From black holes to binary code, from DNA to data analysis โ the 2025 Australian Science Week theme invites students to decode the universe and uncover the hidden patterns in the world around them. Running from 9 August to 17 August 2025, itโs the perfect opportunity to spark curiosity, supercharge engagement, and celebrate science in all its weird and wonderful forms.
At Education Perfect, weโre just as excited as you are. Whether youโre planning a whole week of activities or looking for a few meaningful ways to bring the theme into your classroom, weโve got you covered with ready-to-use lessons, resources, and free access to the EP Science Championships.
Letโs take a look at how you can turn Science Week into a cosmic celebration of learning!
What does it mean to decode the universe?
The 2025 theme taps into science as the ultimate detective story. Scientists are constantly uncovering patterns: hidden in data, behaviour, nature, light, atoms, and space. They then use these patterns to make predictions, solve problems, and innovate.ย
โDecoding the universeโ is about recognising that science is a language of its own, one written in observations, evidence, numbers, and models.
This theme encourages students to explore:
- Data and pattern recognition
- DNA and genetic code
- Light, sound, and signals
- Space, time and cosmic phenomena
That means no matter what area of science youโre teaching โ physics, biology, chemistry, Earth and space โ youโll find meaningful ways to tie your lessons to this theme.
EP Lessons to Match the Theme
Weโve curated a collection of curriculum-aligned EP Science lessons that align beautifully with the โDecode the Universeโ theme. These are great as stand-alone tasks or can be embedded into your weekโs learning plan.
The Genetic Code โ Cracking Lifeโs Blueprint
Explore DNA as the universal language of life, with lessons that help students understand how base pairs code for proteins and how genetic mutations can impact organisms. Extend learning by exploring heredity, Punnett squares, and evolution.
Recommended lessons:
- How First Nations Australians Classify Organisms
- Interconnected Body Systems: How They Work Together
- Extracting DNA
- Pedigrees and Punnett Squares
Data Detectives โ Science by the Numbers
Whether students are identifying trends in climate data or comparing disease rates, decoding patterns is a crucial part of scientific thinking. Our lessons help students conduct univariate and bivariate analyses on real-world datasets, supporting skills in both science and numeracy.
Recommended lessons:
- Decoding Data: Understanding How Scientists Use Informationย
- Using Science and Statistics to Track Ecosystem Changes Over Time
- Big Data, Big Impact: Linking Industrialisation to Climate Change
- Understanding Motion Through Graphs
Light, Waves and Hidden Signals
From colour and reflection to light waves and the electromagnetic spectrum, these lessons shine a light on the hidden forces that help us understand the universe โ and communicate within it.
Recommended lessons:
- How Do Amplitude and Frequency Affect the Pitch and Volume of Sound?
- Exploring the Features of Waves
- How Does the Ear Respond to Sound Waves?
- How Does the Eye Respond to Light?
Atomic Theory and the Universeโs Building Blocks
Students can learn how everything โ yes, everything โ is made up of atoms, with lessons that decode atomic structure, chemical reactions and periodic trends.
Recommended lessons:
- Representing Matter: Symbols, Formulas, and Percentages
- Dmitri Mendeleev and the Evolution of the Periodic Table
- Measuring the pH of Substances
- The Birth of Atoms and the Discovery of Subatomic Particles
Space Science โ Reading the Universe in the Stars
Explore how scientists use data from satellites, light spectra, and other technologies to understand planets, galaxies, and the history of the universe.
Recommended lessons:
- From Myth to Model: How Science Explains the Solar System
- Indigenous Knowledge of Lunar Phases and Tides
- The Contributions of Al-Battani: Advancements in Astronomy
- Using the Electromagnetic Spectrum to Learn About Stars
Make it Competitive: Join the EP Science Championships for Free!
Want to take your Science Week excitement to the next level? Invite your students to compete in the global EP Science Championships! Itโs free for all schools during Science Week and provides a fun, gamified way for students to revise science concepts, climb the leaderboard, and represent their school.
Students earn points by answering curriculum-aligned science questions correctly on the EP platform. Youโll get data on what your students know, and theyโll get a sense of achievement and motivation through live competition with peers across the globe.
Event dates:ย
- Starts: 11 August: 9am GST/1pm SGT-AWST/4pm AEST/6pm NZT
- Ends: 15 August: 9am GST/1pm SGT-AWST/4pm AEST/6pm NZT
Learn more about the Championshipsโ event and rewards in our handy event guide.
Why take part?
- Easy to set up โ no extra prep needed
- Great for homework, revision, or lesson starters
- Works for students from Years 5โ12
- Fun, fast-paced, and completely free
Letโs Make Science Week Count
Science Week is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the magic of science and empower students to ask questions, look closer, and think bigger. Whether youโre running one epic lesson or going all out with a week of activities, EP is here to support you every step of the way.
Log in to your EP account to explore the complete Science content library and get ready to โDecode the Universeโ with your students!
