At Questacon, we believe that knowledge and understanding of science, innovation and technology is critical to a sustainable future.
Each year, we communicate directly and indirectly with millions of people through our hands-on experiences, national programs, networks, partnerships and website. By inspiring people to take an interest in science and technology, we can promote a better understanding of environmental issues. Who knows – maybe we can even inspire the next generation of innovators who will contribute to global sustainability and a better future for everyone.
Our day-to-day operations affect the environment – we use energy and water, and generate rubbish. By managing these properly, we comply with legal obligations. But, more importantly, we are playing our part in reducing pollution and contributing to a safer, cleaner and healthier environment.
To achieve its environmental objectives, Questacon:
We are taking several specific actions that exemplify our commitment to a sustainable future.
As part of the world science centre sector, and as a leader in the Australian science and cultural sector, Questacon is committed to supporting awareness of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
There is no ‘plan B’ because we do not have a ‘planet B’ – Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations 2007–2017
To highlight the SDGs, we engaged local graffiti artists Ian Dudley and Anna Trundle to create a mural alongside Ban Ki-moon’s quote at the Centre in Parkes. More than 500,000 people see the mural every year.
As a way to show the benefits of solar energy, we support Pollinate Energy. This organisation aims to improve the lives of urban communities in India by providing access to sustainable products.
Our 95 kW solar panel array supplies about 120 megawatt hours of energy every year – so we draw less energy from the grid.
We also have a display that provides real-time information on the energy that our solar panel array produces throughout the day. The display compares our energy production with the energy consumption of an average Canberra household. The display also provides information on solar panel technology and the science of solar energy production.
See also our Awesome Earth exhibition.
We are accredited as part of the Actsmart Business Recycling program. That makes us one of more than 900 organisations across the ACT that are actively and efficiently recycling.
Our waste management is all about minimising the amount of material sent to landfill.
To do this, we use the 3 Rs of waste management – reduce, reuse, recycle – and dispose:
We separate waste into the following streams:
Shopping (procurement):
Think about the life cycle of items. Does the positive impact outweigh any negative financial or environmental impacts? For example, it is sometimes better to dispose of equipment, even if it can be serviced, if there is new technology that offsets the cost and environmental impact of disposing the old technology.
Paper use:
Food and drink:
Recycling and disposal:
We have an environmental management system (EMS) that meets international standard ISO 14001-2015. In keeping with the standard, we take a Plan, Do, Check, Act approach to managing our environmental impacts. Specifically, we:
We are committed to continual improvement, so we’re always on the lookout for better ways to manage our environmental impacts.
If you have any suggestions or questions, or if you have a story to tell, please email us at sustainability@questacon.edu.au.