Sydney Science Trail Secondary Program
Sydney Science Trail excursions are back this August. Explore the program and book your secondary school class excursion for National Science Week.
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Australian Museum
13 – 15 August 2025
9.30am – 2.30pm
Stage 4, 5 and 6
$25 per student (incl. gst).
Minimum charge of 20 students per booked group applies.
Teachers attend free of charge.
Science to inspire
The Sydney Science Trail is back this August!
Ignite your students’ curiosity at our secondary school science education days. With topical panel talks, challenging hands-on workshops and interactive exhibitions, our secondary program is sure to truly engage students in STEM and leave them wanting to learn more.
Don't miss out on this celebration of science! Explore the full excursion program and book your spot now.
Program overview
Sessions
Program entry includes four activity sessions between 9.30am and 2.30pm across both Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Australian Museum sites.
The four sessions include:
- Science Talk (Wednesday and Thursday only) OR Science Show (Friday only) at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
- Science Expo at the Australian Museum
- Interactive STEM Workshop at either the Australian Museum or the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
- Teacher-led experience at either the Australian Museum or the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Structure
Class groups rotate through four 60-minute sessions across two historic venues – two sessions at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and two sessions at the Australian Museum.
- Morning sessions: 9.30am – 10.30am and 10.30am – 11.30am
- Lunch and change venues: 11.30am – 12.30pm
- Afternoon sessions: 12.30pm – 1.30pm and 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Science Talks: Languages of Nature
Our Science Talks align with the 2025 National Science Week theme Decoding the Universe - Exploring the unknown with nature's hidden language. Featuring scientists from the Australian Museum Research Institute, Botanic Gardens of Sydney, University of Technology, Sydney and University of New England, your students will learn about how nature informs us about our past, present and future.
For school bookings on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 August 2025, students will attend one of the following Science Talks.
Scientists look to nature to uncover evidence of climate change and its profound impacts. Hear from Sydney-based scientists about how shifting environments affect species survival and how this vital research informs our strategies to address a changing world.
Speakers include Dr Fred Saltre, Research Scientist from the Climate Solutions Centre, Australian Museum; and Dr Andrew Thornhill, Director of the NCW Beadle Herbarium, University of New England.
Delve into how past extinctions and species adaptations have shaped the biodiversity we see today. Hear how scientists use lessons from evolution to guide us in understanding our present and protecting our future.
Speakers include Dr Jacqueline Nguyen, Scientific Officer in Ornithology, Australian Museum; and Dr Heidi Kolkert, Lecturer and Collections Manager, Natural History Museum, University of New England.
Discover how observing patterns enables scientists to uncover relationships, categorise complex systems, and predict their behaviour under different conditions. The secret language of nature reveals the mathematical and physical principles that underpin research of the natural world.
Speakers include Dr Isabel Hyman, Research Scientist, Malacology, Australian Museum; and Professor Christopher Poulton, Discipline Leader (Physics), School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney.
Data analysis and interpretation supports our scientific understanding of the natural world. Scientists use data to identify patterns, develop forecasts and create solutions to the threats and challenges we face in our ever-changing world.
Speakers include Dr Yiyuan Wang, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Collection Digitisation and Visualisation, Australian Museum; and Dr Ariel Pezner, Chancellor's Research Fellow, Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney.
Great Big Science Show with Kaleidoscope Science
The Great Big Science Show features a variety of spectacular and highly visual demonstrations, including liquid nitrogen, chemical reactions and fireballs - an unforgettable celebration of science. The focus is on maximum excitement with the most energetic and crowd pleasing demonstrations from across a range of science disciplines. Throughout the show we’ll consider how scientists find out new things by doing experiments, testing predictions then using their knowledge to solve problems, build inventions and create technology. We'll keep the pace and energy high for maximum crowd-pleasing engagement.
For School Bookings on Friday 15 August 2025.
Science Expo at the Australian Museum
Celebrate National Science Week and have your students’ burning questions answered by experts from over 20 research organisations and universities including the University of Technology Sydney and the University of New England. Wander through our Science Expo stalls and chat citizen science, frogs, fossils, medical research and more – even ask our scientists about their career paths. Ignite your students’ love for science by giving them the rare opportunity to touch base with real-life scientists, undertake experiments and get hands-on with cutting-edge innovations.
All students will access the Science Expo as part of the program.
Interactive STEM Workshops
Students will attend one of the following workshops at either the Australian Museum or Botanic Gardens of Sydney.
In this hands-on workshop, students will explore how genetic information is transferred in DNA and watch how it can be extracted for genetic analysis. Students will also learn about the important research conducted in the Australian Museum Research Institute and will complete their own investigation to determine how DNA can be used to compare and identify species.
Be a forensic investigator and use scientific applications to solve crimes. In this interactive workshop, you will learn how to dust and collect fingerprints, analyse blood spatter, test for drugs and collect evidence, with the aim of building a solid case for the court of law. This interactive workshop is facilitated by the University of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Science.
Flowers are the ultimate communicators. It may not be via words, but their shape, colour, smell, size, abundance and length of flowering time can communicate many messages to us and their pollinators. This workshop explores some of the messages flowers transmit to help understand how ecosystems have survived and changed over time.
String as a physical object can be used for crafting, constructing and instruments, but it also represents connection and unity, complex or simple. Explore how ‘string’ represents First Nations connection to people, places and plants through interactive and hands-on activities.
Self-guided Experience
Guide your students through either a gallery at the Australian Museum or try your hand at nature journaling at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney to discover nature up close.
Teachers will be allocated an explore session at only one venue, depending on which group rotation they are placed in. Optional teacher resources will be available to assist your students, including nature journaling activities in the Garden and engaging ways to interact with one of the exhibits at the Australian Museum.
