$20,000 for Science Alive! expansion across the state

The State Government is providing $20,000 towards the expansion of premier science expo, Science Alive!, to include five events across metropolitan and regional South Australia.

The one-off grant under the Inspiring South Australia program will help the all-ages expo to expand its reach, engaging young people and adults with science through fun and interactive events in Tonsley, Elizabeth, Whyalla, Mount Gambier and Port Augusta.

In the Tonsley Innovation Precinct on Sunday, 25 science related organisations will be displaying hands-on science designed to engage with all ages, including smoke cannons, workshops on robotics, native animal shows and spectacular science shows.

Science Alive! has operated for 12 years in partnership with National Science Week and is expected to attract 30,000 people to its main event at the Adelaide Showgrounds in August.

The expansion of the expo into year-round visits to metropolitan and regional South Australia supports the State Government’s priority areas of science and innovation, inspiring learning and engagement in STEM from an early age.

The 2016/17 State Budget committed to building and upgrading STEM labs at 139 public schools across metropolitan and regional South Australia. The government has also committed to providing 500 teachers with additional STEM training and ensuring every primary school in South Australia will have a minimum of one teacher with a STEM specialisation by 2019.

Quotes attributable to Science and Information Economy Minister Kyam Maher

Industries in our State are increasingly moving into high-technology, science-rich areas of specialisation and by ensuring our kids are engaged in and excited by science from a young age, we give them the best chance of succeeding in the jobs of the future.

It is events like Science Alive! that show children and adults that science, technology, engineering and maths is fun, whether you are building a robot or developing a game.
Science and innovation are key priorities for the South Australian Government and Science Alive! supports these priorities and inspires learning and engagement in STEM from an early age.