2025 School Theme: Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature's hidden language
The Australian Science Teachers Association(ASTA) is thrilled to announce that the Schools theme for National Science Week 2025 is ‘Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language.’ This theme invites students and teachers across Australia to delve into the mysteries of the Universe by exploring the fundamental languages of nature, including mathematics and the groundbreaking field of quantum science.
Aligned with the 2025 United Nations International Year of Quantum Science and Technology and the 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) being hosted in Australia, this theme serves as a bridge between basic science education and the exploration of specialised topics. “Decoding the Universe” will empower educators to inspire and engage students by exploring the mathematics and quantum science that underpin both the natural world and the modern technologies we use every day, from photosynthesis to satellite navigation.
The development of this year’s theme involved significant collaboration with the Australian Maths Trust (AMT) to ensure that the theme also supports the 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).
Executive Director of ASTA, Guy Micklethwait notes “The 2025 Schools Theme ‘Decoding the Universe’ reflects a forward-thinking approach to STEM education, encouraging students to explore the unknown and decode the mysteries of our universe through the powerful lenses of science and mathematics. ASTA invites all educators, students and STEM enthusiasts to join in this exciting journey of discovery.”
How Do SCHOOLS Get Involved?
- Schools can apply for up to $500 to help them conduct a National Science Week activity/event. Applications for the 2025 grant round will open in March 2025.
Go to a National Science Week in-person or virtual event
- Approximately 1000 events take place around Australia during National Science Week each year, including those delivered by universities, schools, museums and science centres. Enjoy a range of activities in your region or online at home. These events attract a wide audience from children to adults, and science amateurs to professionals. Over one million people participate in science events across the nation, with another 160,000 taking part in school activities. Visit the National Science Week website to discover what events are available this year.
Use the ASTA teacher resource book
- For National Science Week each year, ASTA produces a teacher resource book to help support and assist teachers in providing engaging science activities for their students. This is published prior to National Science Week each year to allow teachers an opportunity to research and plan for their Science Week activities. The book is based, each year, on the National Science Week school theme chosen for that year and is always packed with information, classroom activities, experiments, diagrams, photographs and websites.
- Since 2011, ASTA has provided the teacher resource books as web-based digital books. Titles include – React to Chemistry, Energy Evolution, A Century of Australian Science and Deep Blue: Innovation for the Future of Our Oceans. These are available free of charge from the National Science Week Books and Resources link at the top of this page as electronic downloads.
For more information please contact your state or territory coordinator
| State | Coordinator | Association | |
|---|---|---|---|
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ACT |
Delese Brewster |
SEA*ACT |
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NT |
Rebecca Pan |
STANT |
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NSW |
Josephine Cali |
STANSW |
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QLD |
Mary Rafter |
STAQ |
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|
SA |
NSWk SA Coordinator |
SASTA |
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TAS |
NSWk TAS Coordinator |
STAT |
|
|
VIC |
Ann Pisarevsky |
STAV |
|
|
WA |
Lauren Pascoe |
STAWA |
Our Partners
The Australian Science Teachers Association acknowledges the First Nations peoples of Australia as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and future and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.