UNE Discovery

27/09/2026

27/09/2026

04/09/2026

The Mere Exposure Effect describes how repeated exposure to a person, object, idea, or experience can increase our liking and preference for it, even when we are not consciously aware that familiarity is influencing our feelings. This effect occurs because familiar things often feel safer, easier to process, and more predictable than unfamiliar ones. It influences many areas of everyday life, including advertising and consumer choices, where repeated exposure to brands can increase trust and purchasing decisions; social relationships, where regularly seeing someone can make us feel more comfortable and develop positive feelings towards them; and decision-making, where familiarity can influence our preferences in areas such as food, entertainment, politics, and even academic or professional judgments. However, the effect has limits… too much repetition can lead to boredom or annoyance, meaning familiarity does not always guarantee continued liking.

26/08/2026

Today for DIY Discovery, join Mad Scientist Maddie as she continues to explore elastic potential energy, this time by making a catapult! When you bend the wooden spoon, it stores potential energy inside the spoon. When you let go, the spoon flicks back to its straight position, changing the stored potential energy into kinetic energy, the energy of motion. This then throws the cotton ball! In the larger catapult, a rubber band attached to the spoon stretches, storing potential energy. This is then converted into kinetic energy when the spoon is released, again causing the spoon to throw the cotton ball.

Share your own catapult designs in the comments!

23/08/2026

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for our final event for National Science Week - our Seeds of Science Art Competition! We ended up with over 50 fantastic entries! 🎨🌱

A huge thank you to Jan Clark and Kerry Gulliver for taking the time to judge, and congratulations to all of our wonderful entrants! 🌱

Missed out on the exhibition and opening night? Don’t worry! The exhibition will be ongoing at UNE’s Dixon Library until September 30th! 📆

UNE Science & Environment

19/08/2026

In honour of National Science Week 2026, join Dr Andrew Thornhill on a tour of the UNE N.C.W Beadle Herbarium!

A herbarium is an organised collection of preserved plant specimens and related data used for scientific study, education, and historical reference. It’s essentially a plant library, where each specimen is typically dried, pressed, mounted on special paper, and labeled with its name, location, and date of collection. New species of plants are also formally described at herbaria, such as Eucalyptus bunawanjan, which is currently being described by Dr Andrew Thornhill and his team!

17/08/2026

What a way to kick off National Science Week! Thank you so much to everyone who came along to our Farmers Market and Central pop-ups over the past week, getting hands-on and exploring the incredible world of seeds and plants! 🌱

14/08/2026

UNE Discovery is at the Sydney Science Trail at the Australian Museum 15-21 August. Catch us there if you're in Sydney!
University of New England, AU

14/08/2026

In the lead up to 2026 National Science Week which will be all about seeds and plants, we’ve got a fun fact about pollen! Did you know fossilised pollen grains are commonly found geologic sediments? This can occur because their outer walls contain sporopollenin, a tough and chemically stable substance that allows pollen grains to resist decay and survive in sediments for hundreds of millions of years. This creates a rich fossil record which can be used by Paleobiologists to study ancient plant life and past climates.

Let us know your fun facts about pollen in the comments below!

13/08/2026

What a night! A big thank you to everyone who joined us for our “seedy” trivia at The Welder's Dog Armidale last night to celebate 🌱🧠

And cheers to Armidale Tree Group and Biobank Seed for donating some awesome prizes 🌱