New Zealand International Science Festival 2025
28 June 2025 - 06 July 2025
Region(s): Otago
Type(s): miscellaneous, promotion, presentations, citizen Science, experiences
Join the biggest New Zealand International Science Festival yet in Ōtepoti Dunedin. Explore more than 100 unique events designed to spark wonder, ignite conversation and celebrate the many ways science connects us.
The festival is honoured to host Dr Michelle Thaller, former Deputy Director of Science Communication at NASA, as a special guest.
It will be a fantastic week of workshops, talks, shows, drop-ins and tours. Over 70% of NZISF-organised events will include elements of mātauranga Māori, thoughtfully woven throughout the programme. From Dr Ihirangi Heke’s talk and bushwalk exploring Atua Matua, to Jess Nicholson’s aurora-inspired art workshops, and the Ruruku exhibition celebrating waka traditions — these events will offer opportunities to learn through story, whakapapa, and relationship with the land.
The Festival Hub, located on the top floor of the Meridian Mall in the former Smith City/Kmart space, is the largest ever and will be a central space with a rotating selection of free, hands-on science fun for the whole whānau – plus amazing workshops and fascinating talks! Come by, stay a while, and see where your curiosity takes you.
A few examples:
Lots of games including the 5-Minute Volcano.
Get hands-on with interactive science fun with Science Alive.
At Scott Technology's stall meet their engineers and scientists bring hi-tech solutions to life and see a working robot in action doing some fun, interactive activities.
Come and learn from members of the Fish Futures research programme about how you can help protect kōura from threats such as habitat loss and invasive catfish.
Learn more about new developments in the hands-on Renewable Energy Workshop experts from the MacDiarmid Institute of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.
In Who killed the Kiwi? use genetic and forensic evidence to work out which creature is the culprit.
Join a participatory science workshop to investigate current research about Pakake/New Zealand sea lions interactions with the public.
Pop into the Festival Hub seminar space for these free daily talks.
Let’s talk CitSci mini-talk
Did you think science was just for scientists?
Seasons in the Sea seminar
Getting the measure of alcohol
Fossils talk – Historical Plastic
Jean Stevens and Blooming Impossible
Come see one of the amazing shows, ranging from: comedy, improv, movies, an interactive demonstration lecture and more.
Take a tour: participate in a garden or bush walk, get to know the southern night sky or the marine underworld, visit an innovative company, or explore Dunedin's extinct volcano by boat. There is something for everyone.
Meet Otago University researchers and find out what scientists do. Roll-up your sleeves and become a scientist in the interactive drop-in space.
There are also a huge range of fun hands-on activities for tamariki, such as a: Science in Crime adventure, scavenger hunts, lamb heart dissection, water rocket launches, poetry, using physics in karate, and much more,
For more information and full programme visit: https://scifest.org.nz/
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