National Science Week frequently asked questions

• Secondary students in Years 7 to 11 on Monday 14 August and Tuesday 15 August 2023.  
• Primary students in Years 3 to 6 on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 August 2023.
• Primary and secondary students in Year 3 – 11 on Friday 18 August 2023 for the new trial Diverse Learners Day.

Education bookings are available to NSW public schools and registered non-government schools.  

Diverse Learners Day on Friday 18 August is open to both primary and secondary students across Years 3-11. This new trial day is designed for groups or families requiring a more flexible timetable or higher educator to student ratios, such as home school groups, support classes, EAL/D students or any group with students with diverse needs.   

• Group size: There are no minimum group sizes, group size is capped at 30 pax (inclusive of adults and students).
• Educators and supervising adults: All educators and supervising adults must purchase an educator ticket, free of charge, and are included in the attending numbers per group. There is no cap on supervising adults/educators. There must be at least one adult per 15 students to attend with each group.
• Timetable: A flexible timetable can be negotiated depending on students requirements. Groups can choose to skip a session if they require a longer lunch or need to arrive or leave early. Please contact us directly to discuss this:  [email protected] or 9231 8333.
• Tickets: Tickets for Diverse Learners Day must be purchased online. Educator tickets are required on Diverse Learners Day for all educators and supervising adults but are free of charge.
• Mobility: If you have students with mobility issues or would like to discuss a flexible timetable without the walk between the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and the Australian Museum, please contact [email protected] to discuss options.    
• Children under the age of 8 (non-participating siblings): Please note due to limited venue space, we are unable to accommodate prams and non participating children. Please contact us directly [email protected] for more information.

All students will participate in: 

• Science show (Primary & Diverse Learners days) or Talking Science panel (Secondary) in the Calyx, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
• Science Expo at the Australian Museum 
• An interactive STEM-based workshop 
• Self-guided experience of either the Australian Museum or the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

All activities are delivered by experienced science communicators from the Australian Museum, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, partnering universities and research institutions, and professional science education providers.

Workshop and panel bookings will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Our bookings team will get in touch to let you know your final schedule.

Step 1: Choose your preferred day(s) 

Step 2: Choose your preferred workshop(s) 

Step 3: Choose your preferred panel topic(s) (Secondary teachers only) 

Participation is $18 (inc GST) per student. Supervising teachers or educators do not incur a cost as duty of care remains the responsibility of the booked school or group.  

A minimum charge of 20 students per school group applies.

There is no minimum booking for the Diverse Learners Day.

Through the generous support of the Australian Museum Foundation and the Neilson Foundation, A Day at the Museum is supporting 300 eligible primary and secondary students with free entry to the Sydney Science Trail and travel reimbursement of up to $10 per student.

Eligible students include those from Australian primary and secondary schools with an Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) value of less than 1000, or a special school, as defined by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).

Funding is limited to 30 students per school.

Home schools are not eligible to apply.

Funds will be allocated on a first-in first-served basis through the booking process.

If you need to cancel or make changes to your numbers, notification must be made in writing to [email protected] by COB 28 July 2023. 

480 student places are available each day Monday to Thursday.

480 places in total for both students and educators are available on Friday. Student places are reduced for this Diverse Learners Day.

Students should arrive by 9:00am at either the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney or the Australian Museum. This will allow students to have a snack and use the bathroom before activities commence at 9:30am sharp.  

All students will walk from one site to the other during the day. Instructions on the specific meeting locations for different groups will be provided after booking.  

Students will participate in sessions between 9:30am – 10:30am, 10:30am – 11:30am, 12:30pm – 1:30pm and 1:30pm – 2:30pm.  

There is one 60-minute break scheduled between 11:30am – 12:30pm.

This will allow students to have lunch and walk between the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney and the Australian Museum.  

Activities are scheduled to finish at 2:30pm. Students that started at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney will finish at the Australian Museum, and vice-versa. Please check your confirmed program for your start and finish points. 

9.00                 Arrive at Woolloomooloo Gate, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney 9.30 – 10:30    Workshop at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney 10.30 – 11.30  Show or panel in the Calyx, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney 11:30 – 12:30  Lunch in the Gardens and walk to Australian Museum 12:30 – 1:30    Expo at Australian Museum 1:30 – 2:30      Self-guided tour at Australian Museum 2:30                 Finish at Australian Museum

Yes, schools are responsible for bringing students and teachers to and from site.  

Students will need to complete one walk from either the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney to the Australian Museum or vice-versa.  

We have allowed a 60-minute break for groups to undertake this walk. It is an easy, flat walk covering 1.2km, and takes approximately 13 minutes. 

All students and teachers will be escorted by a Sydney Science Trail volunteer along the safest pedestrian route.

If you have students with mobility issues, please contact [email protected] to discuss options.   

Students will be placed into Group A, B, C or D with a maximum of 120 students in each group. Each group of up to 120 will visit the Sydney Science Trail Expo and attend the Talking Science panel or science show in the Calyx at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney as a whole group.

Workshops and self-guided trail sessions will have groups of a maximum size of 30. Students will be kept within their school groups as much as possible.  

Yes, allocate at least one adult per 15 students to attend with each group Monday – Thursday. Additional teacher places up to one student per teacher are provided for the Diverse Learners Day on Friday. Schools/educators retain duty of care for all their students on the excursion.  

Teachers can book places for students through the form on the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney website from 4 May until COB 1 August 2023. 

The receiving of a booking confirmation document by email constitutes an agreement that your excursion is booked and confirmed and subject to our cancellation policy. 

Invoices based on final numbers will be issued in the week of 1 August 2023.

Payment options will be included on the invoice, including credit card options. American Express, cash and cheque payments are not accepted under any circumstances. 

Once issued, invoices are final with payment terms of 30 days.  

Diverse Learners Day tickets for the Friday can only be booked online and must be paid at the time of booking. Changes to these bookings can be made up to COB 28 July by contacting [email protected].

No, primary school students are not able to attend on the secondary school days. However, they are welcome to attend on the primary days as well as the Diverse Learners Day on Friday. Students are encouraged to ask questions to extend the offering to meet their level of learning. 

We have undertaken a thorough risk assessment for this event, prioritising COVID safety.  

We will ensure that any staff and volunteers who are unwell stay home and do not attend, and we ask educators ensure the same for their students.   

All booked programs will go ahead in wet weather, unless it is an extreme weather condition. Activities will be held indoors. In the event of extreme weather conditions, you will be contacted by the Sydney Science Trail organisers, and the Extreme Weather and Cancellation Policy occurs.  

Students should be equipped with sturdy walking shoes, sun protective clothing and wet weather gear.  

Students need to bring their own lunch and drink bottle.

Please email us on [email protected] or call 9231 8134.