STEAM Education: The Integral Role of Arts in Aotearoa
18 Sept 2024
Science Alive Charitable Trust was established in 1990 with a mission to inspire the public in science and technology.
From the beginning
Stemming from this mission the Science Alive Centre was born. A space that would kindle curiosity and excitement through hands-on experiences, exhibits and much more.
The well known and loved Science Alive Centre was located at the old railway building on Moorhouse Ave in Christchurch, New Zealand. This centre became a national hub for engaging and interactive science experiences and educational outreach programmes featuring travelling school visits, attractions like the iconic vertical slide, glow in the dark mini golf, gyroscope, climbing wall and various other exhibits. Each interactive display and experience was meticulously designed to entertain and educate, linking experiences to tangible scientific learning outcomes and igniting curiosity.
Beyond the quakes
The devastating earthquakes that struck Christchurch in 2010 and 2011 resulted in the loss of the beloved Science Alive Centre, among many other cherished landmarks. This loss had a profound impact on the community, affecting access to hands-on science experiences for Cantabrians.
Following the loss of the centre, Science Alive was unable to recreate what was lost and looked to new areas to continue the mission. This saw the extension of outreach programmes that visited schools and communities. Events such as ‘Under 5 Fest’, amongst other initiatives such as ‘Science Snippets’, the ‘Star Dome’, and ‘Kids in Space’ were developed to enable Science Alive to inspire the public.
Science Alive also produced interactive exhibits for Te Papa (New Zealand), Al Khobar (Saudi Arabia), Exploratorium (USA), Tech Dome (Malaysia), Science Centre Singapore, and many more Museums, Science Centres and Organisations. This outreach allowed Science Alive’s mission to reach global audiences.
A new era for Science Alive!
As of 2020, the emergence of online learning as a global phenomenon prompted Science Alive to begin a journey of digital transformation. Through strategic partnerships, Science Alive initiated its transition into the digital realm, beginning a new chapter for the trust. As we move into 2024, Science Alive enters the next phase of its digital initiative, building upon past accomplishments and reaffirming our commitment to making science and technology accessible to everyone, everywhere, everyday.
Thank you for sticking with us.
