STEM Sparks | National Science Week 2026

STEM Sparks is coming to the University of Newcastle on Saturday 15 August, as part of National Science Week. It's a family-friendly morning run by the uni, aimed at girls and their families, and it's all about the side of STEM that doesn't always get the spotlight: construction and the built environment. The whole thing is designed to show what those jobs actually look like in the real world, rather than just talking about them in the abstract.

The main event is the STEM Story Circles, which kick off at 11:00am. That's where the girls get to chat with women working as design managers, project managers, quantity surveyors and engineers — people who do this for a living and can talk through what the day-to-day is actually like. Around that, there are drop-in activity stations where they can have a go at real-life tasks: sequencing a project, estimating materials, and spotting building fails. There's also a scavenger hunt and a 'Day in the Life' video series running throughout.

One of the specific bits is the STEM Mythbusters Challenge, which takes on the common myths about girls in STEM. Between that and the activity stations, it's more about doing and asking than sitting and listening. If you're bringing kids, you can drift in and out of the different stations at your own pace, and the Story Circles give them a chance to hear from people who've actually done the work.

It runs from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the School of Architecture and Built Environment (BSC Building) on the Callaghan Campus, University Drive, Callaghan. Entry is free.