FACT SHEET

Each year reaches over three million people, Questacon Overview delivering over six million hours of inspiration through a diverse range of experiences, including: Questacon’s vision is a better future • within the National Science and Technology Centre and The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre for all Australians through engagement in with science, technology and innovation. • travelling exhibitions that tour to regional and metropolitan galleries and museums across To realise this vision, Questacon provides • in-school visits and public exhibitions in regional and engaging and exciting experiences that remote Australia by touring outreach programmes • educational videoconferences and an interactive inspire interest, highlight relevance and website promote positive associations with • National Science Week community events. science and technology. The Questacon Centre opened in 1988 and is located prominently beside Burley Griffin and other national Questacon is a leader in presenting world class cultural institutions in the Parliamentary Zone in the creative, interactive science exhibitions and Australian capital, Canberra. Eight themed exhibition galleries provide more than 200 hands-on, interactive programmes. Questacon develops and delivers around experiences, with trained staff and volunteer explainers Australia hands-on exhibits, science shows and stationed throughout. Daily science shows, which provide demonstrations presented by young scientists, trained further interpretation and exploration of the science science communicators and actors. behind the exhibits in the galleries, are performed Questacon’s approach is based on the proven at the Centre by the in-house performance troupe, The Questacon Excited Particles. educational value of hands-on activities supported by face-to-face science demonstrations. The informal learning environment at Questacon complements more structured learning in schools.

Questacon actively seeks to make its programmes and exhibitions accessible to communities across Australia. National outreach programmes target a range of audiences, and have been developed to support national education priorities in Indigenous education, primary science and teacher support. FACT SHEET

Questacon is internationally acknowledged as a world leader in delivering outreach programmes to regional, remote and Indigenous communities. Questacon’s travelling exhibition programme also reaches Australians in regional and metropolitan communities. Exhibitions are developed either by Questacon’s exhibition team or in conjunction with partner organisations. The exhibitions travel Australia and the world after spending a period of time at Questacon in Canberra.

Questacon’s virtual excursions programme delivers interactive workshops and special events, often featuring local and international scientific experts, directly into classrooms across the nation. Questacon’s digital communication capability utilises the purpose-built Schmidt Digital Studio and high-definition videoconference technology to deliver our unique brand of interactive science programmes to more people, more often. Questacon also coordinates several national programme initiatives throughout the calendar year, including National Science Week and the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science.

King Edward Terrace Canberra 02 6270 2800 www.questacon.edu.au Media enquiries: 0439 399 912

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