Science Week is heating up in the Illawarra. Photos: Michael Gray.
As a child growing up in a small village in China — where electricity arrived later than he did — Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Wollongong (UOW) Professor Max Lu AO’s first experiments were not in labs but in corn fields, river streams and the corners of his imagination.
“I still remember the joy of pulling apart a radio alarm to see how it worked, and trying to mix charcoal powder with nitrate fertiliser, resulting in a blackened face and burned hair — not a good start for a chemical engineer,” he said.
“But that spark of curiosity and the power of education changed the course of my life, and this is why this week is so special to me.”
UOW hosted the official NSW launch of National Science Week 2025 at its Science Space, marking the first time the state-wide event has been launched from the Illawarra.
Organised by Inspiring Australia, Science Week brings policymakers, educators, researchers and the public together to celebrate science’s role in shaping our future and solving society’s biggest challenges, through events and activities hosted by universities, research centres, cultural institutions, libraries and communities across the nation.
“Science doesn’t belong just in the hands of scientists; it isn’t confined to laboratories. It is in our phones, homes, weather reports, the health care we enjoy and our hopes for a sustainable planet and better future,” Prof Lu said.
“Here at the University of Wollongong, we’re proud to stand at the forefront of scientific discovery and innovation … But we know that for science to thrive, it has to be shared.
“The future of STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] subjects in this country depends on what we nurture now, in the many curious young minds that come into this space, our campuses, classrooms and community centres, the confidence we build around kitchen tables and the access we create for all Australians, especially those historically left out of the conversation.”
Chief of Inspiring Australia NSW Emily Jateff, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Wollongong Professor Max Lu AO, NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Anoulack Chanthivong and Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte at the official launch of Science Week NSW at the University’s Science Space.
UOW will deliver a diverse program of public events across its Wollongong, Eurobodalla and Shoalhaven campuses until Monday, 18 August, including the Allan Sefton Memorial Lecture, an Indigenous Science Evening, science talks on climate change and quantum health, and the popular Science on the South Coast festivals.
Across the state, Chief of Inspiring Australia NSW Emily Jateff said Science Week had already been attracting record crowds.
“These are community events, free and open to all, and they provide a wonderful opportunity for families and children to engage directly with working scientists, to ask questions and explore science in a fun, accessible way,” she said.
The launch also welcomed Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Anoulack Chanthivong, who said events like Science Week played a vital role in communicating science to the broader public and encouraging the next generation to pursue science careers.
“Imagine you’re looking from other parts of the community into the world of science — it would seem like a vast ocean, deep, ever-changing and teeming with unexplored mysteries. But that’s what our great, world-class researchers are — explorers, navigators, always looking for endless possibilities,” he said.
“This week, everyone across our state has a real chance to set sail along these waters, alongside our experts.”
Bubbling with excitement? You should be — science events and activities will spring up across NSW all week, many at UOW and throughout the Illawarra.
NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte said UOW’s Science Space was an excellent launchpad for the week, and Science Week was an opportunity for the public to broaden their understanding of home-grown science and technology.
From BlueScope to Green Gravity, Hysata to Sicona Batteries, innovators are changing the world from right here in the Illawarra.
“There are so many exciting and wonderful things going on in the region, many thought leaders, and it’s really good to see people engaging with them, understanding what they’re doing, and how they’re building whole new industries and ways of doing things in regional areas,” he said.
Professor Lu hoped the lineup of Science Week events would spark curiosity and discovery in young minds across the region.
“Science stems from wonder,” he said.
“It begins with questions — often bold ones — and the willingness to say ‘I don’t know, but let’s find out together’.”
Visit National Science Week for more information, or for events taking place at the university, visit National Science Week with UOW.
