KEY POINTS
- Questacon – Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre opened in 1988 and is prominently located beside Lake Burley Griffin and other cultural institutions, in the Parliamentary Zone in Canberra.
- Questacon is a national leader in presenting world class creative, interactive science exhibitions and programs. Hands-on exhibits, science shows and demonstrations by young scientists, trained science communicators and professional performers are developed by Questacon.
- Questacon interprets science and technology for visitors - including basic scientific principles and, contemporary and popular science to controversial subjects. Questacon offers an informal learning environment which promotes a positive association with science and technology.
- Questacon’s annual audience reach, through this multi-faceted approach, is over one million people. For every visitor to the centre in Canberra, four visitors attend a Questacon program or travelling exhibition elsewhere in Australia or overseas.
- Questacon’s aim is to foster understanding and engagement in science and technology and to highlight the importance of science, technology and innovation for Australia’s future prosperity. More directly, Questacon aims to tackle the skill shortage in science and technology by inspiring career choices to stimulate retention rates in science, maths, engineering, technology and innovation.
- In 2008, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research initiated a Departmental review of the role and resourcing for Questacon. The Review report was submitted to the Minister in July 2008. The Minister released the Review report on 18 September 2008.
- From 1 July 2009, Questacon now has the responsibility for the development and delivery of a National Science Communication Strategy.
FACTS AND FIGURES
- Questacon celebrated its 20th Anniversary as the National Science and Technology Centre in 2008.
- Over seven million visitors to Questacon in Canberra since opening in 1988.
- Over 15 million visitors to travelling exhibitions and outreach programs.
- Annually, over one million visitors to Questacon multi award winning, interactive website.
- Fully accredited member of the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) headquartered in Washington, DC.
- Winner of Australian and international awards for design, software and educational excellence for the online exhibition Burarra Gathering.
- Multiple winner of Canberra and Capital Region Tourism Awards.
- Winner of two 2006 International Council of Museums Australia Awards for International Relations in recognition of outstanding cooperative initiatives with science centres in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Winner of the 2007 Qantas Australian Tourism Award in the ‘Tourist Attractions’ Category.
- Best Tourist Attraction Award at the Out in Canberra and Australian Hotels Association
2009 Hospitality Awards.
- In 2010, The Shell Questacon Science Circus will celebrate its 25th Anniversary of touring an outreach program across Australia.
A visitor’s experience of Questacon may be through the centre in Canberra, a travelling exhibition at an urban or regional venue across Australia or overseas, an outreach program to regional, rural and remote Australia, or via the interactive website.
In Canberra, themed exhibition galleries have over 200 hands-on, interactive exhibits, with trained staff and volunteer explainers. The exhibits are designed to present scientific concepts in an entertaining way that stimulates visitors to interpret and experiment. Daily science shows, which provide further interpretation and exploration of the science behind the exhibits in the galleries, are performed at the centre by the Excited Particles, Questacon’s in-house performance troupe.
Questacon actively seeks to make its programs and exhibitions accessible to all. Each year Questacon makes it a priority to reach audiences in communities across Australia. Questacon is internationally acknowledged as the world leader in outreach programs to rural, remote and Indigenous communities. Outreach programs, target a range of audiences, and have been developed to support national education priorities in Indigenous education, mathematics, early childhood, primary science and teacher support.