Once upon a sunny Sunday in February, the little town of Mildura Science Fair opened its gates at the Sporting Precinct — and the team from our local lab, ALTSA, rolled in with lab coats, goggles, gloves and a slew of experiments.

Kids rushed in, faces bright with curiosity, and ALTSA’s station quickly became a swirl of colour and excitement. There were foaming volcanoes erupting in rainbow-hued lava as young future scientists gasped and cheered. Among the laughter and ooohs, ALTSA volunteers stirred the mixtures, and explained how acid + base + a pinch of coloured dye makes an explosion of foamy volcano magic.

Nearby, a microscope station invited children to peer into hidden worlds. Little fingers hovered as slides of pond water, leaf-cells, and friendly microbes popped into view — swirling shapes, tiny creatures, minuscule life the kids could never see with their naked eyes.

Elsewhere, ALTSA’s microbiology exhibits brimmed with petri-dishes, colourful growths, and gentle explanations: how bacteria can help or harm us, how we grow them safely, and why washing hands matters. Parents snapped photos; ALTSA scientists smiled, answering questions with patience and delight.

On that day at the Mildura Science Fair, ALTSA didn’t just show experiments. It passed on excitement, curiosity, and a belief that science is magic we can understand.