Science week starts this weekend and it will be launched at the National Film and Sound Archives on Friday night. Scientists, street artists and dancers will then take over the Old Bus Depot markets on Saturday to celebrate the work of local, national and international scientists and STEM organisations; and the Arboretum is opening its back door to the public to enable you to learn about the research that goes on there. For more details and events happening during science week, check out the Science Week website. But it’s not all science this weekend, the Craft and Quilt Fair is on at Exhibition Park, the ever popular LEGO Brick Expo is on at the Hellenic Club and strange and unusual cats will be on show at the Harmonie German Club this Saturday.
All weekend
Craft and Quilt Fair
Where: Exhibition Park, Mitchell
When: Thursday – Sunday, 10 am – 4:30 pm
The Craft and Quilt Fair is on this weekend and it offers something for both quilting enthusiasts and casual admirers of other peoples’ work. There will beautiful quilts and textiles on display—including modern quilts, quilts inspired by the bush, Australia’s best quilts as submitted by each state and territory, and a display of textiles created using the Japanese blue and white shibori dyeing method. There will also be workshops and classes to attend, some of them free, others requiring booking and paying a fee. And there will plenty of stalls to browse to help you get going on your next craft project. Tickets for a single day start from $17 for adults and $9 for kids aged 5–16, and there are discounts for senior card holders and age and disability pensioners. Kids under 5 are free. Multi-day tickets are also available. Book here.
LEGO Brick Expo
Where: Hellenic Club, Woden
When: Friday 1:30 – 6 pm, Saturday 9 am – 6 pm & Sunday 9 am – 4:30 pm
Get lost in worlds created entirely from small plastic bricks at LEGO Brick Expo, on this weekend at the Hellenic Club. This incredibly popular three-day event will feature many static, moving and robotic lego models built by local and interstate modellers. Tickets are sold for 1.5hr sessions, but be sure to get to your session early because the queues to get in are always long. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for kids, with profits going to PaTCH—Paediatrics at The Canberra Hospital. If you would prefer to see the models with out the kids (yours and/or everybody else’s) there is an over-18 cocktail function on Saturday night from 7 – 9 pm that may be more your thing.
Friday
National Science Week ACT Launch: Future Earth Festival
Where: National Film and Sound Archives
When: 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Celebrate the start of Science Week and discover what Future Earth might look like at the National Sound and Film Archive this Friday night. Create a weather jar, code a robot, sample crickets — the food of the future — learn how to reduce your waste, and try out virtual reality goggles. There will also be presentations by inspiring young scientists and Andrew Barr will announce the ACT Scientist of the Year. Tickets are $5, book here.
Saturday
Science in Action: Community Day
Where: Old Bus Depot Markets
When: 10 am – 4 pm
Science week continues on Saturday at the Old Bus Depot Markets with a free community event celebrating the work of local, national, and international STEM organisations. Learn about the future of ecosystems, technology and energy; discover secrets from the past from archaeologists and forensic scientists; walk inside a virtual plant cell and meet the scientists who are working on conserving Australian plants and animals.
Throughout the day, just outside the Old Bus Depot Markets, local street artists will be creating science-inspired murals in an event called CoLab: Science Meets Art. This event involves street artists collaborating with local early-career scientists, to create murals that will celebrate the scientists’ research and discoveries. The scientists will also be there to discuss their work with you.
Between 11:30 am – 12 pm there will also be a performance of Australian Dance Party’s work ‘Mine!’ inspired by the proposed Adani Carmichael coal mine and performed by Alison Plevey, Olivia Fyfe and Jack Riley, this contemporary dance work will explore the impact of mining on the environment.
Research at the Arboretum
Where: National Arboretum
When: 9:30 am – 3:3 0pm
As part of Science week, learn about the research being undertaken at the National Arboretum. Join:
- the volunteers from Frogwatch ACT who visit dams after dark to listen and record frog activity;
- the team from the University of Canberra who have installed and monitor sensors recording soil moisture and temperature data; or
- Associate Professor Cris Brack who oversees projects for the ANU in research forests 98 and 99.
Following the presentations, you will be able to venture out with the researchers into the field to get a closer look at their work. Wear something warm and shoes suitable for walking on uneven dirt tracks. There will refreshments available, and there will be time for lunch from either the cafe or bring your own. Tickets are $12, book here.
Edapusrex, pedigree Devon Rex. Photo by Helena Sugar
The Sound of Meowsic
Where: Harmonie German Club, Jerrabomberra Ave, Narrabundah
When: 10 am – 4 pm
Strange and unusual cats will be on show at the Cool Country Cat Club’s inaugural Canberra cat show this Saturday. This show will include one of Australia’s rarest cat breeds — the Peterbald — as well as Scottish Fold, Devon Rex, Birman, Maine Coon, Siamese and Persian cats. Gold coin for entry or $5 for a family.
Sunday
Australian National University Choral Society
Where: High Court of Australia
When: 1:30 – 2:30 pm
The High Court’s concert series continues this weekend with the Australian National University Choral Society performing choruses by Gilbert and Sullivan and a selection of English madrigals this Sunday. Register your intention to go here, but be sure to arrive at the Court early if you want to get a seat.
If you’re looking for live music around Canberra check out The RiotACT Gig Guide (9-15 Aug).
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