A National Science Week event.

Between the festival's two featured events, enjoy refreshments while connecting with researchers, alumni and fellow attendees. Meet Swinburne student clubs, explore interactive activities and exhibits, and discover opportunities to get involved in science, technology and innovation across the university.

Join the fun with our "What Inspired Me?" costume challenge. Come dressed as the person, place, object or idea that first sparked your interest in science, whether that's an astronaut, a dinosaur, a robot, an inventor, a planet, a microscope or something uniquely your own. There are prizes up for grabs for the most creative and inspiring entries.

Seeds of Curiosity: The Journeys Behind Discovery

Every breakthrough begins with a spark of curiosity. Join Swinburne alumni and researchers as they share the experiences, opportunities and unexpected turns that shaped their careers. Discover the diverse pathways that lead to science, technology, innovation and impact.

Speakers

Dr Daniel Eldridge, is a chemist whose work focuses on environmental applications of chemistry. He has a particular passion for undergraduate education and making the role of chemistry in everyday life accessible to everyone.

Dr Matt Shaw is a metallurgist whose work focuses on sustainable metals production and emerging technologies. His career has spanned the mining industry, space resources research and green steel innovation, with a particular passion for translating complex science into real-world impact through collaboration and innovation.

Elizabeth Charles is an astrobiology honours student whose research explores how life responds to the unique conditions of space. She has contributed to projects in partnership with NASA and the International Space Station, and is passionate about STEM outreach, science communication and inspiring future scientists.

Event Details

Time: 4.00pm – 5.00pm
 

Virtual Tour of The Universe

Step inside Swinburne's Virtual Universe, a world-class immersive visualisation environment that transforms real scientific data into a breathtaking journey through space. At the heart of the experience is a 100+ square metre wraparound stereoscopic LED display that places you inside the cosmos, allowing you to explore the universe in extraordinary scale and detail.

Led by Distinguished Professor Matthew Bailes, winner of the Prime Minister's Prize for Science and the International Shaw Prize in Astronomy, this exclusive tour will take you beyond the limits of traditional astronomy. Experience stunning visualisations of planets, moons, black holes and the Milky Way, brought to life through cutting-edge 3D technology, real astrophysical data and immersive spatial audio.

Whether you're fascinated by space, technology or scientific discovery, this is a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of Australia's leading astronomers while experiencing a facility unlike any other in the country.

Event Details

Tour 1
Time: 4.30pm – 5.00pm

Tour 2
Time: 5.15pm – 5.45pm
 

Seeds of Discovery: From Idea to Breakthrough

How does a spark of curiosity become a world-changing discovery? Swinburne researchers share their journeys from first insight to breakthrough, including the challenges along the way and the real-world impact of their work.

Speakers

Professor Adam Deller helped map the violent aftermath of a neutron star collision using radio telescopes, a feat that brings scientists closer to answering one of astronomy's biggest open questions: how fast is the universe actually expanding? His work improves the independent, gravitational wave-based method that will help resolve this debate.

Associate Professor Faith Kwa, is exploring how a compound found in broccoli could help save the lives of children with Friedreich ataxia, a rare genetic disease that gradually robs them of their ability to walk, speak, play and, ultimately, survive. Her research has shown that broccoli-derived sulforaphane can help protect damaged nerve cells and restore critical proteins. This discovery could pave the way for a safe, affordable treatment for a condition with very limited therapeutic options.

Event Details

Time: 6.00pm – 7.00pm