FOBI'24 Program

Step into the world of digitally-assisted fabrication and assembly. You can experience design and assembly of a range of unique structures using pre-fabricated timber components, assisted by augmented reality.

Can you navigate the world when everything is flipped upside down? Try it with the Upside-Down Goggle Challenge! Also, enjoy the nerdiest chatterboxes around, featuring science questions and funny pun stickers.

Find out about science extension programs, including the Junior Science Olympiads, Australian Science Olympiads, and Curious Minds - Girls in STEM program.

Who can be the most successful fisher? Balance catching fish with managing the local fish population and it might be you! The fish in your fishing spot can be affected by many other things too, such as seaweed and oyster reef presence. Get fishing with the Big Fish card game!

Explore how the interconnected ecosystems of Tasmania support endangered species. Listen to and interpret recordings of masked owls in the native forest in Takayna/Tarkine. Show your support by drawing native bird species, making a forest flag, or writing a postcard to environment ministers.

Discover super interesting facts about Tasmanian wild animals captured on remote sensor cameras. Solve the puzzle of how some plants are adapting to climate change and investigate plant and animal tissue close-up with the new and innovative 'Foldscope' paper microscopes!

Have you considered what you can do, personally and professionally, with drones? Find out how the City of Hobart uses drones, from mapping to thermal imaging, LIDAR to livestreaming of events.

Interact with robots, including remote-controlled FIRST Tech Challenge robots and LEGO SPIKE Prime robots.

Chat with Devil Robotics about their after-school robotics activities for grade 5-12 students.

Immerse yourself in short activities to learn amazing things about Tasmanian rocks and minerals. Explore the structure of the Earth, the geological time scale, critical minerals and mining, and the many fields where geoscientists work.

Put your design skills to the test with our hands-on engineering design challenges. Learn about the role engineers play in society and in developing new technologies.

Find out first-hand what skills engineers use to solve problems in their day-to-day work by immersing yourself in a range of kits and board games. Also, find out how drones are used for surveying.

Discover how science and innovation is important in fisheries management and how we can all be stewards for a better fishing future. Participate in activities to find out how we attract fish, how we decide on the rules, what’s changing with warming waters, and how to handle fish for their best chance of survival.

See mini drones in action and delve into virtual reality to see how information about our environment can help us tackle complex challenges. Discover how geospatial data, mapping, and geography can tell us about our world and how to sustainably manage it.

Connect with makers and tinkerers and discover a range of electronic and technology-based projects for all ages.

Discover what it’s like to be a power station operator at ‘Water to Wire’, the power station in a container. Get hands on as you maintain the station, distribute energy, generate power, and keep energy supply and demand balanced.

Tasmania is a special place thanks to the wonderous animals and plants that live here and nowhere else in the world! Explore the art exhibition and join in by drawing or writing about your favourite Tasmanian species.

Delve into marine science! Explore what's going on in the ocean, how we map marine spatial data using an interactive mapping tool, and the biodiversity of birds.

Delve into the world of marine science and discover how humans impact marine environments. See and touch live marine animals and learn how to identify marine pest species.

Become a Nature Tracker! Learn about Tasmanian threatened species, such as birds of prey, burrowing crayfish, bats and bitterns. Find out how you can be involved in learning about their numbers, distribution, habitats and habits. You can also explore monitoring techniques such as observational surveys and acoustic monitoring, and learn how you can get involved in Nature Tracker’s projects.

For more than 50,000 years, the Palawa/Tasmanian Aboriginal people managed and cared for our unique island. Connect with our rich culture, heritage, knowledge and traditions.

Expand your understanding of the universe through physics and astrophysics. Ponder the mysteries of black holes and explore how astronomers decode the secrets of the cosmos. Delve into the fascinating realm of electromagnetism as you create your own light using coils and magnets.

And that's not all— chat with our friends from the Maths discipline and unravel the power of statistics in understanding the world around us.

Calling all future coders! Have a blast with Sphero Indi's, the cool little cars that react to colors! Program their paths using coloured silicon tiles to navigate them through exciting challenges. You can even build your own creative paths! Develop your problem-solving skills, creativity, and use cool STEM concepts like sequencing, prediction, angles, and speed.

Become a chemical detective and investigate what is the matter. Use chemical fingerprinting through infrared light to find out which white powders match which common drug. You can also play with molecular model kits to explore chemical structures and build known or unknown molecules.

Explore genetics and discover what genetic traits you have through a fun game of bingo. Get your questions about genetics and biology answered by researchers, and learn about the importance of genetics in medicine and health.

Did you know that EVERYTHING is interconnected? Explore the elaborate web of interconnections between species, the impact of human activities, and how to have a positive impact.

Immerse yourself in the world of Tasmanian fossils. Try your hand at removing fossils from rock, and use microscopes and guides to observe and identify fossils.

A healthy pasture (grass) is a vital resource for farmers. Learn how different types of pasture can be used to improve the health of livestock (such as cows and sheep) and also reduce livestock methane emissions.

Get your hands dirty and make your own ‘grass head’ from compostable materials, that you can take home, and watch grow.

Explore Tasmania's energy network through ‘Watts on Wheels’, a unique experience that combines STEAM principles with a focus on renewable energy and energy networks.

As you pedal the specially designed bike, witness the interconnectedness of Tasmania’s energy network and gain a deeper understanding of Tasmania's sustainable power generation.

Have a go at driving mini solar-powered cars and boats! Discover the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) behind these vehicles, and learn how you can get involved in the School Solar Car and Boat Challenge.

How can we reduce the impact of cats on the environment? Help find solutions to the problem of stray and feral cats in our bush. Discover how Ten Lives Cat Shelter are working with local councils, and enjoy games focusing on cats’ needs.

Explore the impacts of climate change on sea life with experts from the museum. Get up close to plant and animal specimens, and see amazing video footage of marine life.

Enjoy hands-on activities and demonstrations with the Young Tassie Scientists, an all-star cast of university scientists. Be inspired by their passion for science as you question, explore, and learn about the world around you.