YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 Creativity in a Crisis A better future for all Australians through engagement with science, technology and innovation. Contents Questacon Overview 1 Minister’s Introduction 3 Chairman’s Introduction 5 Director’s Update 7 Questacon Governance 9 QR Codes Powered by Partnerships 13 Look out for QR codes throughout this review Educator Programs 19 to access extra videos, sound and images. Expanding Questacon’s National Presence 21 During the COVID-19 pandemic, we used Inspiring Australia 29 QR codes to enable contactless methods Indigenous Engagement 33 of interacting with our exhibits and to enable The Online Experience 35 rich online experiences at home. Centre Activities 37 International Engagement 47 View a website Questacon People 49 Watch a video Questacon Overview Our vision is for a better future for We connect the nation’s complex STEM We missed witnessing our enthusiastic redesigned a decades-long visitor all Australians through engagement ecosystem by working with partners, teen entrepreneurs as they experienced experience model, augmenting it with science, technology and collaborators, supporters, communities, their ‘light bulb’ moments, realising with innovative digital engagement innovation. As Australia’s National researchers, industry, innovators, they could play an important role in our and virtual tours. We focused on Science and Technology Centre, educators and communicators to deliver future world. We missed setting off on building a better physical experience Questacon plays a key role in helping programs and activities in person and the road to present shows, programs in anticipation of our visitors’ to build a foundation of science virtually to hundreds of thousands of and exhibitions to individuals, families, return, while staying true to our core knowledge and understanding in Australians each year. As an influential students and teachers in their local principles – creativity, positivity, a the Australian community. voice in the global science centre communities. passion for lifelong learning, but community, we also promote awareness most importantly, curiosity. Questacon operates as a specialist of the United Nations’ Sustainable As with similar organisations across division of the Department of Development Goals. the world, Questacon faced challenging As we continue our road to recovery Industry, Science, Energy and questions during 2020. How do you from 2020, we will continue to Resources. As a critical asset In 2020 we closed Questacon’s physical run a hands-on learning model without engage, connect and inspire of the Australian Government, doors to the public for the first time in touching anything? How do you bring Australians of all ages. We will Questacon provides programs and our history. Our Centre lay quiet. We generations of families, friends, rebuild visitation and re-establish activities for individuals, schools missed welcoming half a million visitors schools and communities together our national presence through and communities focused on through the doors in Canberra and the without congregating? However, this progressive reintroduction of science, technology, engineering chatter of excited school groups moving was a once-in-a-century opportunity to Questacon teams on the ground in and mathematics (STEM) to through the galleries. We missed our reimagine the fundamentals of what regional Australia. We will help build support economic development junior scientists coming through the we do, and how we do it. Like millions the STEM skills needed nationally and science literacy. We engage, Mini Q exhibition and the rich discussions across the globe, we turned to science and improve teacher confidence, connect and inspire Australians about machines and technology in our to understand how to respond to, and particularly for those teaching outside with innovative learning experiences Born or Built? Our Robotic Future recover from, the COVID-19 pandemic. their discipline. We will continue to and increased awareness of the exhibition. While at The Ian Potter adapt our programs and activities importance of STEM skills and Foundation Technology Learning Centre, Our passion for science engagement, to meet the needs of students, careers. In particular, we encourage we missed the delighted laughter of for curiosity and learning, and for teachers, families and communities young Australians to participate in teachers as they built confidence and realising our vision remains as true of Australia, inspiring curiosity about STEM disciplines to help build the new skills to inspire our future now as the day we opened our doors the diverse and exciting world of workforce of the future. generations in their classrooms. in 1988. We created new content and science, technology and innovation. 1 redesigned a decades-long visitor experience model, augmenting it with innovative digital engagement and virtual tours. We focused on building a better physical experience in anticipation of our visitors’ return, while staying true to our core principles – creativity, positivity, a passion for lifelong learning, but most importantly, curiosity. As we continue our road to recovery from 2020, we will continue to engage, connect and inspire Australians of all ages. We will rebuild visitation and re-establish our national presence through progressive reintroduction of Questacon teams on the ground in regional Australia. We will help build the STEM skills needed nationally and improve teacher confidence, particularly for those teaching outside their discipline. We will continue to adapt our programs and activities to meet the needs of students, teachers, families and communities of Australia, inspiring curiosity about the diverse and exciting world of science, technology and innovation. Minister’s Introduction In our increasingly globalised and digital Questacon at Home helped a good energy literacy program that aims to Centre will provide facilities for world, skills and knowledge in STEM are number of parents in lockdown, increase awareness and understanding businesses and researchers to control crucial for supporting innovation and through online worksheets, activites of energy topics in the community satellite and space missions. economic growth, and for our health and videos to promote STEM and engage young Australians in and wellbeing. The events of 2020 learning at home. I am grateful to the conversations about energy. The Skills in STEM have never been more emphasised the importance of STEM- Questacon staff who stepped up to program will promote awareness critical for Australia’s future. These skilled young people to build our future meet national needs by temporarily of the United Nations’ Sustainable skills will propel us forward as we workforce. Questacon plays a key role in transferring to Services Australia. Development Goals, particularly rebuild our economy and recover from inspiring the next generation in STEM, SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy. the impact of COVID-19. In so many fuelling imagination and curiosity in The gradual and safe return of visitors ways, even in the most challenging of young people and helping improve to Questacon following the Centre’s As part of Australia’s Cyber Security years, Questacon has continued to help STEM teacher skills and confidence. closure due to COVID-19, and the Strategy 2020, the Australian young people reach for the stars. re-establishment of Questacon’s Government is investing $14.9 million Problem-solving, design, innovation and national activities in line with to enable Questacon to develop and The Hon Minister Karen Andrews MP critical thinking have been central to my physical distancing and public health deliver programs and activities to Minister for Industry, Science career. I would like to see more young guidelines, will be a priority for 2021. support and implement STEM learning and Technology people studying STEM subjects and The Questacon Mission to Mars guided in classrooms and to prepare primary, pursuing the diverse opportunities that tour experience was a creative way to secondary and tertiary students for are available. It is so important to foster blend exhibits, demonstrations and careers in cyber security. creativity and hands-on learning in our theatrical performance allowing small children, and spark interest in the world groups of visitors to safely have a I was delighted to launch the Australian around them from an early age. Questacon experience as a first step Space Discovery Centre project, a on the post COVID-19 road to recovery. partnership between the Australian Despite being closed to the public Space Agency and Questacon. This for several months in 2020 due Energy, cyber security and space are centre will act as a focus for a national to bushfire smoke and COVID-19, national priorities and it is pleasing endeavour in building a strong space Questacon continued to inspire and to see Questacon activity in these industry for Australia. It will highlight engage communities across Australia areas. In partnerhsip with INPEX, the diverse career opportunities in through digital offerings and activities. Questacon is developing a national the space sector. The Mission Control 3 Centre will provide facilities for businesses and researchers to control satellite and space missions. Skills in STEM have never been more critical for Australia’s future. These skills will propel us forward as we rebuild our economy and recover from the impact of COVID-19. In so many ways, even in the most challenging of years, Questacon has continued