University of Sydney celebrates Sydney Science Festival
From Einstein's theory of gravity to Aboriginal astronomical knowledge, University of Sydney researchers are proving there's no single formula for exploring a love of science this National Science Week.
Professor Geraint Lewis will discuss Einstein and black holes at his Sydney Science Week talk [Image: Stas1995/Flickr]
At 11 events across the inaugural Sydney Science Festival program from 13 to 23 August, University of Sydney academics will share their expertise on the wonders of science and its expression in our daily lives.
Professor of Astrophysics, Geraint Lewis, from the University of Sydney's School of Physics will lead the talk 'Einstein’s wonderful idea: A century of space-time, black holes and expanding universes' on Monday 17 August.
Despite 100 years passing since Einstein first published his theory of general relativity in 1915, we’re still yet to realise its full possibilities, Professor Lewis will argue.
"There are a lot more secrets hidden in the theory, and we're only just now getting people to attempt to uncover them. The theory could reveal some really big surprises in the way we understand how our universe behaves and the way we interact with the universe."
Closer to home, the remarkable complexity of ancient Aboriginal stone tools and their associations with geological knowledge will be explored at the free event 'No stone unturned: Aboriginal Scientific Knowledge in an Aboriginal Landscape' on Friday 21 August.
Macleay Museum's Assistant Curator of Indigenous Heritage, Matt Poll, will explain the diverse varieties of tool-making techniques, facilitated over 60,000 years as intergenerational populations migrated to every climactic region of the Australian continent.
"There's such a diversity of ways this knowledge can be applied, whether it's in relation to astronomy or food technology or building materials," Poll said.
The archaeological record reveals an intimate understanding of the ancient manufacture of stone tool resources and their application into everyday objects.
A panel of experts will also unpick the pseudoscience behind pop wellness gimmicks at the event ‘Bringing Science to Wellness’, on Tuesday 18 August.
The panel will discuss the rise of wellness blogs and celebrity health coaches, and the barriers preventing evidence-based science from gaining a similar level of popular authority. Hosted by presenter of ABC Radio National’s Life Matters program, Natasha Mitchell, the panel features:
- Professor of Dietetics Margaret Allman-Farinelli, University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre and Faculty of Science
- Christopher Zinn, consumer advocate at The Determined Consumer
- Dr Sarah McKay, health blogger and neuroscientist
- Liz Graham, acting editor of body+soul
Guests can extract DNA and get up close to live slaters and other crustaceans after the talk ‘Time After Time: Measuring evolution with molecular clocks’, presented by Associate Professor Simon Ho from the University of Sydney’s School of Biological Sciences, on Wednesday 19 August.
National Science Week is supported by Inspiring Australia, the federal government’s national strategy for engaging communities with the sciences, with the NSW Inspiring Australia branch currently housed at the University of Sydney.
For more details of the inaugural Sydney Science Festival visit http://sydneyscience.com.au.
Related articles
Surge in flu this winter
People suffering severe flu this winter should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Dementia tsunami: Alzheimer's and other dementias to triple by 2050
Governments need to take action on delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, argues Associate Professor Lesley Russell.
Legalising medicinal cannabis would create $100 million industry
Analysis from the University of Sydney Business School has found that legalising medicinal cannabis in Australia could create a new industry worth more than $100 million per year.
Ready, set, Rio: Sydney cohort heads to the Games
As more than 3.5 billion people around the world turn their sights towards Rio this week, 30 athletes from our community are getting ready to take their place on the globe’s biggest sporting stage.
Science student makes greatest self-discovery at the University
'Leave your comfort zone' is Kevin Gatdula’s motto in life. With an emphasis on continual personal development, the 20-year-old Bachelor of Commerce and Science student believes that this is the only way to cultivate a journey of personal growth.
Learning never stops - but it starts at Open Day
Like so many high school students in their final year, Denise Ong had a head full of questions. Little did she know at the time that one question she asked would later lead to a major turning point in her story.
Australian study wants your view on personal genomic testing
Do you want to know about your genetic information? Would you share it?
Sydney at Rio: two silver and a bronze add to our tally
In a blockbuster first week at Rio 2016 our athletes have continued to excel winning two silver and a bronze to add to Chloe Dalton's gold in the Rugby Sevens. Our total would see us sitting at 35th on the country tally rankings – ahead of Ireland, Slovenia and Romania.
Future research stars supported under new Sydney fellowship
The first cohort of fellows of the University's new Sydney Research Accelerator (SOAR) program has been announced.
Sydney tops the state for graduate employability
The University of Sydney has been ranked number one in New South Wales and 49 in the world in the most recent Times Higher Education Global Employability University Rankings.