Weird, wonderful and wise – World Science Festival Brisbane returns for its tenth year
Get ready to don your lab coats and your party hats as the World Science Festival Brisbane returns to celebrate its tenth anniversary in March 2025. From Friday March 21 to Sunday March 30, the festival will once again fill Brisbane with a world-class line up of interactive activities, thought-provoking discussions, and spectacular performances, all designed to ignite your imagination and spark your creativity. While details of the full program won’t drop until January, here are some fascinating forerunners we can’t wait to check out…
Karlie Noon’s Guide to the Galaxy – March 22
Hurtle through space in the Cosmic Skydome with renowned First Nation’s astronomer, Karlie Anita Noon. In this exclusive Planetarium takeover, see the southern sky through a unique and compelling lens and hear including stories of the First Peoples connection to sky and country.
Superluminal – March 21-30
The Queensland premiere of Patch Theatre’s Superluminal brings children and families into an enchanting installation filled with bold visual design, collaborative storytelling and interactive play. As children enter Superluminal, they receive colour-changing lanterns to help them uncover exciting images and icons, reveal hidden animal tracks and discover animals from the past, present and possible future. Then, kids can create their own mythical creatures and capture their fantastical shadows on a magical glow wall. This immersive experience investigates nature’s extraordinary creatures, systems and beauty, and how time shapes them.
Brian Greene: The Search for Quantum Reality – March 27
World Science Festival Co-Founder Professor Brian Greene, celebrated for his work in superstring theory, returns to the stage for an Australian-exclusive unveiling of the mysteries of quantum. In this captivating visual exploration, Brain will take us on a journey into the enigmatic realm of the quantum, celebrating the theory’s remarkable achievements while grappling with the profound mysteries that continue to challenge our understanding of the universe.
Leigh Sales AM & Annabel Crabb: An Afternoon of Science – March 29
After a sellout success in 2024, Leigh and Annabel are back by popular demand. The dynamic duo will be chatting with an ensemble of local and international scientists about their passions for life and for unravelling the mysteries of the universe. Expect laughter, wonder and mind-expanding discussions celebrating curiosity, innovation and the sheer joy of scientific discovery.
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Science Smackdown: The Ultimate Debate – March 29
Hosted by ABC Radio National’s Big Ideas presenter, Natasha Mitchell, Science Smackdown: The Ultimate Debate will turn science into an uncensored Saturday night showdown. Brilliant minds will battle it out head to head in a series of rounds on controversial topics with humour, flair, and a dash of friendly competition. The festival audience will decide who takes home the coveted title of Science Smackdown Champion! Whether you’re a science enthusiast or just love a good debate, this event promises laughs, surprises and maybe even a few mic drop moments.
Arena Atomica: Skate-ology – March 29-30
This action-packed new show from World Science Festival Brisbane dissects the science behind skateboarding in a breathtaking showcase that fuses extreme sports with cutting-edge science. Presented with The Australian Skateboarding Federation and featuring world-class skaters, Arena Atomica: Skate-ology immerses audiences in the thrill of the extreme while layering in the mechanics behind stunts and the physics of motion. Watch in awe as impossible gravity-defying tricks unfold before your eyes while leading physicists and sports science experts drop in to answer the one big question: how did they just do that?
Dr Julia Baird – The Science of Awe – March 30
Award-winning journalist, best-selling author and “awe-hunter” Dr Julia Baird makes her World Science Festival Brisbane debut with an inspiring discussion about the science of awe. For the past decade, Julia has researched awe—those vast, mysterious experiences that transcend our understanding of the world. She explores how the deliberate hunting of awe can powerfully transform our lives, making us kinder, calmer, more content – and altruistic. Joined by a panel of experts, Julia will delve into the sustaining power of awe, while her panellists share extraordinary stories that pushed them to the edges of belief.
Tickets for these select events are on sale now on the World Science Festival Brisbane website. Don’t miss out on these unforgettable festival functions.