Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre is an interactive science communication facility in
Canberra
Canberra ( )
is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...
, Australia. It is a museum with more than 200 interactive exhibits relating to
science and technology
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is an umbrella term used to group together the distinct but related technical disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The term is typically used in the context of ...
. It has many science programs that are intended to inspire the children of Australia to love science.
Complementing the main museum, Questacon Science Circus is an extensive science outreach program. Each year, the Science Circus engages with more than 100,000 people, travels 25,000 kilometers, runs professional development courses for 600 teachers, and visits about 30 remote aboriginal communities as well as hospitals, nursing homes, and special schools.
History
Questacon is an interactive science centre that began as a project of the Australian National University (ANU), in spare space at the Ainslie Public School in Canberra. It opened with 15 exhibits and was staffed entirely by volunteers and by ANU physics lecturer Professor
Mike Gore AM, it inspired him to develop Australia's first interactive science centre, based on the Exploratorium in San Francisco. The name 'Questacon' combines two words— 'quest' meaning 'to discover' and 'con' meaning 'to study'. Professor Gore went on to become the founding Director of Questacon and in 2015, he got an Australia Day honour for his service to science.
Questacon's current building was Japan's present to Australia for the 1988
Bicentenary __NOTOC__
A bicentennial or bicentenary is the two-hundredth anniversary of a part, or the celebrations thereof. It may refer to:
Europe
*French Revolution bicentennial, commemorating the 200th anniversary of 14 July 1789 uprising, celebrated ...
and it was opened on 23 November 1988. Japanese government and business contributed ¥1 billion, half of the capital cost of A$19.64 million. Questacon was formerly housed at the old Ainslie Primary School.
, the director is Professor Graham Durant, who had been in the position since 2003. Questacon's vision is "a better future for all Australians through engagement with science and innovation".
Galleries
In 2020, there were 8 galleries
* The Foyer has a Robot, the Clockwork Universe, the Cam Wave and the Questacon Shop.
* Fundamentals, which explores classic science exhibitions
* Awesome Earth looks at
natural disaster
A natural disaster is "the negative impact following an actual occurrence of natural hazard in the event that it significantly harms a community". A natural disaster can cause loss of life or damage property, and typically leaves some econ ...
s and geology, featuring a
Tesla coil
A Tesla coil is an electrical resonant transformer circuit designed by inventor Nikola Tesla in 1891. It is used to produce high-voltage, low-current, high-frequency alternating-current electricity. Tesla experimented with a number of different ...
and an earthquake simulator.
* Q Lab has a dynamic experiment space and includes the Questacon Beehive.
* The Shed contains experimentation with ideas, tools, science, technologies, and art.
* MiniQ is designed for children between the ages of 0 and 6. Exhibits include a water play area, a construction zone, and a quiet area.
* Excite@Q showcases spectacular scientific phenomena including Robot Hockey and the Freefall slide
* Australia in Space looks to the future space exploration
* Mars Gallery has displays from ancient mythologies to modern interactive media.
* Science Garden has interactive sculptures sculptures
Questacon has around 500,000 visitors per year. The galleries are staffed by 200 paid staff, as well as a team of about 60 volunteers.
Science theatre
The centre also features several performance spaces used for presentations to the general public and student audiences by Questacon's in-house theatre troupe, the "Excited Particles". The Excited Particles also perform puppet shows for young children.
Nkrypt
''Nkrypt'' is a sculpture installation outside the Questacon building that consists of eight laser-etched stainless steel poles that each carry an encoded message. The outdoor exhibit was installed as a part of the Centenary of
Canberra
Canberra ( )
is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...
and a prize was offered to the first person to solve the puzzle. This was solved in December 2013.
Questacon Technology Learning Centre
The Questacon Technology Learning Centre is located at the
Royal Australian Mint
The Royal Australian Mint is the sole producer of all of Australia's circulating coins and is a Commonwealth Government entity operating within the portfolio of the Treasury. The Mint is situated in the Australian federal capital city of Canberr ...
's former administration building in Deakin and houses more than 80 staff. All of the outreach programs and the exhibition developers, including researchers, designers, electronics, metal and wood shop staff are based there. There are also an exhibition area and spaces for booked technology workshops and holiday programs.
Outreach programs
In addition to the exhibitions in Canberra, Questacon runs the ''Questacon Science Circus'' and ''Engineering is Elementary'' nationally and ''Q2U'' in the Canberra region. Past outreach programs run by Questacon include the ''
Tenix
Tenix is a privately owned Australian company involved in a range of infrastructure maintenance and engineering products and services to the utility, transport, mining and industrial sectors in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and the ...
Questacon Maths Squad'', ''
NRMA
NRMA (formerly National Roads and Motorists' Association) is an Australian organisation offering roadside assistance, advocacy for motorists and road-users, motoring advice, car servicing, International Driving Permits, travel and other services ...
Roadzone'', ''
NRMA
NRMA (formerly National Roads and Motorists' Association) is an Australian organisation offering roadside assistance, advocacy for motorists and road-users, motoring advice, car servicing, International Driving Permits, travel and other services ...
Tomorrow's Drivers'', ''Starlab'', ''Questacon Smart Moves'', ''Questacon Science Play'', ''Questacon Science Squad'' and a range of activities in remote Indigenous communities.
Questacon Science Circus
![Boorowa Questacon Trailer](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Boorowa_Questacon_Trailer.JPG)
The ''Questacon Science Circus'' is an outreach program of Questacon and is the most extensive science outreach program of its kind in the world. Each year, the ''Science Circus'' engages with more than 100,000 people, travels 25,000 kilometers, runs professional development courses for 600 teachers and visits about 30 remote
Indigenous
Indigenous may refer to:
*Indigenous peoples
*Indigenous (ecology), presence in a region as the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention
*Indigenous (band), an American blues-rock band
*Indigenous (horse), a Hong Kong racehorse ...
communities as well as
hospitals
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emerge ...
,
nursing homes
A nursing home is a facility for the residential care of elderly or disabled people. Nursing homes may also be referred to as skilled nursing facility (SNF) or long-term care facilities. Often, these terms have slightly different meanings to in ...
and special schools.
The ''Questacon Science Circus'' is a partnership between Questacon and the
Australian National University
The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton encompasses seven teaching and research colleges, in addition to several national academies and ...
. The ''Science Circus'' won the Prime Minister's Award for Community Business Partnerships in 2006.
Fifteen or sixteen science graduates staff the ''Science Circus'' as it travels, bringing lively presentations of science to towns and schools. The ''Science Circus'' also supports the teaching of science and technology by running practical and fun professional development workshops for teachers. While working for the ''Science Circus'', each presenter also completes a Masters of Science Communication Outreach through the Centre for the Public Awareness of Science at the
Australian National University
The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton encompasses seven teaching and research colleges, in addition to several national academies and ...
. Coursework includes studies in print media, program evaluation and exhibition design.
Every year the ''Science Circus'' presenters graduate from the course and a new team are selected. The first team graduated in 1988 and there are now over 300 ''Science Circus'' graduates. Graduates have contributed to programs on
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the national broadcaster of Australia. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-own ...
Radio, the Diffusion Science Radio Show,
Cosmos Magazine
''Cosmos'' (subtitled The Science of Everything) is a science magazine published in Adelaide, South Australia, by the Royal Institution of Australia that covers science globally. It appears four times a year in print as ''Cosmos Magazine'', an ...
, and
The Mr. Science Show podcast.
Photographs
File:National Library, Treasury and Questacon (437590364).jpg, National Library, Treasury and Questacon
File:Questacon - panoramio.jpg, Questacon Building (Photo by Ché Lydia Xyang)
File:The Astonomer.jpg, The Astronomer is a sculpture by Tim Wetherell in 2003 made out of fire damaged steel from the Mount Stromlo Observatory which was destroyed by the 2003 Canberra bushfires.
File:Einstein sculpture at Questacon in April 2008.jpg, Einstein sculpture in Science Garden at Questacon
File:Lightning simulator questacon.jpg, Lightning Simulator (Photo by Flagstaffotos)
File:Clockwork universe by Tim Wetherell.jpg, Clockwork Universe Sculpture by Tim Wetherell
File:Water responding to different frequencies.jpg, Water responding to different frequencies (Photo by Flagstaffotos)
File:Ski boots.jpg, Shell Questacon Science Circus
See also
*
Inspiring Australia
Inspiring Australia is an Australian national strategy for engagement with the sciences. Its goals include improving science communication and helping engage the Australian community with science. Inspiring Australia has rolled out a range of prog ...
References
External links
Official Questacon websiteCurrent Exhibitions & ShowsShell Questacon Science Circus Official Site
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Museums in Canberra
Science museums in Australia
Commonwealth Government agencies of Australia
National museums of Australia
1980 establishments in Australia
Science centers
Museums established in 1980
Association of Science-Technology Centers member institutions