WA science education exported to the world

Scitech is exporting Western Australian science education to global audiences, with recent tours to Hong Kong and India.

Known for bringing interactive science experiences to every corner of Western Australia, Scitech presented their unique shows and exhibits at Croucher Science Week at Hong Kong Science Museum, and CHIREC International School expo in Hyderabad.

At Croucher Science Week, Scitech joined The Royal Institution of Great Britian, Germany’s Deutsches Museum and other science educators from around the world to perform their new science show Wow!

Scitech Science Communicator Lauren Allen was one of the presenters at the festival, which ran from 7-25 April, and said it was important to see how other parts of the world did science communication.

“There are many different ways to present and explain a scientific concept, so it was amazing to learn by watching other science communicators,” Ms Allen said.

“We’ve come back with some new ideas and were also able to share how we do things at Scitech too.”

Laura McSkimming shares some of the science behind Wow! with curious audiences at Hong Kong Science Centre. Photo: Croucher Science Week

Scitech also travelled to India, bringing interactive exhibits, science activities and their Under Pressure science experiment show to CHIREC International School’s Sparkz expo from 19-20 April.

Scitech General Manager of Commercial and Partnerships Megan O’Sullivan said it was the first time in Scitech’s 37-year history that the organisation had visited India.

“The tour reflects Scitech’s strategic move into international markets, and growing recognition as a global leader in STEM education,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

“All of Scitech’s exhibits, shows and activities are designed and created onsite at Scitech, and we’re really proud to be representing Western Australian science and innovation on the world stage.”

Scitech Science Communicator Zoe Burt wows audiences in Hyderabad, India.

Beyond these recent tours, Scitech has 10 travelling exhibitions, which are leased by science centres across Asia, the Middle East and North America.

Ms O’Sullivan said international touring provided an important revenue source for Scitech as a not-for-profit organisation, helping to fund new exhibitions, shows, statewide outreach, and professional learning for Western Australian teachers.

“Any global success feeds directly back into WA, sustaining Scitech’s ability to deliver world-class STEM learning for Western Australians.”

Western Australians working in science, engineering and technology contribute $87 billion to the WA economy annually, with one in three of these workers agreeing that Scitech had a positive influence on their career choice.

Scitech’s travelling exhibitions, such as Earth Matters (pictured), are hired by science centres across Asia, the Middle East and North America.