Professor Graham Durant is Questacon's third director, having joined us in early March 2003. Prior to Questacon, he spent ten years as Senior Curator and Deputy Director of the Hunterian Museum, Scotland, and was closely involved in the opening of the Glasgow Science Centre in 2001. He has a PhD in geology and a background in science communication. Did you know Graham was once shortlisted for the U.K. Olympic kayaking team?
15 October 2008
Questacon, Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre celebrates 20 years of inspirational science this year.
From a modest, volunteer-run science centre, to the national institution that stands on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin today, Questacon has become one of the world’s leading science centres and a major innovator in informal learning.
As an established leader in science communication, Questacon plays a critical role in supporting formal education to stimulate interest in science, technology and innovation and its importance to all Australians. Questacon is proud of its world-class standing, its extensive national reach, the quality of its exhibitions and programs, all of which are due to the people behind these achievements.
Our achievements over the past 20 years reflect the dedication of a highly skilled team. To our staff and volunteers and Advisory Council Members, past and present, I extend my thanks and congratulations for their commitment, creativity and enthusiasm. Building on our achievements in the past 20 years, we can look to a future of new opportunities to make a difference to the lives of people across the nation.
In this anniversary year, it is timely to honour Questacon’s foundational relationship with Japan. Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre opened on 23 November 1988 as a joint Australia-Japan Bicentennial Project. The Japanese Government and business community contributed half the cost of the building, the hub of Questacon’s national and international activities. A number of special events and activities to celebrate this relationship have been held this year, with more to come.
Questacon values the support and contribution of our corporate and strategic partners. Together with these partners, Questacon has developed exhibitions and programs that bring stimulating and inspiring hands-on science experiences to communities across the length and breadth of Australia.
It is a great honour to be Questacon’s Director and I look forward to playing a part in establishing the direction for Questacon’s next 20 years!
Graham Durant
23 June 2008
Questacon’s recent ‘Rock your world’ geology day was of particular interest to me as a geologist. I always believed, and still do, that knowing some geology gives perspective about the world around us and the immense time-scales involved for most geological processes. Humans now seem to be a geological force because our collective actions are rapidly changing the surface of our planet and its atmosphere.
The rapid build-up of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere is a matter of great concern to scientists. For much of Earth’s long history the carbon dioxide has been locked up in rocks, coal and oil and it is now being released into the atmosphere contributing to global warming.
I have just returned from the 5th Science Centres World Congress in Toronto, Canada, a meeting of science centre leaders from 51 countries. One of the keynote speakers was an Inuit leader who was speaking about their loss of culture and traditional ways of life as the Arctic ice melts. This is the human dimension of global warming. It is probably too late to reverse the warming trends in the Arctic which is particularly vulnerable but working collectively we can slow down further warming.
Questacon is part of a global network of science centres that exist in most countries irrespective of geography, economic situation, economy, culture or religion. There are about 2500 science centres worldwide and the various centres, exhibitions and outreach programs are attended by 290 million people annually, mainly young children and families.
Collectively science centres have great impact and the centres, their audiences and members can be a powerful force for good in the world by working together to overcome cultural, physical, social, economic and geographic barriers to connect people through science and education. Members of our Q Club are also part of that global network of people committed to do what they can to make a difference through education leading to action.
At the 5th Science Centres World Congress I signed, on behalf of Questacon, the Toronto Declaration, a statement of intent from the world science centre community. This declaration commits Questacon to help make a difference in issues such as global warming. We need you to help. If 290 million people worldwide make changes in their lifestyles to reduce energy use then this will be an important contribution. Imagine if every visitor to all science centres planted a tree each year.
The full Toronto Declaration is online at the World Congress web site. I hope that you will take the time to read it and join us as part of the efforts of the world community.
Graham Durant