The hugely popular World Science Festival Brisbane is back in 2024 wowing audiences from the 15 – 24 March. Featuring many free and ticketed events which will excite, inform and amaze Brisbane Kids, there is something for everyone at this annual science festival.
In 2024 the program will embrace the theme of Thinkers and Dreamers as it delves into vast realms of knowledge and pushes the boundaries of our understanding to reveal the impact of science, whether it’s transforming medicine, technology, or our understanding of the natural world.
Here are ten festival highlights you won’t want to miss.
1. The Hatchery
When: 20 – 24 March 2024, 10.30am – 4pm
Where: Level 4, Queensland Museum, South Bank
Tickets: Free event. Bookings required.
A selection of tickets will be available for pre-sale 31 January, with remaining tickets released on 1 February 2024. Once allocation is exhausted, WSFB will open a lottery. Tickets to each session will be available through the lottery, with those successful being notified by Monday 4 March.
Beyond the science-fuelled fun the popular Turtle Hatchery returns to Queensland Museum where visitors will have the opportunity to view baby Loggerhead Turtles hatching from eggs that are incubated onsite and timed to emerge during the festival.
After the festival, the newborn turtles will be transported to the Sunshine Coast and released 20km offshore.
This event is recommended for all ages.
For more information visit The Hatchery | World Science Festival Brisbane
2. City of Science
When: 23 – 24 March 2024, 8.30am – 4pm
Where: South Bank Parklands
Tickets: Free event. No tickets required.
City of Science is back at South Bank during World of Science Festival Brisbane 2024, offering a weekend packed with engaging and hands-on activities. Innovators, creators and science communicators will present an extensive program spanning an array of captivating subjects, including environmental science, geoscience, biology and technology suitable for the whole family.
This event is recommended for all ages.
For more information visit City of Science | World Science Festival Brisbane
3. Fossils! Queensland’s Quirkiest Creatures
When: 21 March 2024, 10am – 2pm
Where: Playhouse, QPAC, South Brisbane.
Tickets: Tickets required, from $10 per person.
Explore the Queensland Museum’s extensive and priceless fossil collection to uncover some of Queensland’s most intriguing extinct creatures.
Hear thrilling stories about the animals who once roamed our planet as well as see a fossil jacket prepared in real time. Queensland’s quirky creatures won’t stay hidden for long as our scientific experts interrogate the fossils they left behind.
NB. The 10am session is suitable for children aged 5 – 8 years while the 1pm session is suitable for those aged 9 – 12 years.
For more information visit World Science Festival Brisbane
4. The Earth Above: A Deep Time View of Australia’s History
When: 15 – 24 March 2024, 11am – 7pm
Where: Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha
Tickets: Tickets from $20 (concession) and $25 (adults).
Sit back and immerse yourself in Australia’s History when watching this movie-length, full-dome experience exploring Australia’s past 140,000 years. Through an incredible visual presentation, the planetarium-style show shares traditional and scientific knowledge telling of Australia’s epic story.
This event is recommended for all ages.
For more information visit World Science Festival Brisbane
5. Dr Karl’s Great Moments in Science
When: 23 March 2024, 5pm – 6.30pm
Where: Playhouse, QPAC
Tickets: Tickets from $35 (concession) and $39 (adults).
For one night only, Australia’s favourite science communicator, the unstoppable, unstumpable Dr Karl Kruszelnicki presents unbelievable insights into the Great Moments in Science.
Why do all the gods of metalwork have a limp, how can a piloted plane keep flying for more than two months continuously without air-to-air refuelling, and how much blood does your heart pump in your lifetime? Prepare to be entertained and amazed as you listen to Dr Karl answer these questions and more.
This event is recommended for all ages.
For more information and tickets visit World Science Festival Brisbane
6. Everything You Need to Know About…
When: 23 – 24 March 2024, multiple sessions
Where: Level 2, Theatre, Queensland Museum
Tickets: Tickets from $20 (concession) and $25 (adult).
Exploring a range of fascinating topics, the Everything You Need to Know About sessions will inform, excite and entertain. From discussing why volcanoes behave the way they do, to uncovering the incredible adaptations and abilities of tiny insects, the hardest part will be deciding which event to attend (or will you go to them all?)
Topics in the series include Shipwrecks, Parasites, Insect Superpowers and Volcanoes.
This event is recommended for all ages.
For more information and tickets visit World Science Festival Brisbane
7. Labs Unlocked
When: 15 – 24 March 2024, multiple sessions.
Where: Various locations including Queensland State Athletics Centre, Health and Food Sciences Precinct, XR Screen Futures (XRSF) Hub and Griffith Sea Jellies Research Laboratory, QMIR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and Queensland Herbarium.
Tickets: Free event. Registrations required.
Labs Unlocked invites audiences to step inside a variety of Brisbane labs, research facilities, robotics and engineering plants to discover world-class STEM innovations. From microscopes to robotic arms and high-speed manufacturing be inspired with the possibilities of tomorrow.
Due to the nature of these Lab events there are some age restrictions as well as clothing requirements. Please see individual events for specific details before booking.
For more information visit World Science Festival Brisbane
8. Robowars
When: 23 – 24 March 2024, 10am – 3pm
Where: South Bank Piazza, South Bank Parklands
Tickets: Tickets from $15 (concession) and $20 (adult)
Get ready to cheer on the robots when you witness a battle of skill, design, tactic, intelligence and raw robot power in Robowars. Watch as custom-built robots clash in a series of electrifying battles at the South Bank Piazza.
This event is recommended for all ages.
For more information and tickets visit Robowars | World Science Festival Brisbane
9. Night of the Nerds
When: 23 March 2024, 8pm – 9.30pm
Where: Concert Hall, QPAC, South Brisbane
Tickets: Tickets from $55 (concession) and $60 (adult).
They say laughter is the best medicine so if you’re in need of a dose then Night of the Nerds is where you’ll get a belly full. Comedian Mark Humphries will lead two all-star teams of scientists, tech heads and funny people as they face off in a series of challenges to lead their team to the ultimate nerdy triumph.
This event is recommended for guests 15 years+
For more information and tickets visit Night of the Nerds | World Science Festival Brisbane
10. Arts/Science Program
When: 15 – 24 March 2024
Where: Various Brisbane locations
Tickets: Most artworks are free to view though there are some ticketed events.
An evolution of the popular Curiocity Brisbane, the World Science Festival Brisbane presents the Art/Science program in 2024 featuring artworks on a larger, more engaging scale, with links to visual Arts, STEM, Science and Digital Technology.
Immersive artworks, interactive sculptures and animated installations will be dotted around various Brisbane locations waiting to be discovered. Locations include the Whale Mall, the Cultural Forecourt in South Bank, inside the Queensland Museum and the Pelican Ponds in the Cultural Precinct.
For more information visit World Science Festival Brisbane
TOP TIP – World Science Festival Brisbane 2024 offers a Multi Tix Offer where guests can save 20% when purchasing four or more tickets to events across WSFB (excluding QPAC shows). This discount is automatically applied at check-out when you book online at www.worldsciencefestival.com.au
All program details and ticketing for World Science Festival Brisbane 2024 events can be found online at www.worldsciencefestival.com.au
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