Extrasensory

See, hear, smell, taste, feel and more at this cornucopia for the senses.

Augment your reality. AI, bionics and smart devices are here to extend and enhance your senses. So what are the possible futures of human perception? At this National Science Week event at Parliament Victoria combining performance, storytelling and experimentation, make sense of the world of the senses and find the limits to your own.

See the unseen and walk on the surface of a cell. Find your way with your fingers and collaborate with an AI to create a musical masterpiece. Sniff out some bacteria and feel your immune system at work, then if you’re brave enough wash your hands with soap made from sewage.

Tell a story about the patterns hidden in the night sky, and imagine what trees might have to say. Ponder the concept of common sense, and what animals can perceive that humans can’t. Listen to the music of the elephants, the last moments of the Mars Rover, and the unfolding of the evolution of species.

Challenge your senses to work together, and become aware of senses such as kinaesthesia. Learn about how our senses mingle in synesthetic experiences, and sometimes fool us with hallucinations.

Can you maintain your appetite in the face of distinctly un-appetising pictures? Or avoid being tricked in our food sensory testing lab? Congratulate yourself with a drink from our bar, and discover why champagne is so bubblicious.

The world is full of new phenomena to explore, hiding just beyond the reach of your senses. So tune your ears, engage your nose, ready your tastebuds, and flex your fingers in preparation for an evening sure to be extra sensory.

This event is recommended for a 16+ audience. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the event. Extrasensory is presented by the Victorian Coordinating Committee for National Science Week, The Royal Society of Victoria and the Parliament of Victoria.