YES, National Science Week kicks off this weekend. Now in its 15th year, the week provides an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of Australian scientists. As well, it aims to encourage an interest in science pursuits among the general public, and several free events are open to entertain and inform the Canberra public. 

Groups of 10 friends or family members are invited to register to attend the annual Science Trivia Night at the Uni Pub, 17 London Circuit, Civic at 6.30 pm. This is a popular free event, with lots of prizes on offer. Light refreshments will be provided. Bookings to 6246 4646.

Then there’s a double-headed public workshop on water reform and climate change as expert scientists explore issues behind the melting of Antarctic ice and theMurray-Darling Basinwater allocations and the implications for Australia’s future water resources.

Hosted by the ACT branch of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society and CSIRO Discovery Centre, the two sessions take place on August 18 and 19. The sessions are free, but you need register at http://www.trybooking.com/BSBN so the organisers can arrange coffee and cakes.

Session 1, “Melting Down Under – Antarctic Ice” takes place from 9.30am on Saturday, August 18. Mark Curran will speak about using Antarctic ice cores from Law Dome to unlock information on Australian and Southern hemisphere climate variability over the last 2000 years. Rob Massom will discuss recent change and variability in polar sea ice, and the implications and Robin Robertson will speak about the ocean’s role in melting and freezing.

The Sunday afternoon workshops, beginning at 1.30pm, focus on the Murray Darling Basin. Jody Swirepik will talk about restoring the health of rivers and wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin, Professor Allan Curtis will discuss water reform, climate change and farming in the Basin, offering some different perspectives. Finally, Ian Prosser will speak about changing hydrology of the Murray-Darling Basin.

More information about all sessions at  http://www.csiro.au/Portals/Education/Programs/Discovery-Centre/Discovery-Events/Water-Reform-and-Climate-Change.aspx.