National Science Week

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Dip into fun, interactive events, exhibitions, screenings, talks and experiments that celebrate and explore National Science Week.
Join us for the second instalment of the Big Blue Ideas series, and in an action-packed week, schools will explore the use of maths in this year's school theme Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language. Students will sail on tall ship Duyfken, meet an ocean scientist in a virtual excursion or face-to-face in our Decoding the Ocean speaker session. There'll also be opportunities to meet the team at Science in the Scrub, the Sydney Science Trail, or waterside at the museum!
Big Blue Ideas
Plastic – the final straw?
Thursday 14 August | 6.30pm
Our oceans are full of it. We eat, drink, and breathe tiny plastic particles every day.
Is this the health crisis of our time, or are we overreacting? This session cuts through the noise with real solutions—no empty promises, just the hard truth about what works.
The problem is inside us—literally—but the solutions might be, too.
STEM sail on Sydney Harbour
Secondary students are invited to embark on an extraordinary educational adventure aboard the wooden tallship Duyfken. In a three-hour sail on Sydney Harbour, students engage in hands-on learning about the practical applications of mathematics on a tallship, discover what life is like as a sailor and hear First Nations stories about local Country, First Contacts and reconciliation. This unique opportunity brings STEM to life in a captivating and memorable way.
Bookings closed
Year groups: 8, 9, 10, 11,12
Learning areas: Science, mathematics, history
Program duration: 3 hours
Cost: $225 per group of 15 students
Monday 11 August and Tuesday 12 August, 10 – 1pm AEST

STEM Careers and Decoding the Ocean
Join us for an inspiring speaker session with some of our leading ocean scientists from the Royal Australian Navy and Australian universities. Students will be fascinated by the many ways in which scientific knowledge can be applied to solve problems and innovate in ocean research. This is a unique chance to explore STEM career journeys and be inspired by those at the forefront of scientific exploration.
Students will get the chance to explore the museum’s exhibitions and go on board HMAS Vampire as a part of their visit.
Year groups: 9, 10, 11,12
Learning areas: Science, physics, chemistry, mathematics
Program duration: 4 hours
Cost: Free event
Friday 15 August, 10 – 11 pm AEST (speaker session), 11 – 2 pm AEST (explore the museum)

Virtual Excursions
Explore our school virtual excursion program as part of National Science Week, 9 - 17 August 2025
Book a workshop with our education team
Bring your stage 2 students on an excursion to the Maritime Museum during National Science Week to discover the superpowers of plankton and learn about innovative solutions to ocean pollution, or discover our Year 11 depth study focused on marine science.
Available during Science Week on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 August, or book in for Term 2, 3 or 4.
Sydney Science Trail
Visit the Sea Museum expo booth at the Sydney Science Trail (Saturday 9th – Thursday 14th, August) at the Australian Museum during National Science Week. We will have a booth at the expo with fun, ocean-themed, interactive activities for children and families. Try the buoyancy challenge, learn how sailors use maths to navigate across the high seas, hold a Sperm Whale tooth and more!