Questacon Technology Learning Centre

The new Questacon Technology Learning Centre was officially opened on Tuesday, April 9th, 2013. The idea of the new Centre  to focus on creativity and invention and the innovation process. On Wednesday 3rd April I was lucky to have a small taste of what the new arm of Questacon has to offer when I attended a free public seminar by , public seminar by Science ShowOff’s Dr Graham Walker

Dr Walker’s seminar was a part of a series of “Torques” which are to be held in the  new building every fortnight. Rachel Rayner, the Centre’s Outreach Program Officer for Learning Experience, describes the “Torques” as a chance to meet local artists, engineers, designers, scientists and creative types who will discuss their work and construction processes. The aim is that visitors will be inspired by the speaker’s imagination and innovation as they share insights into the creative process and discuss how they turned their visions into reality. Each seminar will revolve around a different discipline, topic, or technology.

Dr Walker gave an interesting, amusing and exciting look into his own experiences in developing props for science shows. He talked about how props evolve, going through stages and growing in size. He mentioned being willing to try new things and being open to serendipity, or positive chance outcomes, as he develops his ideas . Then he demonstrated several versions, in various sizes, of a cow passing wind, to help demonstrate to children how cows contribute to climate change.

Some of the other entertaining features of the night were lighting a hydrogen balloon, setting off “rockets,” building props using everyday items and riding a very noisy leaf-blower hovercraft. The audience enjoyed the demonstration and seminar, which had appeal for all those present, from young children to the rather more mature.

The West Wing of the new building involves the people who make exhibits for Questacon and shows the innovative process. Near the foyer is exhibition space, which shows what people have done and do in the process of invention. The third area- where I went- is where people go to become involved in the innovation process themselves- it is a teaching and learning space. Questions are encouraged.

Dr Walker’s first qualification was in Biology, which may be why he looks at prop making in terms of evolution- or perhaps it is his natural creative eccentricity. Some of his early training came through the Shell Questacon science circus course, and earlier still, he was encouraged to tinker in his dad’s garage.

When I asked him which his favourite demonstrations were, he answered- “the new ones- it’s always the new ones,” or, perhaps, when he can work out how to use and remake an old prop in a new context.