The popular World Science Festival is back and opening students up to a world of STEM opportunities.
Following a string of successful scientific showings across Queensland, the festival has announced it’s bringing its special blend of interactive STEM activities back to Brisbane students in 2024.
Starting March next year, the Brisbane festival will “take over the city”, installing several wondrous scientific attractions across Brisbane’s Cultural Precinct and South Bank areas.
During that time, a three-day educational program provides inquisitive students with an array of interactive activities that explore the natural world, push the frontiers of scientific discovery and uncover the impact of science on our daily lives.
According to the Queensland Museum Network, the program has become a cornerstone of science education for students and teachers from Prep to Year 12 across the country.
“World Science Festival Brisbane continues to grow in popularity and has become a hub for scientific discovery and exploration,” said CEO Dr Jim Thompson.
“We hope that our participants and visitors have a renewed sense of curiosity and excitement for the possibilities of science.”
The school program is designed from the ground up to engage students in STEM literacy in a “fun and unique way” while incorporating strong links to the Queensland curriculum and more targeted year ranges and subjects.
For next year’s students, the 2024 festival boasts several curated events and presentations that explore the wonders of the ancient world, delve into the science of beatboxing, ask if Pokemon can really exist (seriously!), and offer inspiring stories from real-world STEM superstars.
Some festival favourites, such as Researcher Emerald Gaydon’s tour through the cosmos in Lighting Our Universe: Physical Science, and everyone’s beloved drive-home radio scientist Dr Karl, are also set to return.
Lucky attendees will also experience the museum’s massively popular Loggerhead Turtle hatching event. Students can watch as newly born turtles emerge from their incubators before their eyes and take their first steps into the large saltwater aquarium – all the while learning about the Queensland government initiatives that have been crucial to the species’ survival.
The Minister for the Arts, Leanne Enoch, said the festival has been incredibly successful in the past, delivering amazing attendance numbers who engaged with “art-infused scientific wonders and dinosaur-sized events and exhibitions”.
“The Queensland Government supports the Queensland Museum to present signature events like the World Science Festival Brisbane, to profile Queensland as an international destination for artistic innovation and scientific breakthroughs on our path towards 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said the Minister.
Schools can extend their festival excursion experience with additional activities and exhibitions throughout the museum, including free Art/Science Experiences and a visit to SparkLab.
World Science Festival Queensland 2024 regional program will also include school and education events in Chinchilla, Gladstone and across Queensland Museum Network campuses in Townsville, Toowoomba and Ipswich.
