The Australian Science Centre Movement 1980-2000: Part 1-Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre

Abstract

Part 1: Scholarly concerns over science communication and in particular public attitudes towards and engagement with science have continued for almost half a century, but the establishment of a 'hands-on' science centre in Canberra in 1980 put practice ahead of theory and led to the building of Questacon - the National Science and Technology Centre in 1988. The driving force behind this development was Australian National University physicist Dr Mike Gore. Funding came from the Australian and Japanese Governments - the latter a bicentennial gift - and a team of 'explainers' at the centre helped visitors to appreciate that this science centre was not a museum but a place where science had a human face. Show more