The Ian Potter Foundation Fact Sheet · students and the public to engage with technology and...
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FACT SHEET QUESTACON AND THE IAN POTTER FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP 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. In October 2014, The Ian Potter Foundation—one of Australia’s major philanthropic foundations—generously provided a grant of $7.8 million over five years to Questacon. The grant, made in the 50th anniversary year of the Foundation, is the largest that the Foundation has awarded in the areas of science and education and the largest ever awarded outside Victoria. This contribution reflects the importance of this project for Australia and the investment required to transition to the technology-focused, innovative, knowledge-based economy that is vital for our future. In 2013, with support from the Department of Industry, Questacon launched the Questacon Technology Learning Centre at a new site in the refurbished Mint Administration building at Deakin in the ACT. In recognition of the announcement of the generous contribution from The Ian Potter Foundation, Questacon has re-named this facility The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre. The Centre has been created to guide young Australians towards a path of creativity and innovation, and to consider careers in technology and engineering. The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre Australia is in a highly competitive global economic environment. The reality is that if we are to prosper we need to be more productive and more innovative. We must have the foresight and imagination to create cutting edge, wealth producing industries of the future. The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre has been created to help meet Australia’s skills challenge. It will also be the hub for a new national technology and innovation education initiative, the Questacon Smart Skills Initiative. The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre is located in one of the national capital’s historic buildings that was originally created to manufacture Australia’s first decimal coinage; this re-purposing is symbolic of the need for nations to change and adapt. The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre offers a range of onsite interactive experiences for students and the public to engage with technology and innovation. Activities are designed around a central theme of the innovation process, fostering an interest and awareness of how things are made and how societal need drives the process of cutting-edge innovation. The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre features an exhibition space—the Gallery of Australian Inventiveness— where themed exhibitions and hands-on activities highlight examples of Australia’s creativity and innovation, both past and present, originating from cutting edge research through to backyard inventors. The story of the innovation process is highlighted through interactive displays showcasing the important stages of identifying a society need, prototyping, testing, evaluating and refining solutions, learning from failure and building on success.
Transcript of The Ian Potter Foundation Fact Sheet · students and the public to engage with technology and...
FACT SHEET
QUESTACON AND THE IAN POTTER FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP
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.In October 2014, The Ian Potter Foundation—one of Australia’s major philanthropic foundations—generously provided a grant of $7.8 million over five years to Questacon. The grant, made in the 50th anniversary year of the Foundation, is the largest that the Foundation has awarded in the areas of science and education and the largest ever awarded outside Victoria.
This contribution reflects the importance of this project for Australia and the investment required to transition to the technology-focused, innovative, knowledge-based economy that is vital for our future.
In 2013, with support from the Department of Industry, Questacon launched the Questacon Technology Learning Centre at a new site in the refurbished Mint Administration building at Deakin in the ACT. In recognition of the announcement of the generous contribution from The Ian Potter Foundation, Questacon has re-named this facility The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre.
The Centre has been created to guide young Australians towards a path of creativity and innovation, and to consider careers in technology and engineering.
The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning CentreAustralia is in a highly competitive global economic environment. The reality is that if we are to prosper we need to be more productive and more innovative. We must have the foresight and imagination to create cutting edge, wealth producing industries of the future.
The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre has been created to help meet Australia’s skills challenge. It will also be the hub for a new national technology and innovation education initiative, the Questacon Smart Skills Initiative.
The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre is located in one of the national capital’s historic buildings that was originally created to manufacture Australia’s first decimal coinage; this re-purposing is symbolic of the need for nations to change and adapt.
The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre offers a range of onsite interactive experiences for students and the public to engage with technology and innovation. Activities are designed around a central theme of the innovation process, fostering an interest and awareness of how things are made and how societal need drives the process of cutting-edge innovation.
The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre features an exhibition space—the Gallery of Australian Inventiveness— where themed exhibitions and hands-on activities highlight examples of Australia’s creativity and innovation, both past and present, originating from cutting edge research through to backyard inventors.
The story of the innovation process is highlighted through interactive displays showcasing the important stages of identifying a society need, prototyping, testing, evaluating and refining solutions, learning from failure and building on success.
FACT SHEET
The exploration of the innovation process flows through to the Maker Space, which is a dedicated workshop area that provides a space for school groups, the public and special interest groups to participate in stimulating hands-on activities and engineering challenges. Workshops and hands-on activities allow in-depth engagement for secondary school students and intergenerational community groups exploring high-tech gadgets and low-tech materials.
Within the Maker Space, the Neat Kit Room contains equipment such as 3D printers that allow students to imagine new possibilities for making things.
The Questacon Smart Skills initiativeThe Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre will be the hub for the new Questacon Smart Skills Initiative, designed to facilitate interaction and interest for innovation at a national level.
This is a multi-pronged, national programme of technology education incorporating interactive workshops, tours and special events, and a touring hands-on exhibition, that will be delivered in Canberra and across Australia through regional partnerships and digital communications technology.
The Questacon Smart Skills Initiative is a partnership between Questacon, The Ian Potter Foundation and the Department of Industry, and is a key element of the $28 million Science for Australia’s Future measures, announced in the 2014 Budget.
The support from The Ian Potter Foundation will enable in-school programmes and workshops to be delivered to primary and secondary school students, particularly in disadvantaged communities. It will enable the gathering and sharing of stories of innovation and enterprise.
This national technology innovation initiative will be delivered into schools in regional and remote areas of Australia, leading to a greater appreciation of the processes and skills involved in design, technology and manufacturing.
Questacon Maker Project
The Questacon Maker Project offers innovative workshops and events for local and interstate school students to foster an understanding of the process of
innovation and manufacturing. Workshops cover the steps of innovation, with the themes Think; Make; Try; Refine. Interaction with Questacon’s own exhibit design and manufacturing staff adds a richness to group visits.
Questacon’s enthusiastic and lively facilitators present workshops in the Maker Space at The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre, and will also travel to local and regional schools and community events upon request.
These experiences provide participants with the ability to explore new technologies and processes as they tinker and develop innovative constructs, solve challenges and generate and refine solutions.
Questacon Smart Skills
A programme of the Initiative, Questacon Smart Skills is a free programme developed for secondary school students that creates an awareness of
technology, engineering and design thinking amongst young Australians.
Using interactive and challenging workshops, Questacon Smart Skills travels regional Australia delivering free sessions that immerse students in ideas, technology and creativity. By encouraging students to play with technology and make inventive creations, it engages and challenges them to find the innovator within.
Workshops expose students to the process of innovation and refining their ideas through engineering-based challenges. These experiences will help to equip them with logical and creative thinking skills to tackle problems across the curriculum and beyond.
Questacon Smart Skills will be delivered in metropolitan, regional and rural areas, in partnership with local partner organisations.
Questacon Invention Convention
Each Questacon Smart Skills tour will culminate in a regional Questacon Invention Convention—a selective, three-day intensive programme run during the school holidays.
Questacon Invention Conventions will develop entrepreneurial skills and confidence in participating students, through innovative activities.
Students will further investigate the design process and will undertake an ideas forum with local industry and entrepreneurs to develop solutions to real world problems using existing technology. Questacon Invention Conventions will be held in regional and remote locations nationally.
60 Denison St, Canberra 02 6270 2800www.questacon.edu.au
Media enquiries:0439 399 [email protected]
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Current as of October 2014 [14204]
