3-18 August 2024
Dip into creative fun, interactive events, exhibitions, screenings, tastings, talks and experiments that celebrate and explore then theme of Species Survival - More than just sustainability this Science week!
Kids and students across Australia can jump online for the Ocean Life Trivia Quiz or visit our pop-up Ocean Lab in Western Sydney Parklands and Centennial park.
Head into the museum to see the Sea Country Stories-Yuin Gadu pop-up exhibition and launch event. Hear from creatives and Innovators at the Valerie Taylor Ocean Prize. Learn more about harbour health and biodiversity as you take a visit to the Seabin Ocean Health lab or join in an Underwater drone workshop.
Programs and events at the museum
Sea Country Stories- Yuin Gadu - Exhibition, Screening and Launch event
Saturday 3rd August 2024, 12 - 2pm
Tasman Light Gallery and Bamal Yarning Space
FREE Registration essential
register here
Science, history, and educational institutions in Australia are on a journey to empower and incorporate Indigenous knowledges into research, communication and practice. Sea Country Stories offers the experience of being on Country, linking ancient and modern knowledge systems, and inspiring the next generation of Sea Country custodians.
Join us at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney for the second edition of Sea Country Stories filmed at Booderee, Wreck Bay, on Yuin Country.
In this event, we will listen to a panel discussion about whales, ocean cultures, and Indigenous knowledges of Sea Country as science.
We will then premiere a short film with Joe Brown-McLeod, his daughter Iesha and granddaughter Alaynah, in which they share intergenerational stories about the gathering of ceremonial ochre and muriyira whale song, filmed right at the Bay.
You'll enjoy delicious canapés made with sustainable seafood from fisheries that have been independently certified to the MSC's standard for a well-managed and sustainable fishery. Non-alcoholic craft beers and other beverages will also be provided.
This project is proudly presented by Green Island Creative, the Australian National Maritime Museum, and Marine Stewardship Council. Support for this project was provided by Australian Government grants for National Science Week 2024.
The film and pop-up exhibition Sea Country Stories - Yuin Gadu will be on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum during science week 4-18 August. Free entry.
BLUE WORLD Valerie Taylor Ocean Prize 2024
Date: Friday, 16 August 2024
Time: 6 - 9pm
6:00pm The museum opens its galleries for our guests
6:30pm The Prize Announcements
8:00pm Formal presentations conclude - enjoy the museum galleries and light refresfments on offer
Cost: $20 general admission, $15 members - booking essential
book here
Join us for the Valerie Taylor Ocean Prize 2024. Hear about Weedy Seadragons, a presentation by Professor David Booth, Marine Ecology UTS. Enjoy a performance by jazz pianist and composer, Matt McMahon, inspired by underwater imagery created by diver and film maker Duncan Heuer, followed by the prize announcements with special guest Valerie Taylor AM.
After formal presentations, enjoy light refreshments in the Tasman Light Gallery, the art-sea pop-up fundraiser exhibition, and a chance to wander the museum galleries and enjoy all the latest exhibitions.
About the Valerie Taylor Ocean Prize
Inspiring wonder and support for our ocean, the prize was established by Blue World to honour the achievements of ground-breaking conservationist and marine advocate, Valerie Taylor, throughout the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
Tickets to this Science Week event also include complimentary access to the museum galleries.
ART-SEA exhibition
An exhibition of small sculpture will be shown in the Tasman Light Gallery, featuring work by Susanna Strati, Rox de Luca, Eric Lobbecke and Merran Hughes.
The concept of this exhibition is to promote a love of ocean life and to build support to protect fragile marine systems. Art-Sea is an initiative of Blue World and aims to add creativity to the marine conservation story. 25% of sales will be donated to the Australian Marine Conservation Sanctuary Alliance.
Ocean Health Lab
Recommended ages: 5 to adult
Cost: Free entry
* Check tour times and activities on the day of your visit.
Underwater Drones (ROVs)
Game on! Explore beneath the surface of the harbour as you learn to pilot one of our underwater drones in 15 minute hands-on trial sessions and demonstrations presented by our ocean-science educators.
Saturday 10 and 17 August - 12pm to 3pm
Cost: Free. Book a slot here
Recommended ages: 8 to adult
Drones trials are suitable for wheelchair users.
This activity may be cancelled in the event of adverse weather conditions
Offsite
Australian National Maritime Museum pop-up Ocean Lab
Western Sydney Parklands, Lizard Log, Sunday 11 August 11am – 3pm
Centennial Parklands, Sunday 18 August 11am – 3pm
Meet the pint-sized planet protectors that save our seas - phytoplankton and zooplankton- at the Maritime Museum’s pop-up Ocean lab.
Explore aquatic specimens under the microscope and upcycle marine debris into spectacular new creations. See the biodiversity of Sydney harbour as captured by our underwater drones and get hands on with preserved creature specimens and slippery slimy experiments inspired by the sea.
Australian National Maritime Museum pop-upat Sydney Science Trail
The Australian Museum
Monday, 12 August to Saturday, 17 August
Free, bookings essential
Be amazed at the beauty and diversity of life beneath the waves in our underwater drone footage. Observe the superpowers of plankton under the microscope. Hold mystery ocean specimens and see if you can make a plasticine boat float!
School programs
Online schools programs
Upcoming, live online events, presented by the Australian National Maritime Museum, are listed on DART Learning. Read find all of our programs here
SciFest 2024: Lunchtime Ocean Life Trivia - DART Learning
SciFest 2024: Our ocean, our future - DART Learning
School Excursions
These can be booked all year round
UNDERWATER MICROBEASTS
They may be small, but only in size! Discover the superpowers of plankton in our Ocean Science program. Students will discover the beauty and diversity of plankton and their vital role in the marine food web. We’ll catch plankton samples from the wharf and view a microscopic world, buzzing with activity, geometric shapes and tiny creatures with alien features.
SOLUTIONS TO OCEAN POLLUTION
Discover how you can help to clean up the ocean.
In this program, students take a ‘trash and treasure’ tour, solving riddles to find plastic trash and marine treasures. Learn about sustainability, First Nations peoples’connection to Sea Country, the effects of plastic on food chains, and see a Seabin in action! See science and technology working to tackle waste management and learn to reduce your plastic footprint on the ocean.
Click here for more information on our programs for school groups.