Background Image

Discover the spark for science at Queensland Museum

Young science enthusiasts will be able to explore their curiosity with construction now well underway for a new interactive gallery that has been officially named SparkLab, Sciencentre, at Queensland Museum.

Minister for Science and Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government had invested $9.4 million to redevelop the space at Queensland Museum.

“This new interactive gallery will allow visitors to unleash their inner scientist through 40 interactive exhibitions across three zones,” Ms Enoch said.

“This was the first major renovation to the Sciencentre since it opened at Queensland Museum in 2004.

“I am pleased to announce the new gallery SparkLab, Sciencentre will open in September and the new space will showcase hands-on interactive STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) exhibits to inspire generations.

“The Palaszczuk Government allocated funding to redevelop the space to help put our state at the forefront of STEM learning and ensure our young people are well positioned to capitalise on the jobs of the future.”

SparkLab has been designed to enable visitors to explore our world and how it works using the same skills that scientists, engineers and mathematicians use every day.

Queensland Museum Network Acting CEO and Director Dr Jim Thompson said visitors will delight in the redeveloped space that is centred on inquiry-based learning.

“SparkLab offers brand new world-class interactive STEM experiences to visitors and gives them the opportunity to be a scientist by asking questions, testing ideas and finding creative ways of solving everyday problems,” Dr Thompson said.

“STEM is all around us and relevant in everything that we do and we hope visitors to SparkLab will be curious and adventurous to discover how these skills enrich and impact their lives.

“I’d like to thank our visitors and members for their support and patience while we have reimagined this new space and we look forward to welcoming everyone when we open in September.”

When the doors open, SparkLab will include 40 exhibits in three zones and the new spaces will support flexible facilitated learning experiences; new science shows, a science bar featuring hands on experiments and demonstrations, and a maker space that gives visitors the opportunity to design, make, test and evaluate their creations in response to a ‘big question’ or challenge.

Along with the new exhibits, old favourites such as Thongophone and Touch the Lightning will return.

As plans for SparkLab continue, Dr Thompson said they are also exploring ways to extend the Sciencentre brand experience to other campuses in the network, including Cobb+Co Museum in Toowoomba, The Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich and Museum of Tropical Queensland in Townsville.

“Over the coming months we will be working towards extending the science gallery concepts to our regional campuses that will include some favourite exhibits from the original Sciencentre,” Dr Thompson said.

Queensland Museum partnered with Science Museum London, to deliver SparkLab, based on the group’s popular Wonderlab galleries.

Tickets for SparkLab are now on sale and can be booked online www.qm.qld.gov.au