Summary
Come say hello to one of Australia’s cutest superstars at the World Science Festival Brisbane!
This annual turtle hatching is an important conservation initiative that allows intimate access to Australia’s precious Loggerhead turtles. Students can get a rare glimpse of hatching turtles in their incubation chambers and the first moments of their ocean lives as they meet a seawater environment in specially designed tanks.
This initiative is designed in collaboration with internationally renowned herpetologist Colin Limpus and Queensland Museum Senior Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians, Biodiversity Program and Chair of the Animal Ethics Committee Patrick Couper.
After the festival, the newborn turtles will be transported to the Sunshine Coast and released 20 kilometres offshore.
This program addresses key curriculum, including Prep (ACSHE013, ACSIS014, ACSIS012), Year 1 (ACSSU017, ACSSU211, ACSHE021, ACSHE022, ACSIS024, ACSIS029), Year 2 (ACSSU030, ACSHE034, ACSHE035, ACSHE034, ACSIS037, ACSIS042), Year 3 (ACSHE050, ACSHE051, ACSIS060), Year 4 (ACSSU072, ACSHE061, ACSHE062, ACSIS071), Year 5 (ACSSU043, ACSHE081, ACSHE083, ACSIS093), Year 6 (ACSHE098, ACSHE100, ACSIS110), Year 7 (ACSSU112, ACSHE223, ACSHE120, ACSIS133), Year 8 (ACSHE226, ACHE135, ACSIS148).
FEATURING
Patrick Couper
Patrick Couper
Patrick Couper is the Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians at Queensland Museum and has an active research interest in the taxonomy, ecology, biogeography and conservation of Queensland’s diverse reptile fauna....
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Mark Hamann
Mark Hamann
Mark Hamann is a marine biologist at James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville. His research focusses on the biology and conservation of marine turtles; examining their behaviour in relation to...
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Kate Hofmeister
Kate Hofmeister
Kate Hofmeister coordinates TurtleCare Sunshine Coast, a large citizen science turtle research project operating on the Sunshine Coast. Kate coordinates important research on the critically endangered Loggerhead Turtle in partnership...
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Microplastics and Environmental Health research group at UQ
Microplastics and Environmental Health research group at UQ
The microplastics research team at the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), University of Queensland, aims to better understand how plastics are released into the Australian natural and built...
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Please book into one session.
Session information
Due to the popularity of this event, only 36 tickets can be issued to each school (30 students plus 6 teachers/carers). There is a limited capacity of 72 per session.
Please arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled ticket entry time. For example, if your ticket time is 11am please arrive at the Museum no later than 10.50am.
The Hatchery is open to the general public after 2.30pm.
Session Times
Wednesday 9 to Friday 11 March 2022
11am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1pm, 1.30pm and 2pm daily
School Information
To book, complete the QTIX School Group Booking Request form.
If you have any questions, please phone a QTIX Groups Bookings Officer on (07) 3840 7466.
Large bags, food and drink cannot be taken into The Hatchery.
Please note the student to adult ratio – please see our Information for Schools page for details.
Accessibility
Patrons with special access needs- Learn More.
COVID-19
The health and safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers at the Queensland Museum and World Science Festival Brisbane is our priority. World Science Festival Brisbane events in 2022 will operate in line with Queensland Government public health measures. Festival attendees aged 16 years or over must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and show proof of vaccination (unless medically exempt) on entry to festival venues. Learn More
Visiting Queensland Museum
Supporting Learning Resources
The Loggerhead Turtle eggs used in The Hatchery were collected from Mon Repos Beach on the Bundaberg coast. Approximately 180,000 eggs were laid on this coast during the 2021-22 nesting season.
This animal is at home on land just as much as at sea. Tune in with our friend Chantal to find out what it is and discover a fun activity for you to try at home.
Contains curriculum links to:
Early Years, Prep, 1
Biology
In this resource, students learn about current research and be a scientist, analysing evidence from millions of years ago, and then their local environment, to make predictions.
Contains curriculum links to:
Years 7, 9
Biology
Cost
Free, ticketed