Rescue Robots Underground Farming in CBD - National Science Week is Live

There are heaps of National Science week events, far too many to list conveniently, but the organisers have made it easy to get amongst it with online events and ones that you can visit in person.

Absolutely world class CSIRO robots for disasters, oceans or space can be explored in an online activity.

CSIRO Robot Responders lets young people step into the role of a robotics engineer, designing robots for missions inspired by real CSIRO research.

Choosing from three environments – caves and lava tubes, marine environments or space – participants learn how robots move, sense the world and reach places too dangerous for people. Free hands-on activities, design challenges, a card game and an online game are available for schools, libraries, community groups and home.

A robot-design competition offers prizes including 3D printers and education vouchers, with book hampers for the first 200 registrations.

This runs until 23 August (online, nationwide).

Sydney’s CBD has a secret underground indoor farm, right next to Darling Harbour.

Urban Green Sydney will open the doors to its hidden hydroponic farm in Barangaroo. Set in an underground carpark, it demonstrates how cities can strengthen food security by growing food in small or underused spaces through innovation, smart design, and simple growing systems.

Owner and founder Noah Verin can talk about the use of growing mediums like coconut coir instead of soil, transforming what would otherwise be a waste product, like coconut husk, into a valuable resource for growing plants. It’s a simple example of circular farming in action, where waste is reduced and materials are reused in smarter ways.

Visitors will explore how plants grow, how modern food systems work and how simple hydroponic methods can be used at home. And they can taste a range of the most popular greens.

Schools, offices, community groups and other organisations can also take part in a nationwide microgreens growing experiment by ordering and using Seed to STEM Grow Kits.

Underground farm tours: Monday 17 August to Friday 21 August.

Visit www.scienceweek.net.au