FACT SHEET
Shell Questacon Science Circus
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.
Established in 1985, the Shell Questacon Science Circusis a successful partnership between Shell, The Australian National University (ANU) and Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre.
Since its first tour to Goulburn in a rented removalist van, the Science Circushas combined high energy science graduates, a portable interactive science centre and a colourful truck to take science to schools and communities throughout remote and regional Australia.
From the success of its first small tour in 1985 the Science Circushas grown to become Questacon’s major science outreach programme. In late 1985, Shell commenced its support of the Science Circus
The 28-year partnership between Shell, ANU and Questacon has been a cornerstone of the programme’s success and is an award winning example of business, government and academia working together to develop and implement a programme of benefit to the community.
The Science Circushas grown to become one of the world’s most travelled and recognised science outreach programmes. In 28 years the Science Circustruck has travelled around and throughout Australia bringing science to some of Australia’s most remote communities.
Unique to Australia, the Science Circusinspires and engages local communities with science through its interactive public exhibitions, school workshops, workshops for the elderly, professional development workshops for teachers and specialist programmes for remote Indigenous communities.
The Science Circusalso forms a major component of the ANU Master of Science Communication Outreach. Each year up to 16 graduates take part in the Science Circus to complete their Masters degree. The qualification offers students the opportunity to develop their science communication skills through practical experience. By 2016, over 400 graduates will have completed the course associated with the Science Circus programme.
Science Circusgraduates have taken up positions with science centres, research and development organisations, media organisations, government and industry both in Australia and overseas.
The ongoing success of the Science Circusand its postgraduate qualification was the catalyst for the introduction of the university’s full graduate and undergraduate programme in Science Communication under the auspice of the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science.
In 2004, the Shell Questacon Science Circuspartnership was the recipient of the Outstanding Long-Term Partnership Award as part of the Australian Financial Review Corporate Partnership Awards. In 2006 the partners won the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships: Special Award—Longevity. In 2010, the Shell Questacon Science Circusprogramme was the joint winner of the IMAGinE Award for Excellence in Education and Public Programmes.
In 2013 the Science Circusvisited over 175 schools, with the participation of almost 80 000 visitors in programme activities and events. Over 80 per cent of Science Circusvisitors are primary and secondary school students and their families.
In 28 years the Shell Questacon Science Circushas:
• Been experienced by over 2.2 million visitors;
• Inspired two generations of children with over 8500 school visits;
• Encouraged and inspired over 5000 teachers in professional development workshops;
• Taken science and excitement to 90 Indigenous communities;
• Trucked its way around Australia to do multiple visits to 490 regional and remote towns;
• Grossed-out students and teachers with 10 000 litres of green gooey slime;
• Inflated, deflated and exploded more than 25 000 balloons; and
• Used more than 4000 litres of liquid nitrogen to freeze and amaze.
For more information contact:
Telephone1800 88 99 95
Facsimile02 6112 9760
Website
Media enquiriesShell Questacon Science CircusMedia Team
Telephone0409 324 246
Facsimile02 6112 9760
Current as April 2014
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