Illuminate: How Science Comes to Light

Illuminate: How Science Comes to Light has transformed the special exhibition gallery at Scienceworks into a dedicated space for families to engage with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by tinkering with light in all its forms through hands-on, interactive play.

Families will be transported to a bush setting at dusk where the lights are twinkling, and a music festival is kicking off. Whether you’re jamming with other laser beats drummers, exploring how machines see or cutting shapes on the shadow stage, visitors will feel like the main act, playing with light and shade. Like any good festival, there are also moments of rest, quiet contemplation and creativity as well as collaborative art elements exploring the science of colour mixing at the pixel mixer and colour connections exhibits.

The exhibition is divided into six zones:

The Refractory
Use tools that bend light to make things appear bigger or closer so that we can see things better.

Sensor Sonic
Dance through sensors to make percussive beats, spin dials to program music with colour and scan barcodes to create your own soundscape.

Wonder Vision
Disappear behind an invisibility shield and find out how our eyes see by playing with a simple camera that turns everything upside down.

Chroma Zone
Mix assorted colours by adding or removing parts of the visible light spectrum.

Light & Shade
Light travels in a straight line, when it is blocked, a shadow is cast. Grab your friends and family, get up on stage, and dance with shadows.

Mirror Mirror
Create patterns of colour with a giant kaleidoscope and experiment with your appearance using a mix of image morphing mirrors.