EarthFest 2024

Saturday 23 November

9am - 3pm

Tūhura Otago Museum, Hutton Theatre

It's FREE!

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Whaiwhia te kete mātauranga

Fill the basket of knowledge

Explore

Our Exhibits

All Ages

ShakeKit

Become an earthquake engineer with ShakeKit! Design and build your own tall tower, and then put it to the ultimate test on our shake table. How long will it last before it topples? Find out as you design, build, and shake your way to becoming an earthquake engineer. ShakeKit is all about fun, learning, and problem-solving.

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All Ages

Dunedin Rocks!

That’s the theme of our annual Wild Dunedin – NZ Festival of Nature event in 2025!

Last April 28,000 people joined in enjoying, understanding and protecting our special nature, and in 2025 geologists and other rockhounds will help us celebrate the rock solid foundations our city is built on.

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All Ages

Water Worlds

From the deepest oceans to the highest skies, and all the coastlines, estuaries, rivers and lakes in between, dive into science with the team from NIWA. Experience Antarctica through Virtual Reality and play interactive games to discover the causes of (and possible solutions to!) township flooding and sea-level rise.

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Discover

Our Demonstrations

All Ages

Mount Boom

10:00 am

12:30, 2:00 pm

Explosive volcanic eruptions are spectacular and dangerous. They are driven by rapidly expanding gas – either released from within magma or generated when it contacts water near Earth’s surface. We will use water and liquid nitrogen to see and hear the powerful forces involved as Mt. Boom erupts!

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Primary School

Quake Point

11:00 am

12:00, 1:00 pm

Have you ever wondered how scientists detect and measure earthquakes? Find out by becoming your very own human seismometer!

We'll work together to locate a range of "earthquakes" and discover what factors make it easier or harder to detect and measure them. Remember to drop, cover and hold, and if it's long or strong, get gone!

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All Ages

The Land Down Under

9.30, 10.30, 11.30 am

1:30, 2:30 pm

Did you know magnetism can be used to see beneath the grass?!

Compasses show us magnetic direction, but magnetometers show how strong the magnetic field is. We will use a portable magnetometer to get a ‘look’ at what lies beneath the Otago Museum lawn.

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Our Public Talks

Natural Hazards & Us

10 am

Numerous natural processes have created and continue to shape our stunning Ōtepoti Dunedin landscapes, but some of them become hazardous when we get caught in the way. Find out what hazardous natural events we might experience in our lifetimes, and how we can prepare, to reduce their impacts on our lives and wellbeing.

Earth Science Career Showcase

12 pm

Did you know studying Earth science can lead to dozens of different potential careers?

Join us to hear from a range of people currently working in different areas of Earth science, and find out what career paths have taken them to where they are now. Find out what they do, why it's important, and why it's so much fun!

Earth Science in COOL Places

2 pm

Join Science Field Leader and Survival Guide Kimberley Wallace as she shares her favourite stories and experiences from 25 years of working in Antarctica. Discover how she has supported many Earth scientists from around the world, and find out how studying Earth sciences can take you to some pretty cool places!

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