Dive into Our Water at Questacon

14 May 2010

If you were in control of Australia’s water, how would you use it? Our Water, Questacon’s latest travelling exhibition engages and inspires visitors to expand their understanding and delve into Australia’s unique water situation.

Officially launched at Questacon today by the Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Senator Penny Wong, Our Water challenges visitors to investigate water from an urban, agricultural, industrial and environmental perspective.

“Developed by Questacon and proudly sponsored by the National Water Commission, Our Water comprises 28 hands-on exhibits designed to inform and encourage. Visitors are challenged to make decisions about water and examine the consequences of the different uses and re-uses of water in Australia,” said Questacon Director Professor Graham Durant.

“Our Water is the result of a successful partnership between Questacon and the National Water Commission and is an example of how government agencies can inform and engage with the community on important issues,” said Professor Graham Durant.

The National Water Commission committed $1.7 million for the development of the exhibition and to tour the exhibition throughout regional and metropolitan Australia.

“Our Water asks visitors to look at and measure how they use water at home and explore different innovative technologies to save water as individuals and households,” said Professor Durant.

The exhibition also allows visitors to take on the role of decision makers within Australia’s water system.

“By moving different elements around a model of a catchment system; the exhibit Catchment Manager enables visitors to take on this role. Visitors can remove and introduce farms, towns or dams and the affects of this activity on downstream water flows will be shown through the on-screen animation,” said Professor Durant.

“Our Water is an opportunity that should not be missed to gain a better understanding of Australia’s water issues and how individuals and households can save and re-use this precious resource,” said Professor Durant.

Our Water will be open at Questacon—The National Science and Technology Centre until August 2010. It will then travel to 14 locations across Australia over the next two years and will be visited by hundreds of thousands of people across Australia.