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National Science Week

National Science Week

October 2025

A group of people outdoors, gathered around a fire pit. Two individuals strike playful boxing poses while others watch and smile. The mood is cheerful.

National Science Week is Australia’s major national celebration of the sciences each year in August.

 

This year Material Institute and 24 Carrot Gardens hosted a Science Week extravaganza over 4 days at Material Institute, out in Bridgewater.

 

The learning was great and it was wrapped up beautifully in the different activities. Surrounding the kids with so many passionate, respectful, understanding adults was gold.

— Teacher, Kingston High School

 

We invited our four 24 Carrot Garden high schools – Bayview Secondary College, Jordan River Learning Federation Senior School, Kingston High School, and Montrose Bay High School – to participate in eight workshop offerings with themes of ecology, innovation, sustainability, waste minimisation, regeneration and circular thinking. Up to 50 students visited each day, and the interactive, hands-on workshops were delivered by staff and industry leaders in their fields.

Students in uniforms and a teacher engage in a hands-on activity in a greenhouse. They're pressing flowers and leaves on fabric, creating a creative and educational atmosphere.
People in a greenhouse arrange leaves and flowers on white fabric. They wear blue uniforms and seem focused and collaborative in their activity.
Two young women in uniforms work collaboratively to wrap a cylindrical object with twine in a greenhouse. A person in the background observes.
Patchwork of colorful, tie-dyed fabrics dries on a metal rack and a chain-link fence under sunny skies, casting dynamic shadows on green grass.
A group of students in navy and orange uniforms gather outside a small building surrounded by greenery. The mood is lively and social.
Two young women in lab coats and goggles carefully pour liquid into pink molds in a lab with shelves of jars. The scene conveys focus and collaboration.
It was fantastic to see students who do not usually readily engage with learning participate with such enthusiasm. The highly practical nature of the activities was a key contributor to this.

— Assistant Principal, Jordan River Senior School

 

Workshop activities included some talented folk facilitating cultural burning, natural dyeing, making biochar, bokashi compost making. With healthy cooking from the garden and ice-cream making using dry ice with Chef Vlad, seed saving and propagation with our horticulture team, ceramics with our art team, and making a Beeluxe Body Bar in our Beauty Lab with Bodie. We also had an epic music lineup, with a special act playing each day including Atomic Deluxe, Rose Turtle Ertler and Tiff Norchick.

 

In here [clay studio] I feel good. It is relaxing and I have freedom to think of new things to make which is pretty cool. Natural products make me want to use it more.

— Student, Jordan River Senior School

 

Science was interwoven with art throughout the week, and a communal long-table lunch was shared. It was an enriching four days, and the feedback from the participating schools has been heart-warming!

 

The majority of students enjoyed their day thoroughly, with some still talking about it a couple of weeks later.

— Teacher, Montrose Bay High School

People in lab coats and goggles work in a bright, modern lab. They are focused on mixing ingredients at a long marble counter.
Three intricately molded soaps in pastel purple, gray, and cream on a wooden board. Each soap features floral designs and a small handwritten label.
Three people work on pottery at a cluttered table, shaping clay with focus. The scene conveys creativity and concentration in an artistic setting.
Children in uniforms gather around a large container filled with grainy material, possibly sand. They engage with curiosity and teamwork.
A group of people gathered under tall trees in an outdoor setting, crouching and sitting on the ground. They appear engaged in a discussion, conveying a sense of learning and teamwork. Sunlight filters through the leaves, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

We would love to thank our 24 Carrot Garden team member Andy Rushton for his mighty effort in bringing this all together as well as all the team members working hard behind the scenes, and the following businesses and people for sharing their knowledge and skills with us all.

 

Cultural Burning - Palawa man and traditional fire practitioner Jason Andrew-Smith

Natural Dyeing - Coralee / Inspired By Nature

Biochar - Christina Guidici / The New Black Biochar

Bokashi compost - Jimmy Corrigan / The Regenerative Gardener

 

We look forward to next year!

Group of students in black and orange uniforms, engaged in a hands-on gardening activity, planting seedlings at a sunny outdoor table under a canopy.
Young boy outdoors, face slightly smeared with dirt, holding black charcoal pieces. He's wearing a black hoodie, looking content under a clear sky.
A group of people in black clothing sitting around and tending to a small campfire in a large metal bowl on gravel. The mood is focused and collaborative.
Three individuals pour water from buckets into a steaming, large black pan over stones on a gravel surface, outdoors under sunlight.
Five hands work together over a large round tray filled with thick, black, tar-like substance outdoors. The focus is on teamwork and texture exploration.
Two people crouch on gravel, sorting through trays and buckets containing small black objects, possibly seeds or soil. A focused, collaborative atmosphere.