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 fun science center in West Perth, Western Australia. It's a special place where you can explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through exciting hands-on activities. Scitech also has cool programs that travel to schools and communities, helping everyone in Western Australia get excited about how the world works!
Contents
How Scitech Started
Back in the 1980s, three important people in Western Australia had a big question. They were John Robert de Laeter (a physicist), Laurence Brodie-Hall (a mining leader), and Mal Bryce (a politician). They wondered: "How can we get people excited about science and technology?"
To answer this, Scitech opened its doors on August 13, 1988. Their goal was to make everyone in Western Australia curious about science. Before opening, a team worked for nine months. They built about 150 amazing exhibits for the Discovery Centre.
Explore the Scitech Discovery Centre
The Scitech Discovery Centre is full of interactive exhibits. These exhibits are made right there in Scitech's own workshop. They help you learn about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in a hands-on way.
You can also watch live science shows, puppet shows, and even planetarium shows. These are presented by Scitech's Science Communicators. There's also a special Scitech Lab. Here, schools can have workshops, and you can join holiday workshops too!
Awesome Traveling Exhibitions
Every year, Scitech creates new main exhibitions. These exhibitions have a special theme or story. Scitech's own design, graphics, and workshop teams build them. These cool exhibitions also travel! They have been shown at science centers all over Australia. They have even traveled to places like North America, Saudi Arabia, and China.
Journey Through the Scitech Planetarium
In 2004, Scitech took over an empty theater. They turned it into "Horizon – The Planetarium." It's a fantastic place to explore space!
The planetarium got new equipment from Sky-Skan. They installed six special projectors. These projectors show amazing astronomy and full-dome shows. They also help with the live parts of each presentation.
How Big is the Planetarium?
The Scitech Planetarium is very large, with a diameter of 18 meters. It's one of the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere! It uses two Sony projectors. These projectors have special lenses. They fill the entire 180-degree dome with clear 4K detail. The planetarium also has an awesome 8.1 surround sound system. This makes you feel like you're really in space!
During a show, a presenter controls the real-time space visuals. You can enjoy amazing shows about stars, planets, and the universe. There are also pre-made films about astronomy and other cool topics.
Scitech Statewide: Science on the Go
Scitech's Statewide team brings science fun to everyone. This program started in 1996 and was first called Roadshow. The team offers programs for young children and primary schools. They also set up exciting events for communities.
They travel all over Western Australia. This includes remote and regional areas. The team visits every regional and remote community every three years. This way, everyone gets a chance to experience Scitech!
Scitech Digital Content: Science Online
Scitech also offers lots of digital content. This means you can learn about STEM no matter where you are! They have "Science at Home" activities you can do. There are also podcasts to listen to.
Scitech has a YouTube channel called "Toy Tear Down." On this channel, a Scitech Science Communicator takes apart a toy. They show you the science behind how it works!
Particle: Science News for Young Adults
Particle is Scitech's own media hub. It's made for young adults. Particle shares science stories from Western Australia and beyond. You can find news stories and articles there.
They also have a podcast series called "Elements." This podcast explores one of the four classical elements: water, fire, earth, and air.
Scitech Memberships
Scitech is part of several groups of science centers. These include:
- Asia Pacific Network of Science and Technology Centres
- Association of Science-Technology Centers
- The European Collaborative for Science, Industry and Technology
- The Network of Australasian Museum Exhibitors
See also
- List of science museums
