Last Saturday, National Science Week 2025 began, showcasing scientific progress across Australia.
Australia’s National Science Week conducts over 2000 events for 3 million people annually, with the University of Wollongong (UOW) kicking off the 2025 festivities as a key-host institution. UOW has provided grant funding to science outreach organisations in celebration.
The Early Start Discovery Space at UOW hosted the third of eleven events on campus led by students and academics from the UOW School of Education.
The event targeted children aged under ten-years-old, encouraging them to explore patterns and use Sphero Robots to navigate obstacles.
Associate lecturer for the UOW School for Education, Rebecca Sini, emphasised the effectiveness of play-based learning.
“For today we’re looking at patterns in art, but it doesn’t matter if the children are looking at the patterns I’ve picked out – that’s not the important thing,” Ms Sini said.
“Let them follow interests, let them find and describe, help them see these things, and I think if you can do that then you can keep that interest and passion and curiosity living.”
This years National Science Week theme is Decoding the Universe – exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language. The theme encourages critical thinking and education to foster a deeper understanding of the natural world and its emerging technologies using hands-on activities.
“We talk about that as being scientific literacy. You’ve got to be able to ask questions, you’ve got to be able to think, you’ve got to be able to go over cause and effect,” Ms Sini said.
Kate Priestley, who attended the EarlyStart event with her two sons and participated in past years National Science Weeks, praised the program.
“It’s very creative for the kids,” Kate said.
“They get to put their hands on things and interact with different chemicals and animal prints.
“They see how the world works and start to become excited about it, make discoveries and see that success there.”
Those interested can search for more National Science Week events on the official website.
