Where sport meets science, and curiosity becomes experience.
Brains, Boots & Beyond: Exploring Sports Psychology in VR invites audiences into an immersive world where performance, resilience, teamwork, and wellbeing come to life through virtual reality. Created for National Science Week 2026, the project is part of Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology, held from 15 to 23 August 2026.
The idea behind the project
Elite sport is often seen through the lens of physical performance, but the brain plays a central role in how athletes focus, recover, communicate and respond to pressure. Brains, Boots & Beyond was created to open up those ideas for broader audiences using immersive storytelling and accessible science engagement.
The Mission
The goal is to make science feel close, practical and relevant. By connecting sport with neuroscience and wellbeing, the project creates an entry point for young people, families, students and community audiences to see how science shapes human performance and everyday life.
Designed for Everyone.
You don't need a PhD or a high-tech gaming PC to experience this. Brains, Boots & Beyond is designed with our entire community in mind.
Fully Guided: Friendly, trained facilitators will be right beside you to help you with the headset and guide your journey.
Inclusive & Accessible: Multilingual signage, plain English, and disability-friendly setups ensure everyone gets to play
100% Free to Attend: Removing all financial barriers so every family can participate
Our Story
Brains, Boots & Beyond was created to connect people’s love of sport with the power of science in a way that feels immediate, memorable, and deeply human. Developed by Concinnity with Western Clydesdales and partners from the University of Southern Queensland, the experience brings together community insight, sporting knowledge, and research expertise in one transportable VR installation.
More than an event, it is a shared vision for science engagement that reaches beyond traditional classrooms and lecture halls. Supported through the Australian Government’s National Science Week grants program, the project reflects a commitment to making science visible, accessible, and exciting for broader communities.
Looking forward, Brains, Boots & Beyond aims to show how innovative science engagement can travel beyond a single venue or moment. Its vision is to inspire future collaborations between sport, research, and community partners, while continuing to spark curiosity about the brain, performance, and wellbeing across Queensland and beyond.
Our Values
We believe science is strongest when it is experienced, not just explained. That is why Brains, Boots & Beyond uses immersive storytelling and interactive design to make complex ideas in sports psychology feel relevant, practical, and inspiring.
We also believe collaboration creates impact. By bringing together creatives, athletes, educators, researchers, and community partners, the project is designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and invite new audiences into conversations about the brain, performance, and well-being.
A Barrier-Free Experience
Brains, Boots & Beyond is designed as a transportable and community-focused experience, helping it reach people in places where science engagement opportunities are often limited. Its aim is to lower barriers to participation by meeting audiences where they are and offering an experience that is engaging, welcoming, and easy to connect with.
Barrier-free also means making room for different ways of learning and participating. Through VR, storytelling, and shared discovery, the project creates multiple entry points for people of different ages, backgrounds, and levels of science confidence to engage meaningfully with the experience.
Sustainability
Sustainability in Brains, Boots & Beyond is reflected in its portable design and its collaborative model. By creating an installation that can be shared across communities and supported through partnerships, the project is built for ongoing value rather than a single moment in time.
Its longer-term vision is to create lasting impact through science communication that is adaptable, reusable, and community-connected. In that sense, sustainability is not only environmental, but social and educational, building a model for engagement that can continue to inspire well beyond 2026.
Inclusivity Statement
Brains, Boots & Beyond is grounded in the belief that science belongs to everyone. In line with the goals of National Science Week grants, the broader program supports projects that target new and under-served audiences and engage communities that have not always been centred in STEM participation.
We are committed to creating an experience that is welcoming, respectful, and open to all. Through inclusive design, strong community partnerships, and a focus on shared participation, Brains, Boots & Beyond aims to ensure more people can see themselves in science and see science as something that speaks to their lives.