautiful three day festival camped beside the Pudakul Billabong just east of Humpty Doo, in the Adelaide River wetlands, on Limilngan-Wulna country.
This festival is created in partnership with Pudakul and Darwin Community Arts (DCA), under the artistic and cultural direction of Lynette and Graham Kenyon. It is a celebration of art and culture in the rural area, highlighting First Nations culture alongside a range of contemporary artistic practices.
“We want people to leave our festival with a greater sense of belonging, understanding and respect of Limilngan-Wulna country and culture” (Lynette Kenyon- Pudakul)
http://www.darwincommunityarts.org.au/index.php/event/daminmin-festival/
NAIDOC Week - Otto Campion
Otto Bulmaniya Campion (Gamarrang) is a respected senior elder, ceremony man, ranger and scholar from Central Arnhem Land. For many years Otto has passionately supported Indigenous people, both from Australia and overseas, to manage their traditional estates and maintain their cultural knowledge. As well as this, Otto has strived to make people from other cultural backgrounds understand the importance of traditional knowledge and practices, and how these are necessary for the best possible ecological outcomes. Through his cultural standing, wisdom, insights, and perseverance he has made significant contributions to the management of country over the past three decades.
World Aquaculture Conference 2023 - Sideshow
Join us for a World Aquaculture 2023 Conference Side Show AQUAFUTURA.
Special guests Dr Guillaume Drillet, Katarina Doughty, and Angela Williamson discuss the science behind, and the future of aquaculture around the World.
Interesting science and insights into the world of aquaculture for anyone in the industry or just interested.
Dr Guillaume Drillet
Plastics and aquaculture
Guillaume Drillet is an academic researcher from DHI Water & Environment.
Katarina Doughty
The future of aquaculture is circular
Katarina recently submitted her PhD titled “A sustainable aquaculture model by means of circular production” and now works as an associate lecturer and academic content creator at the University of Western Australia. Her work focuses on developing MSc. and micro-credential courses that will prepare students with knowledge and skills in circular production, Aquatech, biomolecular techniques and socio-economic processes required to aid in transitioning modern aquaculture models towards sustainable circular models. Katarina is also a science communicator giving Talks at the TED Countdown, a global initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis, and TEDxYouth events, a mentor and judge for the International FameLab competition and a Grand Challenges champion for her research which targets the United Nations sustainable development goals and is crucial to the future of our planet and its people.
Angela Williamson
Toward an ocean economy balance sheet: the role of aquaculture
Angela brings two decades of ocean and sustainability related experience gained from roles in government, political offices, and the private sector.
She has contributed to the Australian Government’s global and regional ocean use and conservation agendas was responsible for spearheading the ESG agenda and disclosure for Australia’s largest seafood producer, Tassal Group.
She is committed to bringing her experiences in marine spatial planning, oceans policy, aquaculture and fisheries, and the design and delivery of ESG and sustainability work programs to the table as the oceans community works together to
re-imagine ocean governance while introducing new, emerging,
and transitioning ocean industries and sectors.
Ange is also a representative on the Seafood Industry Australia’s
Aquaculture Advisory Committee.
BiG Day In
The ACS foundation presents The BiG Day IN.
BiG Day In events are for year 9-12 school students to explore careers in technology.
Students interact with to 7-8 sessions covering career paths, career opportunities, the latest developments, and the future of technology. In the breaks, students visit the exhibitor stands to speak with company and university representatives.
Students learn about courses, degrees, work experience, internships, apprenticeships and engage with hands-on demonstrations of awesome technology.
World Astronomy Day at CSC
Bring down the family to look at the stars and planets with telescopes at the Casuarina Senior College oval.
Bring a picnic rug or chairs.
Free sausage sizzle from 6.30 pm
NT Science Week Awards
It is time to recognise our champions who have been promoting Science and Technology in our schools and communities. We will celebrate our wonderful heroes at the awards night at Crocosaurus Cove on 21 August.
Winners will each receive $250 in prize money and be celebrated for their amazing efforts and achievements towards STEAM outreach.
Bite of Science
The National Science Week Bite of Science will be a family-fun day of workshops and activities for all, where the exciting world of science in the NT will be showcased by schools, researchers, and practitioners alike.
A range of free activities and experiences are available for all ages including blacksmithing demonstrations, a jumping castle, an arcade, and more.
For those keen to learn a new skill, there are also a number of workshops on offer.
The events, experiences, and workshops are all free - however, workshop places are limited. Please register for individual workshops early at Eventbrite to avoid disappointment.
Workshops Requiring Registration:
Florilegium Craft for Kids - Booking Required at Eventbrite
Children will create ornaments, painting NT native plants on circle postcards. The images will be created with masking fluid markers and granulated watercolour. The children learn native plants, while observing, drawing and painting them. They also find out important information and memorise the most interesting facts, by writing them on the postcards. The kids also enhance their art and craft skills.
Solar Car Challenge - Booking Required at Eventbrite
Build and race a solar car and see if you can beat the NT’s fastest time! Using a kit provided, and in the time allowed, you will work with a partner and build a solar car to race down a 10m track, testing your skill in following a design specification.
Augmented and Virtual Reality - Booking Required at Eventbrite
Experience VR inside Pico Neo 3 Pro world class headsets, creating 3D artwork in MultiBrush, or exploring the human body through 3D Organon, a medical & healthcare education platform for teaching and learning anatomy across virtual reality.
Youth (ages 10+)
Immerse yourself with Drones - Booking Required at Eventbrite
A series of Interactive drone flying workshops will engage young Australians aged ≥10 to spark their interest in science and STEM. Spectacular demonstrations and hands-on activities will encourage critical thinking, creativity and curiosity and provide an opportunity to learn with fun.
Adults (ages 18+)
Communicating Environmental Sustainability through Botanical Art - Booking Required at Eventbrite
This workshop is a mix of environmental and arts education. It includes a talk about mangrove ecosystems and hands on techniques for scientific illustration and drawing. The purpose is to raise awareness of plant biodiversity and environmental sustainability, while understanding how to research and sketch plant species in a scientifically correct form. It also enhances observational and drawing skills.
Pursuit of Hoppyness (strictly 18+) - Booking Required at Eventbrite
evening workshop 7pm @ Mal Nairn
This year, we're turning our attention to hops! Hops are flowers that are used to add bitterness, flavour and aroma to beer as well as act as a natural preservative. So, join us as we explore the science of hops and their role in the brewing process. We'll learn about the different types of hops and how they contribute to the beers you know and love. Continuing our pursuit to make beer with local ingredients, we will also be exploring how to brew without hops and will have tastings of some of the beers we've made using different hops and hop alternatives.
Drop in Activities - no need to book!
Video games are the largest creative industry in the world, larger than the music industry and the film industry combined and multiplied by two! Larrikin Interactive will show you just how easy it is to start making your first game using the industry software Unity, as well as make your own game music! Joining Larrikin Interactive are local devs working on their commercial games - come down, play, learn and chat to the devs about what it takes to be someone who makes video games for a living!
Speargrass Forge
"All that glitters is not gold - and all that's black is not cold." Blacksmithing can be traced back over 3 millenia, from the expansion of Rome through the Industrial revolution, to the modern day; there is a place for the local blacksmith. Here is your chance to ask everything you have wanted to know about this ancient art.
Make your own glow-in-the-dark resin jewellery, DIY shrinkies, sun colour change resin beads and having a blast with the airzooka vortex cannons and smoke machines. At the end of the experience, kids get to go home with super-strong glow-in-the-dark kit.
Under the Microscope (9am-11am)
Discover the microscopic world of bugs and plants in this drop-in session, investigating the creepy crawlies found in your backyard.
Chemistry Spectacular (11am-1pm)
Everything you wanted to know about chemistry. Interact with the atoms through multiple activities covering all aspects of chemistry.
The Menzies-Ramaciotti Centre collaborates with Charles Darwin University for a mix of Art meets Science. This activity presents the processes researchers have used to discover and name new species. Using various activities both visual (fluorescent microscopy, artwork, and digital photography) as well as hands-on activities (artwork, digital microscope, agar plating) we will engage the students.
Puzzle Palace
Build mazes, puzzles and marble runs using recycled materials to challenge kids and their grown-ups.
CSIRO Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy
The Young Indigenous Women's STEM Academy gives young Indigenous women the tools and support they need to succeed in an exciting career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
More activities and workshops TBC….