Six-year-old Pippi at the Up Close and Personal exhibit at the Sky Dome in the Santos Conservation Centre in Adelaide Zoo. Source: The Advertiser
THIS year's National Science Week is a platform for all in the field to inspire the community with how much their work can change the world.
Scientists pride themselves on being logical, accurate and precise, so it's ironic that National Science Week should stretch for more than seven days.
Award-winning science communicator Dr Rob Morrison, patron of National Science Week in South Australia, says newcomers often are "baffled" by the dates.
"I get quite a lot of mileage out of saying it's more like a month than a week, which in a way just emphasises how much is going on," he said.
The state program of events lists a wide range of activities taking place from August 1 to August 29.
The official dates are 13 to 21 August, following the SA launch on August 5.
Tours and workshops for school groups are presented with family fun and entertaining activities for all ages.
Animals are the stars of a new Sky Dome movie showing at Adelaide Zoo for the SA Living Artists Festival and National Science Week.
Up Close and Personal on the first Adelaide Science-Art Trail features Australian animals such as the lyrebird, wallaby and Tasmanian Devil projected on the ceiling of a big inflatable dome.
Pippi, 6, from Bridgewater said she'd been to the zoo before to see the pandas, but it was worth coming back for a closer look at some of the other animals in the free exhibition. "It's fun because I like watching the stick insect," she said.
Melbourne artists Chris Henschke and Donna Kendrigan said the initial idea was to "start at the ground and work up to the trees", meeting Australian animals along the way.
"When you do go into a forest you really look around," Ms Kendrigan said.
"I think that's what so good with this type of projection. "It really encourages the viewer to look around instead of staring straight ahead.
"The sound is really important to that too.
"When people hear different animals and birds, it makes people look around more."
The touring festival of science film SCINEMA rolled into town last weekend for a free family session at Mercury Cinema. More award-winning films will screen tomorrow night in the RiAus Science Exchange auditorium. SCINEMA continues this week at the SA Museum. CSIRO Science Education Centre and regional centres are also taking part.
Another fusion of science and art is The Great Big Science Read, culminating in a major event at the RiAus Science Exchange celebrating the written and spoken word. There will be readings, poetry and awards for Sci-ku.
Australia's Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb, says National Science Week is "the perfect platform to remind Australians what science brings to their lives and to showcase the quality and value of our science to our community".
"The Australian community needs science. We scientists need to make sure that they want science," he said.
"They should be encouraged to look around them and marvel at the effect that science and the applications and uses of science has on their everyday lives.
"And they should be taken with us as we walk the path to future health, prosperity and security by using science to confront some of the problems that face humanity that would otherwise be insurmountable."
National Science Week aims to inspire and motivate the next generation of scientists, to boost the numbers of students in science at school and university. But it also serves to reward scientists, science communicators and science teachers and ensure they are propelled further along the career trajectory.
Every year the most promising young scientists at university and other research organisations are chosen from the field of candidates to take science into schools.
A new crop of "Tall Poppies" is announced and one goes on to win SA Tall Poppy of the Year at the SA Science Excellence Awards.
Host of the gala dinner is the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology.
2010 Science Educator of the Year, Kate Dilger, formerly of Thomas More College says she would recommend the experience.
"The award opened lots of doors for me," she said.
"I'm able to share my passion for science and enthusiasm with all of these teachers, so they can go back to their schools and be excited about science as well."
Nominations for the 2011 Science Excellence Awards close on Friday September 9. Winners are announced at the 2011 gala dinner at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on November 3.
Go to www.science awards.sa.gov.au or phone (08) 8207 8702 for more information.
WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK
* The Earth Beneath Your Feet, Sprigg Lecture by Dr Kate Selway at the SA Museum tonight
* Face to Face with Science; Back to Front; and SCINEMA at the SA Museum until Friday, August 19.
* The Social Networking of Lizards at the SA Museum until August 21.
* Forensic Science at the Mawson Centre, 2-8 Main St, Mawson Lakes tomorrow from 7pm to 9pm.
* Discover our Marine Creatures, Corner of Seaview Road and Marlborough Street, Henley Beach from 17-19 August and 24-26 August, 11am to 12 noon.
* CSIRO Hands-On Science Mania! at the Education Development Centre, Milner St, Hindmarsh, this weekend.
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