Illuminate Nature!

Ahead of the touring exhibit Illuminate: How Science Comes to Light, opening mid-December, Newcastle Museum is pleased to host an event highlighting weird tricks of the light found in local bushland. We will see pictures of glowing scorpions, shining lichen, colourful spiders and more.

Local scientist and tour guide, Karen Livesey, will reveal how nature manipulates light in unexpected ways, including converting UV light to visible glow, and producing fabulous rainbows from a single brown pigment. This talk will include trivia with prizes to be won! 

Doors open at 6pm, Talk from 6:15–7.15pm.

Entry to the event: This is an after hours event. Doors open from 6pm. Please enter by the Theatrette entrance to the Museum on Wright Lane.

Cost: Adults - $10 | Under 18s - Free

Ages: recommended 8+ years (G rating), children are welcome to attend with adult supervision

Bookings essential

If you have any access or inclusion needs, you will be able to advise us when booking.

Speaker biography:

Karen Livesey is an award-winning physics researcher, speaker and lecturer. After moving to Newcastle, she became fascinated by glow-in-the-dark ghost mushrooms. In 2026, she launched Glenrock Ghost Fungus Tours, with a following of over 1000 people online and 160 in-person guests. Karen is NSW Chair of the Australian Institute of Physics, and an honorary Associate Professor at the University of Wollongong.
 

Newcastle Museum is supported by Create NSW.