Questacon counts down to take off

19 October 2006

Today, The Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Education, Science and Training will launch Questacon’s recent extension to the ever popular Mini Q gallery – Space Lab. This hands- on exhibit, allows tiny scientists from 0 to 6 years of age, the opportunity to pretend to be an astronaut counting down to take off and flying through space while giving them a play area with open-ended activities involving magnetism, gravity, fluids, light and sounds.

The Mini Q gallery is also the inspiration for a new traveling programme announced today. The programme Questacon SciencePlay is specifically focused on early childhood learning with a combination of presentations and hands-on activities, delivered by trained science communicators.

Questacon SciencePlay is Australia’s first outreach programme for early childhood science discovery and will travel to regional, rural and remote Australia, including indigenous communities

Questacon SciencePlay will introduce elements of science that are appropriate for early childhood learning and will include online resources to foster children’s learning in science and technology, regardless of their geographical location.

In conjunction with the launch of Space Lab, A National Forum on Early Childhood Learning in Science will be held. The Forum, brings together a number of experts and advocates from the early childhood education sector and representatives from the informal education sector, such as science centres, museums, zoos and botanic gardens.

Questacon’s Director, Professor Graham Durant said, “This purpose of the Forum is to recognise the learning opportunities delivered by informal educational institutions and the opportunity they provide to parents and carers to be involved in fostering their child’s learning in science and technology.”