Techniquest takes hands-on to South Africa

Almost two years ago now, Techniquest began planning an exciting new project with the Commonwealth Secreteriat called CommQuest. The aim of CommQuest is to take hands-on science exhibits, shows and workshops to Commonwealth countries where informal science learning is not really yet part of the culture. The project will leave behind a tangible legacy of staff trained in communicating science, teacher resources and, subject to finding sponsorship, an exhibition which could form the basis of a new hands-on centre.

Top:Visitors enjoy the CommQuest experience.
Bottom: Staff training. (All photos courtesy of Techniquest)

The first phase of CommQuest was launched at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Durban on 12 November 1999. We had great fun showing the Queen around our stand and she seemed very taken with our Bernoulli Blower and orbits. Cherie Blair also visited and took a great interest in encouraging the girls on the exhibits not to be pushed out by the boys!

Five members of staff have been out here with exhibits for CHOGM and we have now moved the whole exhibition to the Durban Natural Science Museum where it will live until January 2000. We are now in the middle of training up their volunteer staff to interact with visitors and the exhibits and some are learning our Slime show or The Mad Musical Instruments show. It is good to find that having an instrument called a bum-fiddle still amuses audiences here and learning the Zulu word for fluid has helped immensely with The Slime show!

The exhibition, shows and workshops will then move to Richards Bay, Giyani, Johannasburg and will then finish in April 2000 at the Sasol Science Festival in Grahamstown. Loading and unloading 23 exhibits from flight cases and up two flights of stairs is very hard work in the hot and humid temperature that Durban is famous for, but it has been fascinating to see the reactions of the children and adults here. Most have never seen anything like what we do so it has been very rewarding.

Anyway, must dash and train up some people on exhibit maintenance! More news from South Africa as it happens...watch this space!

Wendy Sadler is Public Programmes Manager at Techniquest, when she isn’t the BIG News foreign correspondent.

Newsletter Winter 1999 Contents

Articles > Explainers' pay | Secrets of the Exhibits 2 | Impact of new Centres | ECSITE Conf. report | From Chair | From Editor

News > Clipped art in park | CommQuest S. Africa | Inspire voted top | Intnl status for TQ Director | Move for Edinburgh Sci. Fest. | Oxford festival grows | Science Centres lobby | Smithsonian fellowships | What happened to Exploratory? | The Micrarium reborn | Have funds, travel grants