News Earth Science Week
Published:20 September 2023
Join us as we celebrate Earth Science Week 8–14 October 2023.
Whether you’re a student, teacher, or just someone who is passionate about the world around us, there’s something for everyone during Earth Science Week to learn more, discover and celebrate the many ways Earth science impacts our everyday lives.
Visit our social media accounts to keep up to date with more ways to take part in Earth Science Week.
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TimeWalk Guided Tours – Saturday 7 October 10.30am – Geoscience Australia headquarters, Symonston, ACT
Take a walk through time on Geoscience Australia’s TimeWalk tour. On this tour, you’ll walk 1.1km through our landscaped gardens and discover Earth’s 4,600-billion-year history. Find out more and register for this special tour.
Take a walk through the Earth’s geological history on this special guided tour
Earthquake Tour: National Earthquake Alert Centre – Saturday 7 October 2.00pm – Geoscience Australia headquarters, Symonston, ACT
Have you ever felt the Earth move? Or wonder why earthquakes happen? Join us for a strictly limited Saturday earthquake-themed tour, including a visit to the National Earthquake Alerts Centre where you will meet a real earthquake scientist. Learn about earthquakes, what they are, why they happen and how Geoscience Australia is part of a 24/7 global network that monitors for earthquakes and protects Australians from tsunami. Find out more and register here.
Meet a real earthquake scientist on this rare tour of the National Earthquake Alert Centre
Earth cache day – Sunday 8 October – Australia wide
Kick off Earth Science Week celebrations by exploring the world of geocaching. Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity that uses GPS and other navigational techniques to hide and find containers, called geocaches or caches. Visit Geoscience Australia’s social media accounts on Earth Cache Day to find out where to find our special caches and try to win a limited-edition Geoscience Australia geocoin.
Parliament House Open Day – Sunday 8 October – Australian Parliament House, Canberra
Visit Geoscience Australia’s exhibition at Australian Parliament House as part of the festivities celebrating the 35th anniversary of the House. Learn more about the materials used to build the heart of Australia’s democracy, and the surrounding geology of Canberra. Find out more here.
Earth Science Week Virtual Excursions – Wednesday 11 October – Online
Geoscience Australia is partnering with Virtual Excursions Australia to provide a full day of free Earth Science Week digital experiences for students on Wednesday 11 October. Sponsored by Geoscience Australia, the day will involve a series of virtual presentations and activities from a variety of Earth science related organisations, including a trivia session and a teacher professional development opportunity. Find out more and register here.
Join our education team for an online virtual excursion through Virtual Excursions Australia
Special free public talk ‘Communicating multi-disciplinary geoscience: Lessons from the Trusted Environmental and Geological Information Program’ – Wednesday 11 October 11am – Geoscience Australia headquarters and online
The Trusted Environmental and Geological Information program provides geological data and resource potential assessments combined with groundwater, ecological and surface water information across four basin regions. This talk will showcase the multi-disciplinary program products designed to support clearer, faster decisions for better environmental, business and community outcomes. Register and find out more here.
Paperbark Science Talk: Earthquakes Down Under! – Friday 13 October 6:30pm – Wildbark at Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve, Canberra
Are you curious about Earthquakes in Australia? Join Geoscience Australia Seismologist Thuany Costa de Lima for a fun, eye-opening talk exploring the seismicity beneath our feet!
Australia may not be known for large earthquakes, but they do happen, and more frequently than you may think. During this talk, Thuany explains why our continent shakes, the hidden forces shaping the land which are the main triggers for this natural (and human-induced) phenomenon, and what you can do to help monitor earthquakes. Find out more and register here.
Wildbark Geoscience Walk – Saturday 14 October 10am – Wildbark at Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve, Canberra
The guided Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary geoheritage walk will take you on a 430-million-year journey - from warm tropical seas of the Canberra Formation, past violently explosive volcanoes of the Mount Ainslie Volcanics to the present-day rolling hills and chain-of-ponds drainage system. Find out more and register here.
Tales and Trails: Rock n’ Roll – Saturday 14 October 10am – Wildbark at Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve, Canberra
Wildbarks outreach staff will take the youngest among us on an adventure in the sanctuary, reading picture books are making arts and crafts along the way. Geoscience Australia will be on the ground at Wildbark with a variety of free, hands-on geoscience activities for the whole family. Learn more about the properties of rocks, and what is underground. Find out more - no bookings required.
Dig into Earth Science Week at Mulligans Flat Nature reserve
'Behind the Scenes' National Mineral and Fossil Collection Tours – Monday 16 October 6.30pm and Thursday 19 October 6.30pm – Geoscience Australia Headquarters, Symonston, ACT
Join our Collections team for a behind-the-scenes tour of Geoscience Australia’s world class collection of minerals and fossils. See parts of the collection not normally open to the public and learn about the stories and science behind particular pieces – including those locked away in a special safe (with its own intriguing story!).
Register now, spots are limited:
Join us for a rare tour of the National Mineral and Fossil Collection – head behind the scenes and into our vault