Fact Sheets

Questacon’s vision is a better future for all Australians through engagement with science, technology and innovation. To realise this vision, Questacon provides engaging and exciting experiences that inspire interest, highlight relevance and promote positive associations with science and technology.

The Ian Potter Foundation and Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre have formed a new partnership to help develop creative young people by immersing them in innovation, design, technology and entrepreneurial learning activities.

The newest national initiative from Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre, the Questacon Smart Skills Initiative engages young people in design thinking, technology, creativity and innovation.

Questacon Smart Skills aims to create an awareness of technology, engineering and design thinking amongst young Australians.

The Questacon Invention Convention—supported by The Ian Potter Foundation and IP Australia— is an intensive multi-day workshop that gives secondary students a practical insight into innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Questacon Maker Project supports science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education with strong links to the Australian Curriculum.

We assume what we see, hear and feel is real. But our reality is really only our perception – and no two of us perceive things exactly the same way.

Questacon’s Science on the Move exhibition is an intriguing exploration of a broad range of scientific themes including the principles of music and sound, human biology, light, force and motion, ecology and the environment.

Above and Beyond is the ultimate interactive and multisensory flight exhibition celebrating the power of innovation to make dreams take flight. From flying cars and supersonic planes to space elevators and mega-rockets, Above and Beyond takes you faster, further and higher for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Water is vital for our survival; we need it to drink, to water our crops, to use in manufacturing and for sport and recreation. Questacon’s exhibition, H2O—Soak up the Science, gives wonderful insights into this remarkable resource. This exciting exhibition explores how water shapes our world, supports our climate and influences our society.

At Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre, the Excite@Q exhibition provides visitors with a hands‑on experience that bends both mind and muscle.

Mini Q—fun for 0–6 year olds is a permanent exhibition for young children and their parents and carers, which provides a science learning experience through play.

Questacon’s Imagination Factory - Invent and play is a travelling exhibition that explores basic mechanical tools and simple machines.

Questacon’s Q Lab gallery is a dynamic and experimental environment that allows visitors to ask questions and find their own answers, and to engage with scientific content in an open-ended and curiosity‑driven manner. In essence, Q Lab gives visitors a taste of what it’s like to think like a scientist.

Questacon’s awesome earth exhibition allows visitors to experience the power and beauty of planet earth.

Australia has a national system of units and standards of measurement that ensures uniformity in measurement. Questacon’s Measure Island travelling exhibition explores measurement concepts and systems.

Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre has a range of travelling exhibitions for hire to suit all venues and budgets. These exhibitions tour nationally and internationally, visiting science centres, museums, regional galleries, shopping centres and community festivals.

The Shell Questacon Science Circus is now entering its 29th year of promoting and encouraging an interest in science. In 28 years the Shell Questacon Science Circus has made over 8500 school visits, provided professional development workshops for 5000 teachers, and visited 90 Indigenous communities and 490 towns in regional and remote Australia. More than 2.2 million Australians have experienced the Shell Questacon Science Circus.

In September 1980, Questacon began as a project of the Australian National University (ANU), in spare space at the Ainslie Public School in Canberra. It opened with 15 exhibits and was staffed entirely by volunteers.

Questacon delivers over six million hours of inspiration to over three million people across all programs annually. Over 26 million people have experienced Questacon’s exhibitions and programs since the Questacon Centre opened in Canberra in 1988.

Earth Quest—Outer Space to Inner Earth, is a travelling exhibition that takes visitors on a voyage from the outer limits of the Milky Way Galaxy to the very centre of planet Earth.

Follow the Questacon Walks of Wonder and discover the science all around.

The Mathamazing exhibition shows visitors that maths can be fun and inspiring!