National Science Week

UTS X National Science Week 2026

WHEN

15 August 2026
Saturday

23 August 2026
Sunday

WHERE

Australian Museum
Botanic Gardens of Sydney
Botanic Gardens of Mount Annan

COST

Some events ticketed

RSVP

Learn about Sydney Science Trail at the Australian Museum

Celebrate Science and Technology

National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology.

Proudly partnering with the Australian Museum and the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, join UTS in the exploration of the wonders of science and discovery.

What’s on during National Science Week

Mark your calendars and join UTS in a mix of in-person events, excursions and expos during August.

Explore, discuss and experience the wide world of science through the study of the natural world, investigation into climate change, and learning from First Nations peoples about the Australian environment.

UTS is part of the Sydney Science Trail for primary and secondary students and the Sydney Science Social for adults.

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Sydney Science Trail excursions are back this August.

The program includes four activity sessions across both the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and the Australian Museum sites.

Book your Science Trail excursion now

Science Expo at the Australian Museum

Monday 17 to Friday 21 August

Wander through our Science Expo stalls and chat citizen science, frogs, fossils, medical research and more – even ask our scientists about their career paths. Come along to the UTS stall and ask those burning questions you have and try your hand at some awesome hands-on activities and experiments.

Primary students – Monday 17 or Tuesday 18 August
Secondary students – Wednesday 19, Thursday 20 or Friday 21 August
Diverse learners years 3 to 6 – Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 August
Diverse learners years 7 to 11 – Wednesday 19 August

Scientist Talks – for secondary students

Science for All: Citizen Science

Wednesday 19 August – 8.30 am to 11.30 am

Citizen science projects are often based on opportunistic collection of data or evidence from members of the community, but the contribution to science that these initiatives have can be exponential.

Speakers include:

Grace Gillard, FrogID Technical Officer – Research, Terrestrial Vertebrates, Australian Museum
Dr Cathy Offord, Head of Australian PlantBank Research, Botanic Gardens of Sydney
Professor David Booth, School of Life Sciences, UTS

Speaker spotlight

Knowledge for a Real World: Climate Change

wednesday 19 August – 11.30 am to 2.30 pm

Scientists across the world are collecting evidence of the impacts of climate change. Hear from leading scientists about their research and how it applies to better understanding one of the biggest challenges of our time – climate change.

Speakers include:

Dr Nathan Emery, Manager Seedbank & Conservation Collections, Botanic Gardens of Sydney
Dr Frederik Saltre, Research Scientist, Climate Solutions Centre, Australian Museum
Dr Zoe Xirocostas, Chancellor's Research Fellow, School of Life Sciences, UTS

Speaker spotlight

Innovation and Creativity in Science

Friday 21 August – 8.30 am to 11.30 am

Scientists ask questions, lots of questions! Learn how innovations in technology or research methods often stem from the need to find scientific solutions to these questions.

Speakers include:

Dr Matt Lott, Scientific Officer, Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics, Australian Museum
Rachel Rogers, School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, UTS
Richard Dimon, Scientific Officer from the Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience (ReCER), Botanic Gardens of Sydney

Speaker spotlight

Seeds of Science: How Science Knowledge Grows

Friday 21 August – 11.30 am to 2.30 pm

Science discoveries and collections of the past are often used to inform science for the future. Learn how scientific knowledge evolves as we continuously develop our understanding of the world around us.

Speakers include:

Dr Claire Rowe, Collection Manager Marine Invertebrates, Australian Museum
Dr Jinni Yan, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, UTS
a scientist from the Botanic Gardens of Sydney

Speaker spotlight

Interactive STEM Workshops – for secondary students

The Science Behind Your Food

UTS Science is excited to be delivering our Food Science and Technology workshops as part of the Schools program

Become a food scientist and put everyday foods to the test. Students analyse taste perception, compare sugar levels using refractometers, and assess egg freshness – discovering how science ensures food quality, safety, and consistency.

Who Did It?

Be a forensic investigator and use scientific applications to solve crimes.

Students will learn how to dust and collect fingerprints, analyse blood spatter, test for drugs and collect evidence, with the aim of building a solid case for the court of law.

Family Community Days

At the Australian Museum

Saturday 15 August 2026

Get ready for Sydney Science Trail Community Day, a science bonanza packed with live shows and hands-on activities for kids of all ages, hosted by the Surfing Scientist Ruben Meerman.

Entry is free, with more than 15 interactive activities. Some shows and experiences incur an extra charge and can be booked as an add-on during registration.

Book now

At the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan

Saturday 22 August 2026

Head to Mount Annan on Saturday 22 August for a free, interactive program of science talks, nature experiences and hands-on activities for the whole family. Visit the UTS ecology, conservation and management display and meet the scientists behind the work.

Location: Australian Botanic Garden, 362 Narellan Road, Mount Annan NSW 2567

Book now

Scientist spotlight

The Sydney Science Social – for all science enthusiasts

wednesday 19 August – 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm

The Sydney Science Trail presents a special after-hours event at the Australian Museum to bring together the science community for an evening to forge new connections and celebrate scientific innovation.

Enjoy live music, pop-up exhibits including the Science Expo, and drinks as you catch up with your peers, researchers, and experts from leading organisations to hear first-hand about their work and what's in store for the science community.

Hear Prof Andy Leigh and her research colleagues, Rita Okai and Valerie Djana, talk about how Anangu knowledge and Western science are helping us understand how plants at Uluru-Kata Tjuta are coping with climate change.

This is a free event for all science enthusiasts.

Book your tickets