Every year one of the Shell Questacon Science Circus tours is focused on reaching Indigenous Australians.
Special preparation and delivery of programs is required for a Science Circus Indigenous Tour. The Science Circus teams design workshops specially suited to remote, Indigenous schools, in collaboration with teachers at the schools to be visited. The teams travel to outback areas of Australia to deliver these programs.
In July 2006, the Science Circus visited 22 remote community schools in Queensland, working with over 1000 school children. Starting from Cairns, six teams radiated out in different directions across the state in four-wheel drive vehicles and small planes. In two weeks the teams covered thousands of kilometres ranging from reef, to rainforest to desert environments.
The Science Circus team of graduates worked alongside remote school teachers and students delivering fun, hands-on workshops which ran over one to four days. Under the encompassing theme of technology, science topics covered included friction, balance, structures and pneumatics. Birds were balanced, helicopters created from paper and paperclips, water towers were built from straws and marbles were sent careening down intricate mazes and runs.
The Indigenous tour is a highlight for many members of the Science Circus; they experienced life in remote Australian communities and encountered the enthusiasm and warm hospitality of remote school staff and students. While we hope that we leave a legacy of an interest in science in the students we leave behind, they too leave us with fond memories of a fantastic experience.
