National Science week

23 August 2025

4:00pm - 7:00 pm (Times to be confirmed)

Rainbow Beach Centre Block Park

Next to the Rainbow Beach Community Centre & Hall

2025 Theme for National Science Week

Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language

What fun we had in 2024!

Free Family Friendly event 

scientist Encounters

💥Sparking curiosity 💥

Meet REAL scientists and find out what they do...

Have you ever gone behind the scenes at the zoo to have a very special animal encounter where you got up close and personal and learnt about the very special characteristics of those animals you only see at a distance or read about in books? 

Well, we're giving you and your family a very close encounter with scientists, up close and personal. 

Do you like to climb trees?

What about really, REALLY BIG trees!

Would you kiss a crayfish?

This one eats insects.

Meet a scientist or 2 who loves spiders!

Chat with scientists

Have you ever seen fungi this huge?

Some Scientists love wildflowers

Activities for the kids of all ages*

Aussie Animals

Sensory Play

Weird & Wonderful

Water Bugs

Rad Reactions

Fantastic Fizz

Tinker Table

Engineer your own creation

Dino Dig

Meet marine creatures

Insects Close Up

Bubble Mania

The Science of Bubbles

Get up close with some amazing insects

Fabulous Facepainting by...

Spider

Butterfly

Caterpillar

Jellyfish

Things to make 

Colouring In

Just enjoy or enter the competitions

Light Play

Bush & Beach Creatures


Make a Beach Bauble

Shell & Sand decoration


Ocean Art with heART 💙

Dr Suzie Starfish

Leaf & Gum Nut

Painting

From Weeds to Paper

with Artist & Author Zela Bissett

Lino Block Printing

Gympie Priority Species

Coastal Critters

🍪Taste Test 🐛

an Edible Insect Cookie

Grab Free Stuff

to take home

You might even see a mermaid

Things to SEE & Learn

Turtle-y Awesome

Turtle nest model & shell

Science Cinema

Films to amaze you

Learn iNaturalist 

Free Nature Phone App

Use a microscope

to see the hidden world

Sea Story Time

Marine Biologist, Artist & Author , Dr Suzie Starfish will read aloud her picture books.

Insect Zoo

Meet a Phasmid

Meet the giant trees of Tasmania

and the people who climb, study & photograph them

Melly & the Bilby

Read by Author and Artist

Zela Bissett

Admire our 

Beautiful Butterflies

Meet our local 

QPWS Park Ranger

Explore the specimens in the 

Lost Laboratory

Museum Exhibits

Nocturnal animals

Museum Exhibit

Pests & Threats

Museum Exhibit

Don't miss out!!!

Rocks & Minerals

Museum Exhibit

Competitions

Costume Competition

Come dressed as your favourite insect, arachnid or native Aussie animal or even as a scientist

Colouring In Competition

3 Age Categories

Preschool, Primary, Secondary/Adult

Raffles

Prize package for the whole family

Things to Buy

Framed Nature Photos

by Ben Revell

Wildflower Cards

by local artist, Lyn Willett

Wildflower Walks 

Pocket Guide Booklet

See YOU at 

STEAMzone Twilight Science Market

Food & Drinks to buy

Yummy Food on Sale

Supports Coastcare

Ice Cold Drinks on Sale

Supports Coastcare

Hot Chocolate

For the Learning Community

Sit and eat in the 

Eco-Lounge

Rainbow Beach Community Centre & Parklands

Brought to you by 

With a Little Help from our Friends

Activities supported by these businesses as well as wonderful community volunteers

Market tents supplied by these clubs & businesses as well as generous community members

Media Partners

This project received grant funding from Inspiring Australia Queensland, an Australian Government initiative.

* Note: Activities and guests may change without notice as this is a volunteer run event.