Questacon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (August 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
| Questacon - the National Science and Technology Centre | |
 |
|
| Established | 1986 (opening in 1988) |
|---|---|
| Location | Parkes, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
| Type | Science centre |
| Visitor figures | 407 000 in Centre (2005-06) |
| Director | Professor Graham Durant |
| Website | http://www.questacon.edu.au/ |
Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre, is located on the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, Australia. It is a large centre with more than 200 interactive exhibits relating to science and technology.
Contents |
[edit] History
"The Questacon" opened in 1980 at Ainslie Primary School. Questacon was the first interactive science centre in Australia. It was developed by Professor Mike Gore, a physics lecturer from the Australian National University. Professor Gore went on to become the founding Director of Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre, when it was established by the Australian Government in 1986.
Questacon's current building was Japan's gift to Australia for the 1988 Bicentenary and it was opened on the 23rd of November, 1988. Japanese government and business contributed ¥1 billion, half of the capital cost of A$19.64 million.[1]
[edit] Governance
As of 3 December 2007[2], Questacon is a part of the Australian Government Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR). The director is Professor Graham Durant.
Questacon's vision is "a better future for all Australians through engagement with science and innovation".[3]
[edit] Exhibition Services
Questacon also have a facility in the industrial suburb of Fyshwick that houses more than 50 staff. All of the Outreach Programs and the exhibition developers, including researchers, designers and electronics, metal and woodshop staff are based there. The facility also stores unused and decommissioned exhibits.
[edit] Exhibitions
The centre is split up into seven galleries on different floors, accessed by a spiral ramp around the 'drum'. As of September 2007, the seven galleries are:
- Sports Quest, with some intriguing physical challenges.
- Sideshow, perhaps the most popular exhibition, looking at the science of the circus. Several popular exhibits include Free Fall, a giant slide with a six metre and seventy centimetre drop, and Track Attack, a simulated roller coaster.
- MiniQ, an exhibition designed for children between the ages of 0 and 6. Exhibits include a water play area, a sensory space, and a quiet area.
- Wavelength, looking at light and sound. The exhibitions features displays on Polarised light, Fresnel lenses, and holograms.
- Awesome Earth, looking at natural disasters and geology. Features a Tesla coil and an earthquake simulator.
- Eaten Alive, about predators and prey.
- Imagination Factory, Invent and Play.
The galleries are staffed by paid staff, as well as a team of about 60 volunteers. The volunteers occasionally will make use of Discovery Trolleys, featuring smaller, hands-on exhibits related to the gallery.
[edit] Science Theatre
The centre also features three theatres, used for performances by Questacon's theatre troupe, The Excited Particles normally targeted at families. The troupe also does puppet shows for young children and more serious talks on science and current events.Ballonatic is a show for 10-16 it is a great show.
[edit] Visitation
Each year over 405 000 people visit the centre in Canberra.
[edit] Opening hours
Questacon is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm everyday except Christmas Day. Groups can also book special evening sessions.
[edit] Admission
Admission fees are A$18.00 for adults and A$11.50 for children aged 4-16. Admission is free for children under the age of four. There are special rates for families, pensioners, students and groups.
[edit] Membership
Members receive unlimited entry, as well as entry to many other Australian museums and science centres, and all ASTC member institutions internationally. There is a member's lounge with card entry.
[edit] Facilities
Questacon's shop offers a range of educational science toys, books and teacher's resources. Questacon's cafe is situated in the foyer of the building. An entry fee is not required to visit either the cafe or the museum shop.
There are toilets throughout the building, including a children's toilet in the MiniQ exhibition. There are two dedicated baby change rooms - one near the cafe in the foyer and another in MiniQ.
[edit] Promotion
Their slogan often used in advertising is "We always make science fun." You can watch Questacon's TV ads online.
[edit] Outreach Programmes
In addition to the exhibitions in Canberra, Questacon also run a large number of outreach programs all over Australia, including the Shell Questacon Science Circus, Tenix Questacon Maths Squad, Questacon Smart Moves and range of activities in remote indigenous communities.
Around 300 000 people participate in Outreach Programs each year.
[edit] Shell Questacon Science Circus
The Shell 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 circus sees over 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.
The Circus is a partnership between Questacon, the Shell Oil Company Australia and the Australian National University. The Circus won the Prime Minister's Award for Community Business Partnerships in 2006.
Sixteen science graduates staff the 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 Graduate Diploma in Science Communication through the Centre for the Public Awareness of Science at the Australian National University. Coursework includes studies in print media, programme 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 programmes on Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio, the Diffusion Science Radio Show and Cosmos Magazine. The Science Talk Australia and Mr Science Show radio and podcast productions are also run by Science Circus graduates.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Questacon is at coordinates Coordinates:
