Inspiring South Australia
A 3D printed dinosaur head, a tent full of butterflies and a brain that lights up.
South Australia launched a state-wide $1 million program on Friday 17 April at the South Australian Museum – featuring the 3D printed head of a Plesiosaur, a light-up brain and a tent full of butterflies.
The $1 million state-wide initiative to inspire South Australians with their local science was launched with State and Federal Ministers and Science Week event organisers.
The team from SciWorld performing their pop-up science
Pop-up Science at AFL Matches, navigating neuroscience for children, and fossil sieving at the Kelly Hill Caves are just some of the National Science Week projects that have received grants under the new initiative.
The State Government, Federal Government and all three SA Universities have joined forces with the South Australian Museum to create a state-wide science-engagement program as part of the national Inspiring Australia program.
The initiative will build on the success of the first three years of Inspiring Australia, which included:
- See the Earth’s oldest animal fossils – training Flinders Ranges locals to be science communicators, working with them to develop the tourism potential of the region’s Ediacara fossils – national ‘Hidden Treasures’.
- Putting a portable planetarium on the road in the Eyre Peninsula.
- Putting young researchers’ discoveries in the national media spotlight through Fresh Science.
Science is central to South Australia’s cultural and economic future. South Australia needs a science-aware community ready to make informed decisions in a rapidly changing world, and ready to grab science-driven jobs.
The three year initiative will also:
- Catalyse arts, civic, community and science groups to join together in holding regional and suburban science events – from putting telescopes on streets to citizen science projects tracking plants and animals as they adapt to a changing climate.
- Build science event networks in regional and suburban centres.
- Support the creation of science clubs.
More details available in the media release
Media contacts
- Andrea Murphy, Manager Communications and Marketing, South Australian Museum, 08 8207 7385; +61 475 834 072, andrea.murphy@samuseum.sa.gov.au
- Lydia Hales (Science in Public), 03 9398 1416, lydia@scienceinpublic.com.au