Unleash the discoverer within! Join us at Science Festival 2023

Ever wondered why some foods taste delicious and not others? Want to help your pooch lead a happier life? Curious about the El Nino phenomenon, finding diamonds in volcanoes, machine learning or electrifying physics demonstrations?

Celebrate science and see the world around us in new ways at the University of Melbourne's 2023 Science Festival. From 14 to 20 August, members of the public are invited to tickle their intellect and satisfy their curiosity through our melting pot of fun events, latest discoveries and thought-provoking discussions.

Faculty of Science Dean Professor Moira O’Bryan said she was thrilled to open the doors to the public to explore the University’s contributions to science and research.

“Science helps us understand the universe and solve real-world problems to make the world a healthier, safer and more equitable place,” Professor O’Bryan said.

“Our annual Science Festival is part of our commitment to sharing the University’s research with the community and creating excitement about science and discovery. We invite all curious minds to come together to explore fascinating subjects and embrace the spirit of inquiry,” she said.

The week-long festival has something for everyone, including public lectures, masterclasses, live experiments and expos, games, and activities. Featured events include:

• Collaborate to Innovate Expo: At @Science Gallery Melbourne, discover robotics, space science, solar technology, and electron microscopy. See virtual reality games for amputee rehabilitation, how bacteria inject toxins into cells, and science is helping to prevent the next pandemic. Afterwards, attend the Science Gallery’s new Dark Matters exhibition.
• Should we care about science denialism? Join this panel discussion with researchers and communications experts on this critical topic. Our line-up will navigate the intricacies of debunking misinformation, fostering critical thinking and what science can do to open the door to a more informed world.
• Mid-Afternoon Masterclasses series: Our enthusiastic scientists will host daily online masterclasses that will delight dog lovers, food fanciers, weather watchers, armchair vulcanologists and those curious about how patterns in numbers help machine learning.
• Science gets real: From problem to lab innovation to real-world impact: Get the lowdown from three inspiring scientists as they take you through the journey of turning ideas nurtured in the lab into real-world impact.
• The Physics Show: Our physicists demonstrate cool experiments live and show how science gives us tools to express our creativity, to see the world in new ways, and then to change it.

The University of Melbourne Science Festival 2023 is hosted by the Faculty of Science as part of National Science Week. To book your free spot visit the Science Festival 2023 page.