UQ will celebrate National Science Week at the Ekka this year with science and technology displays as well as the popular animal nursery and beef expo.
Strawberry DNA, robots, slime, flowers, telemedicine and rockets are some of the activities showcased at the UQ stand in the Walter Burnett Pavillion, as part of National Science Week.
UQ’s Ekka organiser and National Science state coordinator Jackie Mergard said UQ would have a range of interesting demonstrations and hands-on activities each day during the Ekka.
UQ engineers will help children build metre-high Tim Tam and Marshmallow towers on Monday, August 14 and Tuesday, August 15 between 10am and 4pm.
The magic of mathematics will be demonstrated on Sunday, August 13 and Saturday, August 19 between 10am and 4pm.
Families will have better access to UQ farm animals this year in the Frank Robertson Pavilion.
Dr Mark Hohenhaus, the animal nursery coordinator and UQ School of Animal Studies Senior Lecturer said the animal pens had been reconfigured to give more people access to the animals.
Dr Hohenhaus said the nursery would also have a display of products linked to each animal.
“There will be the usual doe and kid goats, ewes and lambs, cows and calves and sow and piglets as well as those species relatively new to the farming world such as alpacas, emus and fallow deer,” Dr Hohenhaus said.
UQ Gatton students will be on hand to answer all questions about how the babies are bred, fed and raised.
The nursery opens daily during the Ekka from 9am until 7.30pm.
UQ Gatton will also supply the pigs for Expo Pig, a working model of a piggery, and its Cattleman’s Club will present the Beef Expo in the cattle pavilion.
UQ academics will also give a range of interesting talks in the Queensland Government Pavilion theatre.
They are:
Thursday, August 10, 3pm: Is your brain smarter than a computer?
Saturday, August 12, 1pm: Killing off the cane toad
Sunday, August 13, 2pm: Fuelling cars sustainably
Monday, August 14, 2pm: Virtual doctors improving global health
Tuesday, August 15, 1pm: Crocodile rock
Wednesday, August 16, 1pm: Water efficient gardening with natives
Saturday, August 19, 1pm: No needles, no fear
UQ’s cervical cancer vaccine pioneer and Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer will also talk about the wonders of science and his experiences as Australian of the Year.
He will talk at 1pm during a break in fashion shows in the Wool Pavilion on Tuesday, August 15.
MEDIA: Ms Mergard (0419 271 629, 3365 3634), Dr Hohenhaus (5460 1260) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (3365 2619)
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