INTRODUCTION BY THE ASSISSTANT MÎNISTER FOR INNOVATION As Assistant Minister for Innovation, I am acutely Science engagement is a key to increasing the Invention Conventions, run as part of the initiative. of the need for strong growth in the skills that intellectual clout of the nation, and if we want more The conventions link students with young will underpin Australia's future economic Australians to be scientifically literate and engaged entrepreneurial peers and local industry productivity. with science and technology, we need to invest in mentors. improving the exposure of our school students to The journey of learning creates the capacity to STEM skills. inspire, innovate, fail and try again, generating the It's a example of how to transform young minds resilience upon which future careers, industry and and leave a legacy that Australia will benefit from for The Government understands the important of a productive economy will be built. many years. having a coordinated STEM approach. Institutions such as Questacon - the National Science and Questacon has been playing a key role in this It is exciting to think of the curiosity that has been Technology Centre have been the backbone of engagement for more than 25 years and I am sparked in young people's minds by Questacon's STEM engagement for many years, providing looking forward to watching them continue to lead various exhibitions, outreach programmes or video innovative programmes which are delivered around in the area of science engagement as we grow the conferences. Through its leadership in innovating the nation. intellectual capacity of Australia. and developing new and effective programmes, and its training and development of science It has been exciting to see Questacon's Smart Skills communication professionals who now work across initiative—supported by the Federal Government, the nation and around the globe, Questacon has truly The Ian Potter Foundation, Samsung, IP Australia The Hon. Wyatt Roy, MP Assistant fulfilled its role as the National Science and and others—reaching out across the country. Minister for Innovation Technology Centre. Of particular note has been the impact of the regional
INTRODUCTION BY THE ASSISSTANT MÎNISTER FOR INNOVATION Science engagement is a key to increasing the intellectual clout of the nation, and if we want more Australians to be scientifically literate and engaged with science and technology, we need to invest in improving the exposure of our school students to STEM skills. The Government understands the important of having a coordinated STEM approach. Institutions such as Questacon - the National Science and Technology Centre have been the backbone of STEM engagement for many years, providing innovative programmes which are delivered around the nation. It has been exciting to see Questacon's Smart Skills initiative—supported by the Federal Government, The Ian Potter Foundation, Samsung, IP Australia and others—reaching out across the country. Of particular note has been the impact of the regional Invention Conventions, run as part of the initiative. The conventions link students with young entrepreneurial peers and local industry mentors. It's a example of how to transform young minds and leave a legacy that Australia will benefit from for many years. It is exciting to think of the curiosity that has been sparked in young people's minds by Questacon's various exhibitions, outreach programmes or video conferences. Through its leadership in innovating and developing new and effective programmes, and its training and development of science communication professionals who now work across the nation and around the globe, Questacon has truly fulfilled its role as the National Science and Technology Centre. As Assistant Minister for Innovation, I am acutely of the need for strong growth in the skills that will underpin Australia's future economic productivity. The journey of learning creates the capacity to inspire, innovate, fail and try again, generating the resilience upon which future careers, industry and a productive economy will be built. Questacon has been playing a key role in this engagement for more than 25 years and I am looking forward to watching them continue to lead in the area of science engagement as we grow the intellectual capacity of Australia. The Hon. Wyatt Roy, MP Assistant Minister for Innovation
Questacon-Annual-Review-2014-15_WA.docx