Shell Questacon Science Circus awarded in 25th year

26 October 2010

Questacon—The National Science and Technology Centre’s outreach program, the Shell Questacon Science Circus, was jointly awarded the Education and Public Engagement Award at the IMAGinE awards in Sydney on Friday 23 October.

This award recognises the success of the Shell Questacon Science Circus outreach program in taking the fascinating world of science and technology to communities throughout regional and remote Australia.

The Shell Questacon Science Circus, Australia’s world renowned outreach program, is a partnership between Questacon, Shell Companies in Australia and The Australian National University. The Science Circus team travels Australia performing in-school science shows, holding public exhibitions and professional development workshops for teachers and specialist programs for remote Indigenous communities.

The IMAGinE awards honour the achievements of the NSW & ACT museum and gallery sector.  The Shell Questacon Science Circus shared the award with the Museum of Australian Democracy’s Radio Frequency Identification Program.

“This award acknowledges Questacon’s commitment to making programs and exhibitions accessible to Australians wherever they live. To receive this award in the 25^th Anniversary year of the Science Circus is a wonderful surprise and a credit to our enthusiastic teams who work tirelessly to develop and deliver our programs,” said Questacon Director, Professor Graham Durant.

“Questacon is extremely proud of our partnership with Shell Companies in Australia and The Australian National University which has enabled the Science Circus to take science to communities across Australia.

“Questacon is a major innovator in informal learning.  This year has seen the introduction of Science Circus workshops delivered to schools and communities via digital broadcast technology.

“This approach does not replace the traditional face-to-face learning experience of a Science Circus tour but ensures the program is able to visit more schools, more frequently and reinforce the positive experiences communities have with the Science Circus,” said Professor Durant.

In 2009-2010 the Shell Questacon Science Circus visited 351 schools, with 81,422 Australians participating in the program in their own community.