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Thanks so much for your interest in creating an event for our 2027 Festival.
We love our event hosts and are so grateful for the incredible contributions they make, so we really try to look after them. After this year's Festival, our Event Hosts gave us an average of 9.7/10 for Overall Experience with the Festival Team!
Want to be a part of this amazing event? Have a quirky science communication idea that you've always wanted to try? Read on to find out how.
We are on the lookout for events that engage the public (children, families and/or adults) in a variety formats – our events come in many different shapes and sizes. Some of these options include:
Workshops: Hands-on and interactive, workshops engage participants with often specialised topics that aim to inspire and challenge.
Presentations/Talks: This type of event requires a passionate presenter that is knowledgeable on a particularly interesting subject.
Panel Discussions/Debates: These events bring multiple people together to discuss a specific, engaging topic. Panels should include a diverse range of both scientists and viewpoints, and work well when matched with an experienced host or moderator.
Performances/Shows: Music, theatre and comedy performances can be a very effective medium for engaging audiences on complex scientific issues, often providing both information and inspiration.
Walks/Tours: Showcase the science behind your business with a behind-the-scenes tour or take visitors on a walk to experience the scientific wonders of a particular destination.
We don’t set an overarching theme but offer ideas each year to inspire event organisers. We welcome proposals across all areas of science, technology and the environment.
Topics we aim to champion every year:
Sustainability and Climate Science
Mātauranga and Indigenous Science
Interdisciplinary Collaborations, including Art and Literature
Everyday Science
Extra ideas for 2027:
What is the importance of play in science and learning?
What does science mean to you?
How do we make science more accessible?
How have innovations in technology assisted or changed your work?
How do science and policy interact?
These are suggestions, not requirements. We welcome creative ideas that spark curiosity and offer fresh perspectives.
When creating your event, we recommend you think about an effective take-home message for your audience. For example, practical steps to reduce your plastic waste, ways to identify different bird species, or even simply that science is fun and for everyone. Identifying your take-home message early on will help you develop an event that meets your goals and make writing copy for the programme a lot easier!
The festival audience is generally made up of science-interested members of the public who may or may not have in-depth knowledge about science, technology or the environment. When designing an event, think about the specific audience you want to reach and what they might like to engage with. Also give thought to why your audience will want to come to your event, which may include interest in a particular speaker or topic, to hear an engaging discussion, or entertainment for the kids. Reasons for attending are often as simple as wanting to have fun or to learn more about the world around us. We always welcome ideas that have the potential to engage harder-to-reach audiences and underrepresented communities.
Recommended length for most adult events is 60 - 90 minutes including a Q & A session at the end. Performances generally run for 45 - 90 minutes. Drop-in activities should aim to have enough material to entertain for 5 - 10 minutes, with additional options for the highly engaged.
If you need a venue, indicate this in your application. The Festival will endeavour to match events with suitable venues. Basic equipment may be available, but you must identify requirements early. Anything the Festival or venue cannot supply will need to be arranged separately, potentially at your own cost. Support varies by event and availability, so discuss your needs with the team early.
Not all scientists and science enthusiasts are good communicators, and good communication is the key to a successful public event. If you are having a speaker at your event, it is important to choose someone that is experienced and effective at communicating. If bringing in a speaker from elsewhere, we recommend that you research them prior to confirming them as a guest. Choose presenters who can communicate effectively with your intended audience. Scientific expertise is valuable, but good communication is essential.
It’s free to be involved in the festival if you are running a free event! There is a charge of 10% of gross ticket sales (including GST) for any event with a paid ticket. This includes booking fee and card costs.
Event organisers are responsible for developing and delivering their events and covering their costs, including presenter travel, accommodation and expenses where required. The Festival may be able to assist with some travel or accommodation costs in exceptional cases, but this must be discussed well in advance and is not guaranteed. If finances are a barrier to participation, please talk to us and we will see if we can help secure sponsorship or other funding.
There is no general participation fee, but you are responsible for all your travel, accommodation and other expenses.
The Festival sets up and manages ticketing through Eventotron, including free events requiring registration, unless an exception is agreed for a venue with an exclusive ticketing arrangement.
Free events incur no ticketing fee. If you charge for tickets, the Festival charges a fee of 10% of gross ticket revenue, including GST, booking fees and card costs. You can read the full terms and conditions here
The Festival collects ticket income and provides a sales statement and payment after the event, less applicable fees and refunds.
A minimum of two tickets per one-off ticketed event, or four tickets in total for repeating events, are reserved for media, sponsors or promotional purposes. Unused tickets are released for public sale if not needed.
You choose an appropriate ticketing model and set your own price.
This year, we are introducing an option where you may choose to have a 'Pay What You Can' or other paid ticket, but to donate some or all of that income to the Festival!
As the Festival is a registered non-profit, this can be a tax-deductible donation. Let us know in your application if you're interested in this option, and we'll be in touch to discuss the process and to confirm. Thank you!