HSA 25th Anniversary

Enter a mock crime scene and discover how forensic scientists use different types of evidence to solve crimes. Follow the clues, investigate the evidence, and uncover the science behind forensic investigations.

1. Soil Clues: What Can Dirt Tell Us? Discover how forensic scientists compare the colours of soil samples to find important clues and link people or objects to a location.
2. Step Into the Blind Zone! Put on a Virtual Reality (VR) headset and see the world from a driver’s perspective. Learn how blind spots can hide people and objects from view. 
3. Follow the Shoeprints. Explore how different lighting can reveal shoeprints and other hidden marks that are not so easy to spot.
4. Tiny Clues, Big Discoveries. Explore how forensic scientists find and examine tiny pieces of evidence such as pieces of cloth or threads and glass fragments, to help solve crimes. 
5. Hidden Patterns Under Special Light. Discover hidden patterns and marks inside plastic bags when viewed under polarised light! 
6. Is it Blood? Let's Find Out! Learn how forensic scientists look at stains found at a crime scene and find out if they could be blood.
7. DNA Detectives. See how scientists study DNA samples to uncover clues that can help with an investigation.
8. Can You Pipette Like a Scientist? Test your steady hands with a pipette, a tool used by scientists to move tiny amounts of liquid!

Discover how scientists uncover and identify harmful substances through fun, interactive activities. Learn how science helps keep people safe by learning about the dangers of vaping and other harmful substances and see how science makes a difference in our everyday lives.

1. Drug Detectives. Follow the clues, solve the crossword puzzle, and  discover the science behind drug testing of body samples and the dangers of drug use.
2. Can You Trust Your Eyes? Put your eyes to the test and see how harmful substances can affect the way people see and make simple tasks harder to do.
3. Explore Our Lab and Discover Hidden Clues! Take a virtual lab tour and snap a photo with our mascots! Think you know how vaping and unsafe health products can affect your body? Put your knowledge to the test and uncover surprising facts about their harmful effects. Then, discover how scientists use tiny clues from plants to find hidden tobacco in products. 
4. See the Tiny World Inside Your Body! Take a closer look through a microscope and explore what is happening inside your body. Learn how harmful substances can affect different organs and why it is important to make healthy choices!

Registration required; subject to availability as slots are limited. Register early to avoid disappointment.

Explore exciting laboratory techniques such as chromatography, pH testing, filtration and centrifugation through fun, hands-on activities. Discover how scientists use these tools to uncover clues, solve problems and help keep our community safe.

1. Rainbow Science in a Tube: Watch colours magically split apart and reveal the hidden shades within as you explore the science of chromatography. 
2. Acid or Base? Experiment with different samples and uncover whether they are acidic or alkaline while learning about the science of pH. 
3. From Cloudy to Clear. Ever wondered how scientists prepare biological samples for testing? Try a simple filtration activity and discover how tiny particles can be separated from liquids to help scientists uncover important clues.
4. Blood in a Spin! What happens when blood goes for a super-fast spin? See centrifugation in action and learn how scientists separate the different parts of blood to uncover important information.