Thousands of kilometres, 12 schools and one mission to make science accessible

Students in some of Western Australia’s most remote communities will get hands-on with rockets, microscopes and more when Scitech’s Aboriginal Education program tours 12 Goldfields schools from August to October.

Supported by AngloGold Ashanti, the tour will involve Scitech driving approximately 6,000 kilometres and even chartering a small plane to reach the remote Aboriginal community Tjuntjuntjara in the Great Victoria Desert of Western Australia.

Scitech Programs Coordinator Eleanor Cork said the Goldfields tour was part of Scitech’s commitment to engaging all Western Australians in science and technology, no matter where they lived.

“A school excursion to Scitech is a staple for many Perth kids, but when you live more than a thousand kilometres away, it’s a lot harder to access those experiences,” Ms Cork said.

“Our passionate science communicators bring lots of hands-on science experiments to spark curiosity, create positive experiences with science, and encourage students on their science journeys.”

For the first time, Scitech will also be running after school sessions with parents and the wider community, creating an informal and fun opportunity to explore science together.

Science activities include using bi-carb soda and vinegar to launch film-cannister rockets, catching insects to inspect under a microscope, and exploring the science of vibrations with tuning forks.

“We take part in the experiments alongside the students, teachers and parents, so science is experienced in a collaborative way,” Ms Cork said.

“We are incredibly privileged to be welcomed into remote communities, and we start building relationships with teachers and students many months in advance.

“Our team introduces themselves to students through video first, helping to build relationships and trust, which is so important in creating a great learning environment.

“By the time we arrive in the community, the students are often so excited to see us – and we are just as excited to see them!”

As part of the tour, the Scitech team will also take part in Desert Dust Up in Warakurna from 15 to 17 September.

The three-day festival brings together campuses of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands School for sport, cultural sharing, hip-hop and arts programs.

Scitech will work alongside the Ngaanyatjarra Lands School’s Two-Way Science Coordinator to deliver workshops that combine Western science with traditional Indigenous knowledge

Ms Cork said it was a privilege to learn about Indigenous knowledge systems and explore how it connected with contemporary scientific understanding.

“Aboriginal people were the first scientists and engineers in Australia, and there is so much we can learn from the world’s oldest continuing cultures,” Ms Cork said.

“Two-Way Science gives students an opportunity to explore different ways of understanding the world and see the value of the knowledge within their own communities.”

AngloGold Ashanti Australia Vice Principle Sustainability Clair Brennan said that empowering local communities started with inspiring the next generation.

“Partnering with Scitech allows us to bring hands-on STEM education directly to young people across the Northern Goldfields, while honouring Two-Way Science—where traditional Aboriginal knowledge and contemporary science meet,” Ms Brennan said.

“Supporting these learning pathways isn’t just an investment in education; it is central to our commitment to share the benefits of mining with our host communities.”

Scitech’s Goldfield tour will take place from 8 August to 29 October 2026.