More than one million students have benefited from the partnership over the past 10 years as Scitech delivered science lessons to 85 per cent of WA schools and held professional development workshops for more than 26,400 teachers.
Closer to home, Rio Tinto human resources specialist Angela Larkin is particularly excited about her company’s continuing partnership with Scitech because she takes her two sons Will and Sam to the centre at least every six months.
While her eldest son Will said he liked the magnetic noise-making exhibit at Scitech, Mrs Larkin said she liked the positive influence the centre had had over her children.
‘Having two boys interested in science has meant that we come to Scitech as often as we can,’ she said. ‘We feel very lucky to have such a centre so close and have enjoyed visiting Scitech since Will and Sam were young.
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Scitech receives about half of its funding from the State Government, and raises revenue through admission fees, travelling exhibition rental and partner sponsorship.
Rio Tinto chairman Greg Lilleyman said he looked forward to the opening of the Rio Tinto Innovation Central exhibition at the City West centre in 2014 that would allow visitors to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.