🚀⚡ FROM SPARK TO SOLUTION: WA'S BIGGEST STEM CONVERSATION IS BACK! ⚡🚀 What starts as a spark of curiosity can become the next great invention, breakthrough, or solution to a real-world challenge. Join educators, students, industry leaders, and STEM organisations from across Western Australia for the 2026 It Takes a Spark! Alcoa Kwinana STEM Conference, a day dedicated to inspiring the next generation of thinkers, creators, innovators, and problem-solvers. This year's theme, "From Spark to Solution", explores how STEM education develops the future-ready skills that matter most: communication, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and community. These are the skills that empower young people to become lifelong learners and change-makers. We're also excited to welcome Alcoa Kwinana as our Platinum Naming Sponsor, supporting a conference that continues to grow and strengthen connections between schools, educators, students, and industry. 🌟 Keynote Speakers 👩‍🔬 Dr Helen McFarlane Geologist, CSIRO and Superstar of STEM 👩‍🔬 Kathryn Laurentis Engineer, University of Melbourne and Superstar of STEM Whether you're looking to discover innovative STEM programs, connect with like-minded educators, showcase your school's achievements, or be inspired by leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, this conference is for you. 📅 Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026 🕘 Time: 8:45am – 2:45pm 📍 Location: Frederick Irwin Anglican School, Mandurah WA ☕ Morning tea and a light lunch included 🎟️ Early Bird registrations close 14 August 2026 Book now: loom.ly/PDrXGWg 🎤 Presenters Wanted! Are you a teacher, educator, school leader, or student doing something amazing in STEM or STEAM? We're looking for: ✨ Problem-solvers ✨ Change-creators ✨ Innovative educators ✨ Student leaders ✨ Schools with inspiring STEM programs Presenting teacher registrations are free (up to two presenters), while student presenters receive discounted registration, a certificate, and a special gift. Let's celebrate the incredible STEM learning happening across Western Australia and inspire the next generation to turn today's sparks into tomorrow's solutions. #perth #wa #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #westernaustralia #perthlife #perthgram #perthevents #perthhappenings #perthisok #eventsinperth #perthlocal #perthcreatives #PerthTeachers #WATeachers #STEMWA #STEMEducation #STEAMEducation #STEMTeachers #TeacherPD #AustralianTeachers #ProfessionalDevelopment #STEMConference #InnovateTogether #EducationInnovation #CuriosityCreativityCommunity #FutureReady #perthobservatory #perthobs

#Perth #WA The @Space_Station will fly over tonight at 6:05 pm #spotthestation #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #westernaustralia #perthevents #perthlife #perthtodo #perthhappenings

#Perth #WA The @Space_Station will fly over extremely bright tonight at 6:06 pm #spotthestation #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #westernaustralia #perthevents #perthlife #perthtodo #perthhappenings

#SpaceImageOfTheDay: The Mermaid Nebula Supernova Remnant Image Credit & Copyright: Data acquisition: Sy Ming Wong; Processing: Guangyan Gao Text: Cecilia Chirenti (NASA GSFC, UMCP, CRESST II) #APOD #Perth #WA #space #spacenews #perthnews #wanews #communitynews

#Perth #WA #listen to the latest edition of the @cosmicsavannah #podcast - loom.ly/Nm_TXvE #space #spacenews #perthnews #wanews #communitynews

From @watoday: ‘We took them for granted’: Australia’s cities are losing their stars loom.ly/n3JvNHo #spacenews #space #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #astronomynews #astronomy

#Perth #WA The @Space_Station will fly over tonight 7:43 pm #spotthestation #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #westernaustralia #perthevents #perthlife #perthtodo #perthhappenings

#SpaceImageOfTheDay: The Eagle Nebula and Friends Image Credit & Copyright: Emmanuel Delgadillo #APOD #Perth #WA #space #spacenews #perthnews #wanews #communitynews

#Perth #WA listen to the latest edition of the @AstronomyCast #podcast now - loom.ly/8CQHhNY #space #spacenews #perthnews #wanews #communitynews

From @abcnews: NASA unveils Artemis III astronauts to test technology for future moon landing abc.net.au/news/2026-06-10/n… #spacenews #space #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #astronomynews #astronomy

🌟 Congratulations to Emeritus Professor David Blair AO 🌟 Everyone at Perth Observatory extends our warmest congratulations to David Blair on being appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours. Professor Blair has been recognised for his distinguished service to physics, precision measurement science, gravitational wave research, and scientific education; a fitting honour for a scientist whose work has helped transform our understanding of the Universe. Born in England and educated at the University of Western Australia, Professor Blair devoted much of his career to the pursuit of one of science's greatest challenges: detecting gravitational waves, tiny ripples in space-time first predicted by Albert Einstein more than a century ago. After almost 50 years of research, engineering, innovation, and international collaboration, that dream became reality in September 2015 when the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory made the first direct detection of gravitational waves from the collision of two black holes 1.3 billion light-years away. The discovery opened an entirely new way of observing the cosmos and marked the birth of gravitational-wave astronomy. Professor Blair played a pivotal role in Australia's contribution to this historic achievement, helping establish Western Australia as a global centre for gravitational-wave research through pioneering work at the Gingin Observatory and through decades of leadership, innovation, and mentorship. His remarkable career has also been recognised through numerous honours, including the Prime Minister's Prize for Science, the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, the RSWA Medal, and election as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Professor Blair's work reminds us that some scientific discoveries take decades of perseverance, collaboration, and belief in the impossible. Thanks to his contributions, humanity can now listen to the Universe in an entirely new way. Congratulations, Professor Blair AO, on this well-deserved recognition and thank you for inspiring generations of scientists, students, and astronomy enthusiasts across Australia and around the world. 🌌✨ #Perth #WA #westernaustralia #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #astronomynews #spacenews #astronomy #space #perthlife #perthgram #perthhappenings #KingsBirthdayHonours #DavidBlair #OfficerOfTheOrderOfAustralia #AO #GravitationalWaves #LIGO #Astronomy #Physics #UWA #SpaceScience #BlackHoles #STEM #AustralianScience #ScientificDiscovery #AstronomyAustralia #Perthobservatory #perthobs

#SpaceImageOfTheDay: Thor's Helmet Image Credit & Copyright: Josep Drudis, Christian Sasse #APOD #Perth #WA #space #spacenews #perthnews #wanews #communitynews

#Perth #WA #listen to the Space Time #podcast with @stuartgary now - loom.ly/UNBntac #space #spacenews #perthnews #wanews #communitynews

From @universetoday: Even Without A Magnetosphere, Mars Can Still Deflect Some Solar Wind loom.ly/vPH38dk #spacenews #space #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #astronomynews #astronomy

#Perth #WA The @Space_Station will fly over tonight at 7:41 pm #spotthestation #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #westernaustralia #perthevents #perthlife #perthtodo #perthhappenings

#SpaceImageOfTheDay: Comet R3 PanSTARRS Through Time Image Credit & Copyright: Jakub Kuřák & Martin Mašek (FZU of the Czech Academy of Sciences) #APOD #Perth #WA #space #spacenews #perthnews #wanews #communitynews

#Perth #WA #listen to the latest edition of the @Spaceboffins #podcast now - loom.ly/vm_JUEA #space #spacenews #perthnews #wanews #communitynews

From @universetoday: A New Map of Stars Shows That the Small Magellanic Cloud is Expanding loom.ly/ZPzupFM #spacenews #space #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #astronomynews #astronomy

😂🪐💕 BREAKING: Venus and Jupiter Caught Canoodling Over Perth! 💕🪐😂 If you've been looking towards the north west after sunset and wondering why two bright "stars" seem to be getting uncomfortably close to each other, you're not imagining things. Venus and Jupiter are having a very public celestial meetup. Tonight and tomorrow night (9 and 10 June), the two brightest planets in our evening sky will appear less than 1.6° apart, making them look like they're sharing a romantic moment in the night sky. This event is known as a planetary conjunction, an apparent alignment of objects in the sky. While Venus and Jupiter appear side by side from our perspective here on Earth, they're actually nowhere near each other in space. Venus is currently about 181 million kilometres from Earth, while Jupiter is about 901 million kilometres away. That's a bit like two people appearing to stand next to each other in a photo, except one is in Perth and the other is somewhere near Bali. For the best view of this cosmic canoodling: 🌅 Look towards the north west about 45 to 60 minutes after sunset. 🤏 The pair will be separated by less than a pinkie finger's width when held at arm's length. ✨ Venus will be dazzling at magnitude -4.0. ✨ Jupiter will be glowing nearby at magnitude -1.9. ⭐ Look to the left of Castor and Pollux in Gemini. So if you're outside tonight, take a moment to enjoy one of the sky's most charming sights. Just remember: ❤️ They're not actually close. ❤️ They're not dating. ❤️ Jupiter already has 95 moons and doesn't need any more attention. ❤️ Mercury is definitely feeling left out. 📸 If you manage to photograph this cosmic romance, share your pictures below! #Perth #WA #westernaustralia #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #astronomynews #spacenews #astronomy #space #perthevents #perthlife #perthgram #perthhappenings #AstronomicalEvents #CelestialEvents #Venus #Jupiter #Conjunction #PlanetaryConjunction #NightSky #Stargazing #SolarSystem #AstronomyCommunity #photography #astrophotography #nightphotography #nightscape #perthobservatory #perthobs