Scitech

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Scitech
ScitechWALogo.jpg
Scitech Perth 2022.jpg
Exterior of Scitech Discovery Centre
Scitech
EstablishedAugust 13, 1988;35 years ago (1988-08-13)
Location20 Sutherland Street, West Perth, Western Australia
Coordinates 31°56′39″S115°50′49″E / 31.9443°S 115.847°E / -31.9443; 115.847 (Scitech)
TypeScience museum
Public transit accessCity West
Website www.scitech.org.au OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Scitech is a not-for-profit company encompassing the Scitech Discovery Centre, an interactive science museum in West Perth, Western Australia, outreach programs, professional learning programs and digital content.

Contents

The organisation's purpose is to inspire engagement by all Western Australians in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. [1]

History

In the 1980s, three influential Western Australian figures – physicist Emeritus Professor John de Laeter, mining leader Sir Laurence Brodie-Hall, and politician and computing pioneer the Hon. Mal Bryce – asked the question: “If our future depends on science and technology, how can we get people inspired?” The answer was Scitech, opening its doors on 13 August 1988 with a mission to inspire Western Australia's collective curiosity. [1]

Scitech Discovery Centre

The Scitech Discovery Centre features interactive exhibits designed to engage visitors with science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). It also offers live science, puppet and planetarium shows presented by Scitech Science Communicators.

Feature exhibitions are rotated every year following a particular theme, storyline or concept, which are built in-house by Scitech's design, graphics, and workshop departments. These feature exhibitions are also designed to travel and have toured to science centres nationally across Australia and internationally including North America, Saudi Arabia and China. [2]

Scitech Planetarium

Outside Scitech Planetarium 2016 Outside Scitech Planetarium 2016.jpg
Outside Scitech Planetarium 2016
Inside Scitech Planetarium 2016 Inside Scitech Planetarium 2016.jpg
Inside Scitech Planetarium 2016

In 2004, Scitech leased the empty Omni Max Theatre and rebranded it as "Horizon – The Planetarium" with a substantial refit.

The 70mm IMAX projector, platter system and associated Spitz spherical star map system were removed in 2004 and kept in storage. Sky-Skan were chosen to carry out the upgrades to the Planetarium by installing 6 Barco 909 projectors for high quality astronomy, full-dome shows and also for the live element of each presentation.

In September 2013, the planetarium was closed for a $1.4m renovation that was funded by a grant from Lotterywest. New projectors, servers, lighting, wiring and various communications devices were included in the upgrade.

The Scitech Planetarium has a diameter of 18m and is one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. [3] It has two Sony TX–T420 projectors using ultra-wide angle lenses custom made for Scitech. [4] These projectors fill the full 180 degrees of the night sky in 4K 60fps detail. The Scitech Planetarium uses an azimuth speaker channel for ceiling effects and has an 8.1 surround sound system. [3]

During a Planetarium show, the presenter is based at the front of the planetarium and has full control over real-time astronomy visualisations.

Scitech Statewide

Scitech's Statewide team provides Scitech's outreach programs including educational early childhood and primary school incursions and event activations to schools and communities across Western Australia. The team visits every regional and remote community in Western Australia every three years. [5]

Scitech Professional Learning

Scitech’s Learning Futures team facilitate professional learning programs for teachers in maths and digital technologies, providing opportunities for teachers to further their skills and knowledge in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teaching. Current programs include Lighthouse Maths, Alcoa Real World Digital Technologies and Alcoa Champions of Digital Technologies, as well as DIY Kits which can be hired out by schools, providing resources and activities in STEM subjects.

Scitech Digital Content

Scitech's digital content provides audiences access to STEM engagement regardless of their location. These include Science at Home activities [6] , podcasts [7] and a YouTube channel Toy Tear Down which sees a Scitech Science Communicator take apart a toy and discover the science behind how it works. [8]

Particle

Particle is Scitech’s independent media hub that connects young adults to science stories from Western Australia and beyond. This includes news stories, articles and podcast series Elements which uses a narrative journalism approach to explore one of the four classical elements, water, fire, earth and air. [9]

Memberships

Scitech is a member of these associations of science centres: [10] [11]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Our Story - About Scitech". Scitech. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "Scitech's Travelling Exhibitions". www.scitech.org.au. Scitech. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Perth Planetarium - Opening Hours & Show Times". Scitech. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  4. ↑ "Scitech Facts". Scitech. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  5. ↑ "Impact Report 2022-2023". Scitech. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "At Home". Scitech. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "Science Videos, Podcasts & Audio Guides". Scitech. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  8. ↑ "Scitech's Toy Tear Down". YouTube. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "Particle WA". Particle WA. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  10. ↑ "Listing of NAME members". Collections Australia Network. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  11. ↑ "Reciprocal Benefits with Partner Science Centres". Scitech. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  12. ↑ "Our Members". ASPAC. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  13. ↑ "ASTC Travel Passport Program Participants" (PDF). 1 November 2019. p. 8. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  14. ↑ "Scitech Discovery Centre | Ecsite". www.ecsite.eu. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
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