Curtin’s Bentley campus became a hub of intergalactic wonder last week as thousands of space enthusiasts gathered for Cosmos on Campus, a free two-day community event designed to inspire the next generation of Earth and planetary scientists.

About 9,000 visitors experienced a unique fusion of art, science and imagination, showcasing Western Australia’s world-class research stories alongside special awe-inspiring installations of Mars and Earth, giant seven-metre-wide planet models featuring detailed NASA imagery created by UK artist Luke Jerram.

A vibrant neon light trail connected the installations, guiding attendees between planets while live music and telescopic views of the night sky added to the atmosphere.

The program featured 24 presentations and a panel discussion by Curtin’s globally renowned experts, who explored topics ranging from Martian meteorites and climate change to deep ocean exploration and volcanoes from space. Speakers included Professor Gretchen Benedix, Dr Stephen Poropat, Dr Ellie Sansom, Lisa Smith, Associate Professor Ashraf Dewan, Professor Fred Jourdan, Associate Professor Petra Helmholz, Dr Amir Allahvirdizadeh, Professor Katarina Miljkovic, Fergus Downey, Meg Berry, Associate Professor Nick Timms, Professor Chris Kirkland, Dr Eriita Jones, Dr Aaron Cavosie, Michael Frazer, Namishka Mendonca, Hely Branco, Andy Jian, Dr Bree Morgan, Dr Maria Diaz Mateus, Cesar Nico Albasio Lodi-Cusani and Ryan Van Den Berg.

Congratulations to Saskia Valenti, Greg Dunn, Tareen Winter, Bridget Head, Nessya Santoso and Adele Collings-Hughes from Place Activation; and to Renae Sayers, Andrew Hannah and Mia Walker from the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences for their incredible work bringing this event to life.

Special thanks to Research Rumble for their support; Friday night Mars MC Kyle Brown; Dr Jacob Martin, Ryan Van Den Berg and Andrea Rassell for the Shaker Activation; and James Dudding and Patti Belletty from the John Curtin Gallery.

Read more about the event in our media release.

Three men in astronaut suits and helmets stand next to a space buggy model and a white flag pole similar to the one placed on the first Moon landing.

A neon stars-shaped archway glows yellow and through the archway, the lit-up model of the Earth appears to hover in the centre in the background.

A woman looks through a space telescope.

People walking through a pathway lined with rectangular neon archways.

A crowd of people looking at the various space displays in the grassed area. In the background, the building is lit up with a projection of an astronaut in space.

A large crowd of people sit and stand under the giant model of the Earth as it's lit up from within. The model hangs above the crowd from a large scaffolding structure.

A crowd of people walk through the pine trees looking at the giant model of Mars that glows and hangs from scaffolding. Next to it is a stage and various glowing displays.

Two young boys excitedly look into a glass display of space rocks.

Two young boys talk to a man dressed in a space suit next to a space buggy. One buy has a backpack shaped like a rocket.