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Events around Melbourne: November 2015

By Events

The year might be winding up, but there’s still plenty of events and competitions happening throughout November to keep you busy!


LOGO_IYS_en_PrintDirty Secrets

When: Now until 24 November
Where: LAB-14 Gallery, Carlton Connect, 700 Swanston St, Carlton VIC 3053
Cost: Free

Have we forgotten to consider the soil as living and breathing, as the source of our food and many life saving pharmaceuticals, a contributor to our physical and psychological wellbeing, an important store of carbon, and water purifier?

Celebrating International Year of Soils, Dirty Secrets uncovers the hidden curiosities buried in soil. It encourages a deeper search for our connection to the land and its importance to our survival.

Read more.


Engineering & Information Technology showcase 2015

When: Wednesday 25 November, 5:30-9pm
Where: Union Hall, La Trobe University, Bundoora VIC 3083

Cost: Free

La Trobe University have a longstanding history in innovation. Get a sneak peek into the future by attending the 24th Annual Engineering & Information Technology Showcase on Wednesday November 25 – highlighting the very best student projects from a variety of Engineering and IT disciplines.

Read more.


IYL_Logo_ColorVertSwinburne ‘See the light’ competition

When: 25 October – 27 November
Where: Victoria
Cost: Free

The International Year of Light is a worldwide celebration of all things light, from the technologies that use it and that make our 21st century way of life possible, to the wonders of what light reveals of the universe around us.

Swinburne University of Technology wants to know what you think is amazing about light and we want you to show it in your school science lab. Victorian high school students (years 7-10) are invited to conduct and record an experiment that investigates something that they find interesting or inspiring about light. In the short video, the students should explain the experiment and what it shows about the amazing nature of light. The best entry in each category will win $250 to be shared by the student(s) and $500 for their school to use as they choose.

Read more.


ConocoPhillips Science Experience

When: Over three days in January 2016
Where: University of Melbourne, Parkville, and RMIT University, Melbourne CBD
Cost: $120

The ConocoPhillips Science Experience is returning to the University of Melbourne (13-15 January) and RMIT University (19-21 January) for the summer. This hands-on program gives year 9 and 10 students a chance to experience science topics under the guidance of passionate scientists.

Application close in December. Read more.


Impossible Climate: Safe Climate Restoration Under the Microscope

When: Wednesday 4 November, 6-8:30pm
Where: Ground floor, 700 Swanston Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Cost: Free

Advocacy for the restoration of a safe climate calls for solutions that the world does not currently possess.. The central question remains ‘is safe climate restoration possible and, if not, what level of action is now morally defensible and yet practically achievable?’ Join Breakthrough for this special forum to examine and critique the recently published discussion paper StrikingTargets, with author Philip Sutton.

Read more.

Events around Melbourne: October 2015

By Events

In2science’s partner universities are holding a range of engaging, inspiring and thought-provoking events throughout October. With Melbourne Knowledge Week running from 19-25 October, there’s even more events to get stuck into!

Professor Andrew Greentree from RMIT University.

Professor Andrew Greentree from RMIT University.

Seeing into the body, one photon at a time

When: Wednesday 30 September, 6:30-8:00pm
Where: Building 80, Level 7, Room 1, RMIT University, Melbourne VIC 3000
Cost: Free

Light is vital to life. To best understand and use light, we must understand its classical and quantum aspects. Light surrounds us, heats us, feeds us, and for most of us it guides us. But because it is so universal, we often take it for granted.

In this talk, Professor Andrew Greentree will give an introduction to the quantum mechanical properties of light and introduce the particle of light – the photon. He will demonstrate some of the surprising results that arise from applying quantum mechanics. He will also introduce some of the techniques being used in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics to generate new ‘windows into the body’ to understand the physics of life.

Read more.


 

Fifty Years of Space Technology at the University of Melbourne

When: Monday 5 October, 5:30-7:30pm
Where: Brown Theatre, Electronic and Electrical Engineering Building, University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3052
Cost: Free

Australia’s first satellite was built by engineering students at the University of Melbourne. Fifty years later, a new group of students are looking to built the university’s second satellite. Join current and former students for an enlightening discussion about these projects and how the University of Melbourne makes their way to space.

Read more.


 

Quantum Mechanics Made Easy-ish

When: Monday 19 October, 8:00-9:15pm
Where: Croft Institute, Croft Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
Cost: $14

Baffled by quantum mechanics? Congratulations, you’re doing it right! This Laneway Learning class will show you the 20th century’s most reality-shaking theory in action, and tell you the things we do know and the things that not even Einstein thought made sense.

Presented by physicist and science communicator Chris Lassig, this special Laneway Learning class for Melbourne Knowledge week will give you an easy-ish understanding of quantum mechanics.

Read more.


 

 Science without research, education without teaching: alternative careers Q&A panel

When: Wednesday 21 October, 6:00-7:30pm
Where: Kaleide Theatre, Building 80, RMIT University, Melbourne VIC 3000
Cost: Free

Love science, but don’t want to go into research? Adore education, but not sure if teaching is for you? Join a panel of special guests with diverse and inspiring careers for a special Q&A forum and pick their brains about how they transformed their careers into something different from the norm.

This In2science professional development session is open for all to register and join in.

Read more.


 

What-if-lecture-series-logoWhat if the safety of your food could never be assured?

When: Tuesday 27 October, 7:00-8:30pm
Where: Hawthorn Community Precinct, 584 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
Cost: Free

How do we manage a safe food supply? Are some practices more risky than others? How do we make decisions about the food we consume; for example, should we drink raw milk?

Presented by Swinburne University of Technology and hosted by the City of Boroondara Library Service, this highly engaging talk showcases the exciting research and activities that Swinburne staff and students are working on right now.

Read more.


 

National Science Week 2015: events around Melbourne

By Events

Happy National Science Week!

natsciwk_skyscraper1Australia’s annual celebration of science is on again from 15-23 August. Celebrating the International Year of Light, this year’s citizen science project Galaxy Explorer puts you in the astronomer’s seat. Classify and size galaxies to help scientists are the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research better understand how the universe was created and how it evolves.

Head to the National Science Week website to explore the hundreds of events across Australia. In the meantime, here are just a few to whet your science whistle.

Energised Fashion

Where: Design Hub, RMIT University, Melbourne VIC
When: 2.00-5.30pm Saturday 22 August
Cost: Free!

Can clothes be smart? RMIT University’s Energised Fashion Runway will feature applications of wearable technology in a number of domains including fashion, communications, entertainment, medical and healthcare, occupational health and safety.

Get involved with the Hands-On Lab throughout the fashion show or take part in a Wearable Technologies Workshop earlier in the day.

See Energised Fashion at the National Science Week website for more information.

Astronomy and Light Festival

Where: Scienceworks, Spotswood VIC
When: 5.00-9.00pm Saturday 22 August
Cost: Adults $7, children $5, families $20

The astronomy and Light Festival will be an evening of light (and dark) related fun at Scienceworks in Spotswood, featuring astronomers and optics researchers from across Victoria and Australia. A public event for all ages.

See Astronomy and Light Festival at the National Science Week website for more information.

Thumb_PARTICLE-FEVER-300x300Particle Fever

Where: Melbourne School of Design, Lecture theatre 1, University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC
When: 6.30pm, Wednesday 19 August
Cost: Free!

Particle Fever follows six scientists seeking to unravel the mysteries of the universe during the launch of the Large Hadron Collider. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Particle Physics at the Terascale presents a free screening of the film, with a special introduction by Professor Ray Volkas, Head of the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne.

See Particle Fever at the National Science Week website for more information.

Silver Screen Science

Where: ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne VIC
When: 7.00pm Thursday 20, Friday 21 and Saturday 22 August
Cost: Free!

Hosted by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Silver Screen Science is a contemporary science film festival featuring Hollywood blockbusters Contagion (Thursday 20 August), Gattaca (Friday 21 August) and Outbreak (Saturday 22 August).

Film screenings are followed by thought provoking dialogue as medical researchers, health professionals, artists and science fiction writers separate fact from fiction.

See Science in the Square at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute website for more information.