Scitech facts for kids
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Exterior of Scitech Discovery Centre
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| Established | August 13, 1988 |
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| Location | 20 Sutherland Street, West Perth, Western Australia |
| Type | Science museum |
| Public transit access | City West |
Scitech is a super cool place in West Perth, Western Australia where you can explore science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) in fun, hands-on ways! It's a special kind of company that doesn't aim to make money. Instead, Scitech wants to get everyone in Western Australia excited about STEM. They do this through their amazing Discovery Centre, programs that visit schools, training for teachers, and even online videos.
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How Scitech Started
Back in the 1980s, some important people in Western Australia had a big idea. They wondered how to get people excited about science and technology, since it's so important for our future. Their answer was Scitech!
Scitech first opened its doors on 13 August 1988. Its main goal was to make everyone in Western Australia curious about science. Before opening, a team worked for nine months to build about 150 awesome exhibits for the Discovery Centre.
Explore the Scitech Discovery Centre
The Scitech Discovery Centre is packed with interactive exhibits. These exhibits are designed and built right there in Scitech's own workshop. They help visitors learn about science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) in a hands-on way.
You can also watch live science shows, puppet shows, and amazing planetarium shows. These are presented by Scitech's expert Science Communicators. There's also a special Scitech Lab. This lab is used for workshops for school trips and during school holidays.
Changing Exhibitions
Every year, Scitech creates new feature exhibitions. These exhibitions follow a different theme, story, or idea. They are built by Scitech's own design, graphics, and workshop teams. These special exhibitions are also made to travel! They have visited science centres all over Australia and even in other countries like North America, Saudi Arabia, and China.
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Journey Through the Scitech Planetarium
In 2004, Scitech took over an empty theatre and turned it into "Horizon – The Planetarium." It was updated with special projectors to show high-quality astronomy and full-dome shows.
The Scitech Planetarium is huge, with a diameter of 18 meters. It's one of the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere! It uses two special Sony projectors with wide-angle lenses. These projectors fill the entire 180-degree dome with amazing 4K detail of the night sky. The Planetarium also has a fantastic 8.1 surround sound system.
During a show, a presenter controls real-time views of space. Visitors can enjoy immersive shows about stars, planets, and the universe. They also watch pre-made films about astronomy and other cool topics.
Scitech Statewide Programs
Scitech's Statewide team brings science fun to schools and communities all over Western Australia. These programs started in 1996 and were first called "Roadshow."
The team offers educational programs for young children and primary schools. They also run special events. The Statewide team visits every regional and remote community in Western Australia every three years. This means kids everywhere can experience Scitech!
Scitech for Teachers: Professional Learning
Scitech's Learning Futures team helps teachers learn more about teaching maths and digital technologies. They offer programs that help teachers improve their skills and knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Some current programs include Lighthouse Maths and Alcoa Real World Digital Technologies. Schools can also rent "DIY Kits." These kits provide resources and activities for STEM subjects, making it easier for teachers to bring STEM to life in their classrooms.
Discover Scitech Digital Content
Scitech also creates digital content. This means people can learn about STEM no matter where they are. This includes "Science at Home" activities you can do yourself. They also have podcasts and a YouTube channel called "Toy Tear Down." On this channel, a Scitech Science Communicator takes apart a toy to show you the science behind how it works!
Particle: Science Stories for Young Adults
Particle is a special online hub created by Scitech. It connects young adults to exciting science stories from Western Australia and beyond. Particle shares news articles and a podcast series called "Elements." This podcast explores one of the four classical elements: water, fire, earth, and air, using a storytelling approach.
