NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK IN PARRAMATTA
AUGUST 15-23, 2020
During National Science Week each year, the City of Parramatta provides an exciting program of events and activities for the community to enjoy.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, National Science Week will be run online this year. The City of Parramatta has partnered with Western Sydney University to present a dynamic line-up of digital events for Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology.
Check out what’s on offer as part of our National Science Week program below.
- Story Time - Science Week
- Citizen Science
- Nine Ways To Keep Your Brain Healthy As You Age
- Music & Maths with Dr Andy Milne from Western Sydney University
- Studio Conversations: Birdlife
- Distilling Scents with Artist Yasmin Smith
- Babylab
- Author Talk: In Conversation with James Bradley
- Written in the Stars: Astronomy in Parramatta
- Pandemic in Parramatta, 1919, 2020: A historical reflection
- Riverkeepers – All about eels
- Planting Patience – live streamed science lesson
- Parramatta Library Recommended Science Reads
- Little Bang Discovery Club
Science Week Story Time
Presented by City of Parramatta libraries.
Science-themed stories suitable for 2-6 year olds.
Discover Science Week Story Time
Learn more about story time at Parramatta Library.
Citizen Science - A discussion with WSU researchers
Presented by City of Parramatta libraries.
Western Sydney University Citizen Science experts Assoc. Professors Ricky Spencer & Julie Old discuss their work and explain how you can help our turtles and wombats.
Watch Citizen Science now
Nine Ways To Keep Your Brain Healthy As You Age
Presented by City of Parramatta libraries.
MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development experts reveal practical and evidence-based strategies to keep your brain healthy. The experts cover physical, cognitive, and social aspects of brain health.
Learn about the Nine Ways To Keep Your Brain Healthy As You Age
Music & Maths with Dr Andy Milne from Western Sydney University
What connects fractions, bicycle wheels, and social distancing at dinner parties? Music! Dr Andy discusses the fascinating connections between music and mathematics – for children up to 12 years old.
Date: Thu, 20 August 2020
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM AEST
Studio Conversations: Birdlife
Presented by Parramatta Artists' Studios.
Listen to the latest episode of the Studio Conversations podcast from Parramatta Artists’ Studios, in which artist Tully Arnot and WSU Ecologist/Ornithologist Julia Ryeland will discuss local bird life from the perspectives of art and science.
Distilling Scents with Artist Yasmin Smith
Presented by Parramatta Artists' Studios.
Local artist Yasmin Smith will reveal how she creates her art by collecting and distilling materials from Parramatta River.
Watch Distilling Scents with Artist Yasmin Smith
Babylab - with WSU MARCS Institute
Presented by City of Parramatta libraries.
MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development experts discuss early childhood language and communication development in the Babylab webinar.
The experts have also created a new communication checklist for Australian children under three. Parents can fill out a survey and receive a report about their child’s communication, which is a great tool to kick start a conversation about your child’s communicative development.
Access the Babylab webinar here
Access the Infant Vocabulary Checklist here
Author Talk: In Conversation with James Bradley
Presented by City of Parramatta libraries.
Amy Heap interviews popular Australian novelist James Bradley about his new book which touches on science in many ways.
Live streaming 6:30 pm 20th August. Book to join the Zoom session here.
Written in the Stars: Astronomy in Parramatta
Presented by City of Parramatta Heritage and Visitor Information Centre.
Take a virtual tour of the history of astronomy in Parramatta, and learn about the story behind the construction and operation of Governor Brisbane's observatory.
Explore Written in the Stars: Astronomy in Parramatta
Pandemic in Parramatta 1919 and 2020: A historical reflection
Presented by City of Parramatta Heritage and Visitor Information Centre.
An online exhibition about Parramatta in two pandemics, one hundred years apart. Explore archival correspondence files relating to the Pneumonic Influenza, or "Spanish Flu’ of 1919
Explore Pandemic in Parramatta online exhibition
Riverkeepers – All about eels
Presented by City of Parramatta Heritage and Visitor Information Centre.
Interactive program about eels for small children – all about how they migrate, live, and their history in Parramatta.
BOOKED OUT
Planting Patience – live streamed science lesson
Presented by Wentworth Point Community Centre and Library.
Join us on the Wentworth Point Community Centre and Library Facebook page for a live-streamed science lesson!
Learn about plants and and hone your green thumb (for 5-12 years).
Date: Wed, 19 August 2020
Time: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM AEST
Parramatta Libraries Recommended Science Reads
City of Parramatta Libraries have a great range of science and science-fiction books available, suitable for kids from 5-15 years old. The collection of books include fiction, non-fiction and graphic novels.
Find out what the recommended science reads are here
Little Bang Discovery Club
Check out the series of four videos presented by Wendy from the Children's Discovery Museum. Try out the fun science experiments using materials from around your home. (Suitable for preschool children and their caregivers).
Session 1: Collecting and Classifying
Learn how to sort toys and socks, go on a treasure hunt, and make a collection.
Session 2: Measuring and Recording
Learn about the lengths of items and measure children's height. Make a coat-hanger balance for weighing items around the house.
Session 3: Experimenting
A whole host of experiments - the Joys of Attraction, Musical Coat Hanger, Sink and Float and Sink and Salt.
Session 4: Science Fair
In this final session we discuss the science behind our discoveries so far and try out some more experiments - Disappearing Pencil, Magnifying with a Glass of Water, Kissing Balloons and Raw or Boiled?
For more online events and activities, check out Western Sydney University’s National Science Week program.
