The World Science Festival Brisbane is due to return in 2022 with five days of science, art, and exploration from 9 to 13 of March.

The programme will interrogate the intersection between art and science in their shared capacity for observation and interpretation, while also focusing on future threats to the planet.

Curiocity Brisbane is expected to transform the streets of Brisbane for 11 days with a series of interactive installations for visitors to explore.

The Festival will also see the return of The Hatchery: Turtle Conservation Experience at Queensland Museum and the City of Science a free workshops, storytelling, and tours around the city.

The World Science Festival 2022 will follow on from the 2021’s programme, this most expansive since its inception in 2016, which ran digital events and live programming on the theme of ‘Extremes and Adaptations’.

Minister for Arts Leeanne Enoch said the festival will continue to evolve, with the Government providing $9 million for the next three World Science Festivals.

“The 2022 World Science Festival, presented by the Queensland Museum Network, will showcase the innovative intersection between art and science, presenting creative solutions to our planet’s challenges.

The World Science Festival 2022 will see the return of The Hatchery: Turtle Conservation Experience (Image: Supplied)

“The 2021 World Science Festival has been a success with more than 120,000 visitors already engaging in the community and school days in Brisbane, Townsville, Chinchilla, Gladstone and Toowoomba with Ipswich still to be held on 7 and 8 November.

“The arts are key to delivering our plan for economic recovery, each year injecting $8.5 billion into the state’s economy and supporting more than 92,000 jobs for Queenslanders, and this is why the Queensland Government supports the only World Science Festival held outside of New York.”

Aside from New York, Brisbane is the only other city which plays host to the World Science Festival, attracting more than 800,000 attendees and putting $36 million into the Queensland economy since 2016.

Queensland Museum Network Chief Executive Dr Jim Thompson said the planning and development for the 2022 program is well underway and shaping up to be the best event yet.

“We’ll ignite curiosity in our visitors to explore life’s big questions, through compelling discussions, lively debates, and science and art installations,” said Thompson.

“When you break it down, science and art are essentially about observation and interpretation and we look forward to sharing this with visitors to Brisbane during March.”

World Science Festival Co-founder Tracy Day said that she is delighted to continue the important work of World Science Festival in Brisbane.

Queensland Museum Network chief executive Dr Jim Thompson.

“Science holds the key to overcoming many of the current and future challenges facing society and our planet. I look forward to a program of vibrant and timely conversations, that take science out of the labs and into the streets, parks, theatres and museums, and help to position science in the centre of popular culture,” said Day.

“The Festival’s mission is to enthral and inspire through the optimism, innovation and ingenuity of science.”

The festival will then spend the rest of 2022 in regional communities as part of World Science Festival Queensland, starting with Chinchilla, Townsville, Gladstone, Ipswich and finishing the tour in Toowoomba.

Thompson said it’s always encouraging to see the high level of engagement and enthusiasm for science learning when the festival travels throughout Queensland.

“Since 2016 we’ve been delivering the festival to our regional communities and the feedback is always positive, reinforcing our commitment to continue to deliver fun and meaningful ways for visitors to learn about science and the world around us.”

The World Science Festival 2022 will be held in Brisbane from 9 to 13 March, with Curiocity running from 9 to 20 March.