Believe it or not, you are more microbe than human. Microbes outnumber your human cells by 10 to 1 and the genes encoded by these microbes outnumber their human host’s genes by more than 100 times – this is called your gut microbiome. The human gut microbiome and its role in both health and disease…
Archives: Events
BIG Science BIG Fun Show
Celebrate National Science Week at Caroline Springs Library. See gigantic bubbles, flying toilet paper, hair-raising electricity experiments, bubbling liquid nitrogen demonstrations, levitating beach balls, volunteers on a nail chair, a giant gyroscope, and much more. Science has never been this fun. Proudly presented by Fizzics Education.
Armchair Vacation
Pack your bags and prepare for the trip of a lifetime, from the comfort of a chair We know that travelling the world isn’t an option for everyone, so we’re bringing the world to you. Pop on a virtual reality headset and be transported. Join us at Caroline Springs Library this National Science Week to…
Great Glossy Count Training Workshop – Capalaba
Join like-minded bird-lovers to learn how to locate and identify Glossy Black-Cockatoos and their feed trees in the wild. Lisa Bailey from Redland City Council will present information about Glossy Black-Cockatoo identification and ecology. The workshop will also feature a talk from Geckoes Wildlife who will display a live Glossy Black-Cockatoo and other native wildlife….
Awards Day & Ag Science Expo
Help us celebrate National Science Week this year at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Hermitage Research Facility’s Schools Plant Science Competition Awards Day & Ag Science Expo. This event formally recognises prize winners and participants of the The Buzz About Bees competition and celebrates all things agricultural science. You’ll have the opportunity to…
Collaborative Conservation – Case studies in the shared care of museum objects
Successful conservation requires the effort of a collaborative team working to meet both the technical and ethical needs of culturally significant objects. Collaboration among conservators, scientists, engineers and a range of other professionals is illustrated in a selection of case studies from the Australian National Maritime Museum. They include the investigation beneath the surface of…
Up Close and Personal with the Past: Nanoscale analysis of artefacts
Not all artefacts tell their full story at first glance. Scanning electron microscopy allows us to reveal information down to the nanoscale, providing a perspective unachievable with standard optical techniques. A closer look at surfaces and materials of historical tools or artwork uncovers manufacturing methods of the past. Near-invisible particles of pollen or dust become…
Non-invasive Analysis of Ancient Papyri: A museum floor talk
Papyrus is the first flexible writing support that was used from 3100 BC until the 11th century AD. While primarily produced in Egypt and then southern Italy, it was exported throughout the Mediterranean and Roman empire. The last two decades have witnessed great progress in the investigation and analysis of archaeological papyri. My work focuses…
A Splash of Colour – Identification of pigments in the collections
Colour is found on a wide range of ancient objects, such as coffins, papyri, ceramics and paintings, and also in cosmetic materials for body and hair. Colourants can from a range of natural sources including minerals, plants, insects, lay and soot from oil lamps or by charring ivory or bones. The use of specific colours is often…
Scouting the Skies
Scouts will be designing and constructing a payload for a high altitude balloon. The payload will be designed to record atmospheric data during the flight, such as temperature, air pressure, and CO2 concentration. It will also be able to record photos and video of the flight, showing the amazing panorama from the top of the…