National Science Week: Hunter Science Festival

Get excited for Newcastle's biggest celebration of science, the Hunter Science Festival, in Science Week 2025!  It's bigger and better than ever this year!

• Come and be a poo on the HMRI Poo Palace 
• Build and race a solar car with Hunter Valley Electric Vehicles and the Port Authority
• Pick up a free plant with City of Newcastle's Environmental team
• Climb aboard a real City of Newcastle Garbage truck and talk to the driver
• See a Fizzics Education Big Science Big Fun! science show
• Discover how electric vehicles and electrification can supercharge your life with City of Newcastle's Climate Change and Sustainability Team
• Chill out with LEGO® or a science book in the Newcastle Libraries zone
• Meet a Scientist and find out the incredible adventures that can be had with a science career by coming to the afternoon science talks in the Theatrette with Remote Field Botanist Lily Mickaill and Expedition Scientist Ali Watt
• Try your hand at all the activities from Hunter Water, Irukanji Shark and Ray Centre, The Groundswell Collective, Hunter Astronomical Society, CleanAS Energy, Hunter Geological Society, Newy With Kids, FabLab, High Speed Train Authority, Rusty Coding Club and more!

Hungry? Newcastle Rotary Club will be putting on a BBQ and KT Bakes Cakes will be there for sweet science-related treats!  Or bring your own picnic for under the umbrellas on our Museum Lawn.

Need coffee? The Smiling Monk Café (next to the Museum) is opening JUST for us that day! Grab a coffee from 9:30am to 12:30pm.

Ages: All Ages

Cost: Free

Drop-in event, no bookings required! Tickets to HMRI Poo Palace and Fizzics Education science shows available free to pick up from 9:45am on the day.

Timetable:

• 9:30am - Grab a coffee from The Smiling Monk to get you ready for a big day!
• 9:45am - Get your free tickets to the science shows and Poo Palace from the ticket table
• 10am - Doors open
• 10:30am - Big Science Big Fun!  In the Theatrette
• 12pm - Big Science Big Fun! In the Theatrette
• 1:30pm - Lily Mickaill (Remote Field Botanist)
• 2pm - Ali Watt (Expedition Scientist and Musician) - includes live music!

HMRI Poo Palace runs sessions every half an hour from 10am through to 5pm. The 1:30pm session is for children with additional needs.

This Inspiring Australia NSW initiative is supported by the Australian Government as part of National Science Week.