School Holiday Fun – Nano Fest Hub

Drop by NanoFest’s Festival Hub these school holidays, 15–19 July, for fun events every day at Wall Street Mall!

Join The Science Festival Team daily for an engaging selection of free, hands-on science activities for the whole whānau. You’ll find the Festival Hub in the Wall St Mall packed with exciting experiences that change each day, perfect for keeping the kids entertained over the holidays.

Explore stalls from local science and conservation organisations where you can:

• Get creative with light and sound
• Experiment with plants
• Examine bugs under a microscope
• Have your favourite rock identified

Discover more about the creatures we share our environment with (and why some are considered pests), test your sensitivity to cold, and even check how healthy your heart is.  Kids will love the ever-popular big blue Imagination Playground, while adults can explore the BioEconomy Institute’s exhibition, celebrating 100 years of science and its real-world impact.

Plus, don’t miss visiting artist Sione Faletau, who will be creating a unique artwork throughout the festival using local data and materials.

There’s something new every day so make it part of your school holiday plans at Wall Street Mall!

Every Day in the Hub:

• Imagination Playground – Our big blue blocks of creativity!
• Exhibition – Science Working for NZ – 100 years and counting
• Ongo mei he fonua: Sounds from the land – get involved with using environmental data to make art using sound, light and sculpture.
• Citizen Science Project Discovery Table – learn how YOU can get involved in Science in your backyard
• DOC Coastal Otago Presents: All things Conservation! – Sealions, lizards, albatross and more!
• Ask Dr Rock! to identify your favourite rock..
• OPERA shares their passion for Preserving Nature’s Song

And then a variety of other drop-in stalls and workshops every day….

Wednesday 15th July

Workshop: Space Art, Explore, Create Learn! Drop-in, free

Drop-in tables:

• Town Belt Kaitiaki presents – Bugs in the Grass
• From Plant to Plate: Biochemistry of Plants and Flavour
• How Sensitive are You to Cold?
• Tūhura Otago Museum/The MacDiarmid Institute Pop-up
• Open Valley Urban Ecosanctuary
• Orokonui Eco Explorers
• Gadgets for Good: How Tech is Helping Create a Predator Free Dunedin
• The Science Behind Your Food
• Unexpected Physics

Thursday 16th July

Workshops: Chain Reactions!! Booking Required, $5pp

• Ask a Wikimedian
• From Plant to Plate: Biochemistry of Plants and Flavour
• How Sensitive are You to Cold?
• Tūhura Otago Museum/The MacDiarmid Institute Pop-up
• Orokonui Eco Explorers
• The Science Behind Your Food
• Unexpected Physics

Friday 17th July

Workshop: Build a Rocket with Wonder Project! Drop-in, Free

• Heart Hub
• From Plant to Plate: Biochemistry of Plants and Flavour
• Pest Management in Otago
• Pest Plant or Just a Weed
• Tūhura Otago Museum/The MacDiarmid Institute Pop-up
• Orokonui Eco Explorers
• The Science Behind Your Food
• Unexpected Physics

Saturday 18th July

Workshops: Intergalactic Bath Bombs! Booking Essential, $15

• Otago Entomology – Getting Bzzzy With Bugs!
• Otepoti Magnetic Leaves Bioblitz Follow-up
• Making Waves with Te Wāhi Auaha – Sound, Light and Electronic Experiments from the Scrap Heap
• Pepeketua of Aotearoa – NZ Frogs!
• Rocks for Tots!
• Pest Management in Otago
• Pest Plant or Just a Weed
• Open Valley Urban Ecosanctuary

Sunday 19th July

Workshops: Intergalactic Bath Bombs! Booking Essential, $15

• Otago Entomology – Getting Bzzzy With Bugs!
• Repair Cafe
• Open Valley Urban Ecosanctuary