Planetarium pop-rock concert; super-fast planes; Aussie Moon rover; and a VR tour of rugby players’ brains - Science in Public
Dozens of Science Week stories around Queensland: More on these highlights below. National Science Week in Queensland is coordinated by Inspiring Australia Queensland. Visit their website: inspiringqld. com. au. For general National Science Week media enquiries, contact scienceweek@scienceinpublic. com. au. Building Australia’s Moon rover and other Queensland innovation stories – Hamilton Microplastics researcher Dr Cassandra Rauert and the robotics. . .
Dozens of Science Week stories around Queensland:Building Australia’s Moon rover and other Queensland innovation storiesPlanetarium ‘pop-rock-funk’ concert explores music, misinformation, and the cosmosThe wild ride of a strawberry and VR farm flyovers at the EkkaMeet an Aussie astronaut and the little robot going to the moon at the Airshow – Surfers ParadiseBrains and brawn as rugby sports psychology meets VR – ToowoombaThe sound of cosmic collisions: a musical exploration of space-time – Brisbane & onlineFlower power:What do you think is Australia’s most amazing wildflower?More on these highlights below. National Science Week in Queensland is coordinated by Inspiring Australia Queensland. Visit their website:inspiringqld. com. au. For general National Science Week media enquiries, contactscienceweek@scienceinpublic. com. au. Building Australia’s Moon rover and other Queensland innovation stories – HamiltonMicroplastics researcher Dr Cassandra Rauert and the robotics engineers building Australia’s Moon rover will headline the Science Week Business Showcase, a free evening exploring how science, technology, engineering and maths shape Brisbane businesses. Dr Rauert, a Senior Research Fellow at the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, will discuss her world-leading microplastics research and industry partnerships, while EPE Engineers will share how they are building Australia’s “Roo-ver” robot for the Moon. Environmental scientist and Queensland Chief Scientist Prof Kerrie Wilson will also talk about the strategy driving Queensland’s sustainable economic growth. Thursday 13 August. Event details:www. scienceweek. net. au/event/science-week-business-showcase/hamiltonMedia enquiries: Alana Rauert, Alana@bncc. com. au or 0417 041 929. Dr Cassandra Rauert, Prof Kerrie Wilson and EPE engineers are available for media interviews. Planetarium ‘pop-rock-funk’ concert explores music, misinformation, and the cosmos – ToowongNate Eggins (a. k. a. Conspiracy of One) is returning with his unique Planetarium Variety Show for an evening of:Quirky sciency songs like ‘We’re All Aliens, Baby’ and ‘The Sound a Duck Makes’, funny rants and audience participation and prizesStunning planetarium visualsA workshop on critical thinking and the chance to contribute data to an ongoing studySpecial guest: Science Communicator Melanie Trecek-King of Thinking is Power and author of the upcoming bookA Field Guide to Spotting Misinformation. Returning to the cosmic skydome are Nate and his band to bring you a special stripped back and intimate performance including songs from his debut album ‘Road to Reason’. Audiences will gain new and interesting perspectives on science and our modern world, level up your thinking and learn how to spot pseudoscience pretenders – all while tapping their feet. Friday 21 August. Event details:www. scienceweek. net. au/event/planetarium-concert-live-music-in-the-skydome-3/toowong/Media enquiries: Nate Eggins,nathan@sentientproductions. com. auor 0402 593 431. Nate Eggins is available for media interviews. Footage and photos from past events availablehere. The wild ride of a strawberry and VR farm flyovers at the Ekka – Bowen HillsA strawberry has a pretty wild ride before it lands in your sundae. Follow fruit, uncover the wonders of wool and pilot robotics in the Agriculture Hall at the Royal Queensland Show. The Ag Hall includes the Ekka Learning Trail, with a passport for eight hands-on learning trail points that explore the future of agriculture. Saturday 8 August – Sunday 16 August. Event details:www. scienceweek. net. au/event/agricultural-education-hall-at-the-royal-queensland-show-ekka/bowen-hillsMedia enquiries: Veronica Carew,vcarew@rna. org. auor 0408 323 631 and Kelly Hawke,khawke@rna. org. auor 0438 340 989. Meet an Aussie astronaut and the little robot going to the moon at the Airshow – Surfers ParadisePacific Airshow Gold Coast – 16 Aug 2024Queensland students will be able to test-drive a model of the first Australian-built moon rover (nicknamed the Roo-ver), as well as meet astronaut and 2026 Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg, at the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast. The space-faring Australians are attending the airshow to showcase the science and engineering behind flight, both in and out of atmosphere, at the NXTGEN STEM LAB. Schools can register to attend for free on the Friday as part of the Students with Altitude program. The Pacific Airshow Gold Coast runs for three action-packed days, with some of the best pilots in the world flying super-fast planes in tricks, flip and stunts high over the ocean. Friday 14 August – Sunday 16 August. Event details:www. scienceweek. net. au/event/pacific-airshow-gold-coast/surfers-paradiseMedia enquiries: Jesse Burns,jesse@codefour. comInterviews with performers can be arranged on request. Footage and images available for media usehere. Brains and brawn as rugby sports psychology meets VR – ToowoombaStep inside the brain of a professional rugby player as science and sport come together through an immersive virtual reality experience. The ‘Brains, Boots & Beyond’ is an interactive VR installation that explores neuroscience, sports psychology and wellbeing. It’s the brainchild of Queensland learning design consultancy Concinnity in partnership with Toowoomba’s Western Clydesdales rugby league club and the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ). Avatars of Clydesdales players guide people through the virtual reality experience, revealing how the brain manages focus, resilience, teamwork and recovery. UniSQ will host the installation with a public launch event and daily sessions. Queensland Museum Cobb+Co will also host sessions. Launch: Tuesday 18 August. Event details:www. scienceweek. net. au/event/brains-boots-and-beyond-exploring-sports-psychology-in-vr/darling-heights/Media enquiries: Anna Nicholls,anna@concinnity. auand 0400 912 171. Available for media interviews:A/Prof Edward Bliss: a UniSQ neuroscientist whose research explores how exercise, lifestyle and blood flow to the brain influence cognition, healthy ageing and human performance. Anna Nicholls: is the founder of Concinnity Consulting and Project Manager of ‘Brains, Boots & Beyond’, who has more than 30 years’ experience in learning and development, including digital innovation. Brian Canavan (launch guest speaker) is a respected rugby league administrator and current Chair of the Queensland Rugby League. Brian has long championed the role of sports science, athlete development and evidence-based performance, making him a passionate advocate for the intersection of neuroscience, human performance and elite sport. The sound of cosmic collisions: a musical exploration of space-time –Brisbane & onlineThe most violent events in the universe create elements such as gold, platinum and the iodine in human blood. Dr Karelle Siellezis listening to the aftermath of these massive kilonova through electromagnetic radiation ad gamma-ray bursts. She will explore the ‘sound’ of cosmic collisions, and what these signal reveal about the universe, during public talks across the country as part of the 2026 Marie Curie lecture series. Karelle is an astrophysicist and lecturer at the University of Tasmania. She contributed to the first detection of a gamma-ray burst and gravitational waves from the same cosmic event, recognised with the 2017 Breakthrough Prize. She is also an award-winning science communicator who integrates art, sound, and storytelling into her work. Wednesday 26 August. Event details:www. scienceweek. net. au/event/2026-marie-curie-lectures-painting-the-universe-a-visual-and-musical-exploration-of-space-time-with-dr-karelle-siellez-4/brisbane/Media enquiries: Dr Karen Livesey and Dr Karen Siu (Marie Curie Tour Co-ordinators),wip@aip. org. au, 0478 260 533What do you think is Australia’s most amazing wildflower? – onlineABC Science wants Australians to discover our hidden “flower power”, the kind you find in botanical gardens rather than hippie communes. With the help of experts, ABC Science has selected ten flowering plants from across the country. Not just another banksia or waratah, but blooms from the unsung understory that also do something unbelievable. These ten wildflowers are more than just a pretty face; each one hides a surprising superpower. The public will decide which is the most amazing. Voting to decide Australia’s most amazing wildflower will start just before National Science Week in August, with the winning bloom announced on Friday August 21 in a live broadcast on Radio National. Wednesday 5 August – Friday 21 August. To find out more and vote, go towww. abc. net. au/wildflowers. For interviews with Dr Ann Jones, contact Rob Caulley, ABC Publicity,Caulley. Rob@abc. net. au.