The Shell Questacon Science Circus has just returned from its second major tour of the year, travelling through Central North West Queensland. The 15 presenters of the Science Circus, who are also Masters students at The Australian National University, travelled over 5000 km to engage almost 7000 people with science. The tour travelled through the towns of Bowen, Charters Towers, Hughenden, Cloncurry, Mount Isa, Longreach and Gladstone.
The Shell Questacon Science Circus delivered its program of in-school science shows, teacher professional development workshops, community workshops and public exhibitions throughout Queensland, leaving behind plenty of smiles and inspiration for a generation of future scientists. The Science Circus also ran a careers-oriented event Beyond School in Gladstone linking local STEM-related employers with high school students through stimulating workshops.
A highlight from the tour was presenting a science show via videoconference through the Longreach School of Distance Education to 75 students living on stations spread out over an area twice the size of Victoria. Other highlights included visiting remote Indigenous communities out of Mount Isa and launching National Science Week in Gladstone by making tasty liquid nitrogen ice cream treats.
