Hunter Science Festival Returns to Ignite Young Minds

Credit: Ali Jam Productions Photography | Source: Hunter Innovation & Science Hub

Curious minds, families, and future innovators— get ready! The Hunter Science Festival 2025 is back, transforming the Newcastle Museum into a powerhouse of discovery and imagination on Sunday, 17 August from 10am to 2pm.

---

Timed with National Science Week, this festival is hosted by the Hunter Innovation and Science Hub (HISH). It is expected to draw over 3,500 participants eager to explore the wonders of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) through vibrant, hands-on experiences.

Across both the Museum’s indoor galleries and outdoor lawns, visitors can expect a dynamic mix of exhibits, workshops, and live shows. From the Poo Palace’s hilarious digestive journey to solar boats and mini-EV races, the day promises learning wrapped in fun.

Discover how electricity can be made with CLEANaS, or code your first game in Rusty Coding’s Family Coding Zone. Explore botany and restoration ecology with the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, then be dazzled by new technology from Core Electronics and FabLab.

Inside McIntyre Theatre, meet young scientists like Lily Mickaill, or cruise through a science-meets-music journey with Ali Watt— who’ll perform original songs inspired by the ocean.

The festival brings together a vibrant network of collaborators, including the University of Newcastle, HMRI, Career Links, ReNewy Living, Tiny Forest, and the Port of Newcastle, among others, each offering a unique lens into the region’s future sustainability and innovation.

Supported by Inspiring Australia NSW, this free event welcomes everyone, from toddlers to teens, hobbyists to researchers, to celebrate science, meet real scientists, and have some serious fun.

Fir more information, visit newcastlemuseum.com.au/what-s-on/current-events/national-science-week-hunter-science-festival