National Science Week begins tomorrow (August 15) and Griffith University is a major contributor to a packed agenda celebrating the wonders of science and technology.

Last night Griffith hosted Queensland’s Minister for Science and Innovation, The Honourable Ms Leeanne Enoch MP, who launched the inaugural Gold Coast Science and Tech Festival.Guests joined Ms Enoch in Griffith’s Red Zone interactive learning facility on the Gold Coast campus.

Presented by Study Gold Coast, the Gold Coast Science and Tech Festival will run throughout National Science Week (August 15-23) and feature events across the city.

Ms Enoch said such initiatives were important because education, expertise and leadership in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subjects–as well as aspects of the Arts to form a new acronym, STEAM–were needed to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

“Massive change is already occurring across all we understand and as that continues we must be ready,” said the Minister. “STEM and STEAM skills form the crucial platform underlying the ongoing development of a knowledge and innovation-based economy and society, and South-East Queensland can be a leader in that pursuit.”

Griffith University Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Ned Pankhurst, said Study Gold Coast was a fantastic initiative and during National Science Week would highlight those bringing key innovation into focus in the city.

Through Griffith Sciences, and in particular its Science on the GO! education outreach program, Griffith University will conduct events on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.

The Science Trivia Challenge will be held at the Queensland Academy for Health Sciences in Southport on Tuesday, August 18, and the Calamvale Community College in Brisbane on Thursday, August 20.

With three groups–Years 5-6, Years 7-9, and Years 10-12 and Teachers–school teams face six rounds of eight questions. There are plenty of prizes on offer, as well as science demonstrations, audience questions and hands-on interactive science activities.

Also on Thursday, the future of 3D printing and its impact on industry will be the focus of The 3D Printing Revolution, a discussion led by Griffith’s Program Leader of Industrial Design, Associate Professor Jennifer Loy, and Head of Engineering, Professor Geoff Tansley.

This is a free event, although bookings are essential, and will be held from 5.30-7:30pm at the Griffith Business School (G42, Room 4.23) on the Gold Coast campus.

On Sunday, August 23, Education Queensland and Griffith University will host the Gold Coast Schools Pop-Up Science Centre at the Robina Community Centre.

Featuring displays, demonstrations and activities, the event will cover archaeology and antiquity, human body and movement, energy and transport, environment and nature, space and astronomy, innovation and technology.

Click here for a full list of events at the 2015 Gold Coast Science and Tech Festival.