World Science Festival Brisbane Has Unveiled Its Jam-Packed 2022 Program with More Than 130 Events

Brisbane isn't quite the centre of the universe — but come March, it'll feel that way, especially when it comes to all things science and technology. Since 2016, the city has played host to the only Asia-Pacific offshoot of New York's World Science Festival, which showers the place in knowledge via talks, panels, workshops, films, and both science and art installations.

2022's fest will once again run for five days, from Wednesday, March 9–Sunday, March 13; however, the event will also dovetail into Curiocity Brisbane, too. The latter focuses specifically on the intersection between art, science and technology, and is held for an extra week through till Sunday, March 20, which means you'll have two festivals to attend, not just one.

On the World Science Festival Brisbane lineup, a lengthy list of local venues will welcome in the science extravaganza, offering up a hefty list of activities to go along with it — all revolving around the theme 'Science, People, Heart'. The full program includes more than 130 events, almost of 50 of which are free, with highlights such as scuba diving with a marine archaeologist, watching a Night of the Nerds variety game show filled with both comedians and scientists, hearing from queer scientists, taking sessions on fungi, and enjoying themed guided walks through leafy Brisbane spots.

Or, you can enjoy a stint of stargazing; touch live marine life such as sea stars, sea urchins, tropical and black sea cucumbers at South Bank; combine a walking tour with a silent disco; and shop your way through a sustainability-focused market.

And, when you're not listening to Dr Karl Kruszelnicki chat about the science of comedy, you'll be seeing science and music paired via Something for Kate's Paul Dempsey and sexologist Chantelle Otten, learning why Mars keeps fascinating earthlings and discovering more about the race to commercialise space, and hanging out in the science hub at the South Bank Piazza.

Brisbanites can catch a program of films about animals and the natural world at the Gallery of Modern Art's Australian Cinematheque, too — including the exceptional pig-focused Gunda and the inspiration The Biggest Little Farm — then head to the annual turtle hatching session (yes, with real, tiny turtles).

Curiocity 2021, Markus Ravik

Plus, over at Curiocity, there'll be physical spaces that also toy with all things digital, as spread across a five-kilometre walking trail at South Bank. Standouts span Acknowledging Place, which asks participants to sit and consider an Indigenous perspective of caring for Country; public sculpture OHCE/ECHO, which captures your portrait and embeds it in the work; and The Wandering Birds Have Returned to the River (Even Bernice), featuring imaginary giant bird nests made out of repurposed and reusable consumer goods.

Other Curiocity must-sees include Luminous Threads, which combines embroidery with modern fibre optic technology; Mirage Project [Iceberg], which uses stereoscopic photography to inlay an iceberg from Antarctica into South Bank; and light and soundscape In the Air, a time-lapse piece that uses data from Antarctic ice-core samples to map changes over the past 400,000 years in a half-hour music and light show.

World Science Festival Brisbane 2022 runs from Wednesday, March 9–Sunday, March 13, which Curiocity Brisbane takes place from Wednesday, March 9–Sunday, March 2o. For more information and to buy tickets, head to the World Science Festival Brisbane website.

Top image: Evanescent, Curiocity 2021, Markus Ravik.