Insights from ASPAC 2022

Scitech Customer-Facing Delivery General Manager Craig Bloxsome writes about his recent insightful trip to the ASPAC 2022 World Conference.

In early October I travelled to Bursa, Turkey for the ASPAC 2022 World Conference. Scitech is part of the Asia Pacific Network of Science and Technology Centres (ASPAC), a group of institutions that collaborate and communicate to a wide range of audiences across the Asia-Pacfic region. It was a fantastic opportunity to be there again after COVID-19 had halted plans for this annual conference in the past couple of years, and hear from many of the Science Centres and Museums about their experiences of how they have weathered the impact.

STEM through culture

While representing Scitech at the conference, I was invited to deliver a presentation called “Rethinking Science Communication through Indigenous Australian storytelling”. This was part of a broader conference topic asking “How can/what are technologies that can empower us to strengthen our link to culture/s”. It covered the journey Scitech went through in the development of the Banksia Woodlands experience in our 2020 exhibition Earth Matters, paying particular attention to our use of the Noongar Six Seasons. This was a great example of how Scitech had developed this particular storytelling style with cultural advising from Aboriginal elder Noel Nannup, and integration of technology that was able to engage both adults (passively) and children (physically) in the digitally immersive space.

Using science to create experiences

This year's keynote speaker was cognitive Scientist Dr Pireeni Sundaralingam, who provided a fascinating insight into a range of topics that were of particular interest. She challenged science centres to use research on how we know the brain works when creating experiences. This included how visitors retain more information when they are given a more enriched and diverse learning environment which was supported by interesting research in how studying before an exam vs going to an art gallery for an hour on the day can increase creativity.

Dr Sundaralingam also explained, just knowing that we have a device within reach lowers humans IQ and that taking a photo of an object or an interaction actually makes us forget the information sooner than if we just looked or experienced it. This related to how visitors can be overloaded with digital content and to consider encouraging more activity in the moment in programs and exhibitions, which challenges our ideas as a museum of how we can engage people with science.

The impact of COVID-19

Staff shortages in science centres since the COVID-19 pandemic was a common theme at the conference. It was interesting to note that many other countries lost staff when Centres were closed as they seeked other opportunities. The challenge now is being unable to recruit more staff with the example in Malaysia, where university students know they will earn far more by being an Uber driver than a scientist or educator.

The impact that science centres have on student teachers provided one of the most interesting and advanced ideas from Singapore. There, it is a requirement for all education undergraduates to spend at least one day at Science Centre Singapore doing workshops with Science Communicators and Educators. This is for all teaching students regardless of what subjects or classes they will be teaching to enable them to discover new ways to elevate student learning and broaden their experience beyond the classroom, while providing a valuable opportunity for the Science Centre to understand teacher needs and perspectives.

Bringing back knowledge

The ASPAC conference is always a rich learning experience and this year had many inspiring takeaways for Scitech to consider. Through the many conversations and discussions over the few days it was apparent that Science Centres continue to play a critical and integral role stimulating, engaging and making accessible science and technology learning and awareness that drives positive change in our communities.