If you are keen to get sciencey or just like a good explosion then National Science Week is for you and this year we have more events than you can poke a stick at (although still not sure why you would poke a stick at things).

National Science Week runs from August 10 – 18 2013 and there are events happening all around the country. Visit http://www.scienceweek.net.au/ to find out more about other events taking place.

The Sapphire Coast is going to be lit up with science starting from the 10th all the way til the 18th so you have plenty of chances to get your science on.

Saturday August 10 – Science Week Expo at Bournda Environmental Education Centre

The Atlas of Life  and Bournda Environmental Education Centre with other partners are organising lots of exciting hands on science activities for people to join in.

At 3pm SCMDC will be running a fish dissection so if you’ve ever wondered how a fish is put together and why then this activity is for you. Please note this is not for the faint hearted.

Full details of the activities and surveys on the day and how to book your place can be found at:

http://www.alcw.org.au/index.php/2013/07/national-science-week-events/

Monday August 12 – Eden Brain Break Morning Tea

Time: 10.30am
Switch on to science at Sprout Eden to celebrate the start of National Science Week 2013. Come along for cake and coffee and take part in science activities, including games, fun science experiments and quizzes.
Places are limited, call the Discovery Centre on 02 6496 1699 to book your table now.

Thursday August 15 – Dinosaurs Down Under

Time: 12 PM to 4PM
Location: Eden Fishermen’s Recreation Club
The roadshow displays moving, life-like dinosaur models, and offers interactive hands-on fossil experiences, including the opportunity to hold the bones of real Australian mega-fauna (like the giant wombat, Diprotodon) or touch fossilised ancestors of the Wollemi pine.

Invited guest speaker paleontologist Marton Rabi from Hungary will be presenting a lecture at the Fishermen’s Club at 2pm. After the talk, there will be an opportunity for the public to ask questions about Australia’s prehistoric past and about the life of a researcher.

Friday August 16 – Trivia Night Fundraiser: Celebrating a Centenary of Science
Time: 6.30pm
Location: Merimbula RSL
Cost: $25 each or $200 for a table of 10, includes a platter of finger food per table.
Celebrate the wonders of science over the last century and support the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre. Don’t worry if you’re not a science buff it will be fun for everyone showcasing the relevance of science in our everyday lives, such as in sport, music, TV and movies.
Contact us to book or book online.
Email: education@sapphirecoastdiscovery.com.au          Phone: 02 6496 1699

Saturday August 17 – Science by the Sea – SCMDC Open Day
Time: 10am – 3pm
Location: Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre

A community Open Day to celebrate National Science Week 2013. The Open Day will showcase the wonders of the local environment and highlight how science is an important tool in its conservation and management. This will be achieved through a variety of hands-on science activities, displays from a number of community and environment groups and a citizen science workshop and visit to the local rockpools with EarthWatch Institute Australia.

Activities on the day include:

• Displays from Potoroo Palace, Montreal Goldfields, Love Our Lakes, Merimbula Divers Lodge, Sapphire Coast Underwater Research Group, Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness and the Merimbula Aquarium.
• Hands-on science activities such as making slime, extracting your own DNA, tsunami demonstration, musical science and the ever popular mentos diet coke trick.
• Free Finding Nemo Jumping Castle
• Free Face painting (11am – 2pm)
• Glowtastic hands-on science workshop (2pm – 1 hour workshop) looking at genetic engineering of a glowing jellyfish protein (Cost $5 per participant)- places are limited – Call us to register your interest.
• EarthWatch Institute Australia citizen science workshop.
  The workshop will run from 9am with a short briefing in centre from an EarthWatch representative before heading down to the rock pools. Participants will learn how to identify and record animal sightings using a newly developed app.  Bookings are required for the rock pool workshop as places are limited. Contact us on 6496 1699 to secure your spot.  Cost is only a donation.This initiative is supported by Inspiring Australia and the NSW Government as part of National Science Week.

Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 August – Greencape National Science Week Expo

As part of the 13oth Anniversary of Greencape Lighthouse celebrations the Atlas of Life will be running activities and displays at Greencape lighthouse to finish off National Science Week.

Details of activities held by Auswide such as the Lighting of the Lamp event (5pm 17 August) can be found at  www.auswideservices.com.au

To see full details of the Atlas of Life surveys and events taking place visit http://www.alcw.org.au/index.php/2013/07/national-science-week-events/