Since the Questacon building opened on 23 November 1988, over 12.2 million visitors have passed through our doors, but Questacon’s impact goes well beyond visitors to our iconic building in Canberra. The vision for Questacon was always to develop programs that reach all Australians – both in our cities and in regional and remote areas.
Questacon’s first excursion was completed by the fledgling Questacon Science Circus in July 1985, when 25 interactive exhibits and 10 young Questacon explainers headed to Goulburn. The weekend-long public science exhibition was visited by more than 1,500 people. The success of this first trip demonstrated the feasibility of travelling programs and successive tours to Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Wollongong and Melbourne quickly followed.
With the official launch of the Questacon Science Circus on 10 March 1987 by then Prime Minister, the Hon. Bob Hawke AC, GCL, and Minister for Science the Hon. Barry Jones, Questacon’s national programs were up and rolling.
“Educating the wider community to look to science and technology as an important key to our future development should be a national objective. We need to convince parents and young people that careers in science or technology are just as stimulating as in law, commerce or politics.” Barry Jones, Minister for Science, 1987.
From these humble beginnings, Questacon has truly become the National Science and Technology Centre, with the vision to achieve a better future for all Australians through engagement with science, technology and innovation.
Our national programs reach people through digital resources, travelling exhibitions, educator professional learning, science shows, student workshops, travelling science centres and cyber learning experiences.
Since 2020, through our national programs both in-person and virtual, we have reached nearly 175,000 people, 1 in 4 postcodes and 1 in 10 schools, representing every state and territory across Australia, despite a global pandemic.
Our national activities also enable Questacon to reach audiences that couldn’t otherwise access these types of STEM opportunities in their communities. Since 2020, two-thirds of our national touring programs reached regional and remote areas, and half of school activities delivered nationally served Australia’s lower half socio-economic status communities.
“[My favourite thing was] the range of activities for children and adults of all ages! My whole family enjoyed our time at the exhibition.” Visitor, Science Circus Pop-Up exhibition 2022, Victoria.
Questacon’s mission is to excite and motivate people through inspirational learning experiences, leading to further learning about STEM. After surveying all students who have attended an innovation workshop at their high school, Questacon found nearly half of students were inspired to learn more about STEM.
“I felt inspired to be able to complete the roller coaster project, knowing that I was proud of it and it would hopefully work” Year 8 female student, Questacon Innovation Workshop 2021, TAS.
In 2020, Questacon began its National Presence Strategy 2020-2030 with the aim of contributing to STEM capability nationally and connecting with other organisations to build STEM capacity and opportunities regionally. We offer capacity-building activities such as travelling exhibitions, pop-up science exhibits and training workshops to help support local organisations including museums, civic centres and libraries. Collaborating with local providers to further their capacity to reach local audiences, helps promote the visibility and importance of STEM across Australia.
“Parents and children responded really well to this [exhibits in a library]…reaching audiences we normally wouldn’t be able to.” Regional City Council Libraries 2022, NSW.
We have also been working with state education departments to contribute to school and educator STEM capacity.
“I think it has made a huge influence on me and has been a deep learning experience for me. It has totally enhanced myself as a teacher and the kids’ learning…and through that it has made my teaching, and the learning more fun. When I walk into the classroom the kids are so excited!” Northern Territory Educator interview, 2022.
Questacon is committed to continuing to provide inspirational science activities for all Australians – we hope to keep reaching out across Australia for the next 35 years!
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