Science Alive! 2026

The Australian Society for Microbiology SA/NT branch has been involved in another successful, fun and jam-packed weekend at Science Alive! This exclusive annual event in Adelaide just gets bigger each year. It stands as Australia's largest annual interactive science and technology festival, transforming the Adelaide Showground into a dynamic hub of discovery designed to inspire curiosity across all generations. The event brings STEM concepts to life through hands-on exhibits, explosive live chemistry demonstrations, cutting-edge robotics challenges, and immersive virtual reality experiences. Beyond the high-energy entertainment, attendees can engage with live native wildlife, explore interactive defence and aerospace technology displays, and speak directly with local universities and research organisations. This comprehensive approach not only provides an engaging day out for families but also serves as a vital bridge for students exploring future education and career pathways in science and technology. This year the event was held over 3 days on a cold, wet weekend - perfect weather for being inside interacting with all thing’s science.

The ASM booth, Microbes – good, bad & ugly was part of the Health Sciences zone, nicely placed in between forensic science, reproductive science and winners of the Oliphant Science awards.

STEM Day

Friday was STEM Day out and this year was attended by 5,335 students and 496 teachers, year 7-12, from all over South Australia. We were impressed by some of the schools, where teachers had prepared questions for students to ask at specific booths. This meant we had lots of questions about microbes to answer, such as, “What’s your favourite microbe and why?” It was a great way to encourage discussion. There was also interest in our preserved tapeworms and heartworms, as well as the interactive puzzle, where students pieced together bacteria and yeast associated with food manufacturing and spoilage.

Public Days

Saturday and Sunday were open to the public – over 14,400 this year. Lots of interaction with various activities at our microbiology booth.

Our dark room was a huge hit with children and parents alike. Aliivibrio fischeri was cultured onto LB agar containing high salt; the plates are kept at room temperature - optimal conditions for these non-pathogenic bioluminescent marine bacteria. A total of 80 plates were placed in the dark room - 40 on Friday and another 40 freshly grown for Saturday to replenish stocks. Perfect timing, as they only start to fade by late Sunday afternoon… just like the volunteers!

Artistic drawings included Bluey, Pikachu and Tasmania’s famous Neil the seal.

Future potential microbiologists were fascinated looking at parasites and bacteria under the microscope in the form of head lice, yoghurt and poo. A stand was provided for the smaller children who didn’t want to miss out. Also provided were instructions to make your own microscope.

Make your own bacteria is always very popular activity at the booth. Children were encouraged to copy or design their own microbe out of playdoh and placed in a petri dish. Some great bacteria, viruses and parasites journeyed home (sealed, of course, so they don’t cause outbreaks).

Our volunteer artists brought microbes to life by painting amazing designs on the faces and hands of children, and, during quieter moments, on the faces of fellow volunteers. Where else can you comfortably walk around with a giardia on the side of your face?

Introduced as another activity this year was the testing of handwashing techniques. Children rubbed in GlitterBug lotion like a moisturiser which dries completely invisible under normal light. They check all the ‘glowing bacteria’ under UV light then rushed off to wash their hands with soap and water. Checking hands again under the UV light highlighted any remaining glow, pinpointing missed spots like fingernails, finger webbing, wrists, and the edges of the hands. This was very popular with the children and their parents and great take home message.

Acknowledgments

ASM National Office – thanks for your continual support for this unique Adelaide event.

Thermo Fisher Scientific SA for donating petri dishes.

Lora Bowes and technical team at Adelaide University for making media and plating out the Vibrio.

Booth volunteers - thanks for your time and enthusiasm.

Science Alive! organising committee - Andrea McWhorter, Amanda Kenyon, Kimberley McLean, Anja Zelmer, Kate Jeffery, Kate Whyte and Chloe Burford-Gorst.

This was, once again, such a rewarding event to be involved in, with the feedback being overwhelmingly positive. Parents approached us to share that their children had been looking forward to finding our booth again, while both organisers and attendees commented that we were one of the most interactive booths at the event.

Creating a lasting impression in the world of microbiology while proudly representing the ASM is ultimately what we are setting out to achieve. To be able to have a lot of fun along the way is certainly a bonus!

Tania Veltman

Chair, SA/NT branch Australian Society for Microbiology

Chair, Science Alive! Committee (and big kid at heart)