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Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination takes students on a journey of exploration from the fictional world of Star Wars to the 21st century technologies that are making the fantasy a reality. Students will see models, props and costumes from all six films and discover how imagination drives science with hands-on design labs, models and videos of new technologies, and interviews with engineers, scientists and filmmakers.

The exhibition is organised around two major technology themes, focusing on basic human needs: getting around (transportation) and getting along with ever smarter machines (robotics). Highlights include two multi-station Engineering Design Labs where students can design, build and test solutions to challenges.

Highly recommended for Years 5-6 Science and Technology, Years 7-12 Science
and TAS.

Education materials
Teachers exhibition guide
Pre- and post-visit material for Stage 3 Science and technology
Pre- and post-visit material for Stage 4 Science
Pre- and post-visit material for Stage 5 Science

Some key questions addressed in the exhibition:

Learning highlights

Maglev Engineering Design Lab – Experiment with magnetic levitation, creating and testing your own floating maglev cars on a magnetic track
Robot Engineering Design lab – Become a robot designer, selecting wheels or treads, choosing different kinds of sensors and programming a robot to navigate through a droid factory.
Robot Object Theatre Debate – Meet an animatronic C-3P0 and (via video) real world robotics engineer Dr Cynthia Breazel as they discuss the merits of R2-D2 and how researchers try to duplicate human traits such as mobility, perception and cognition. This is followed by a tour of real world robotics and a section on how implant technology is being used in research and medicine.
Building Communities Augmented Reality Interactive –Build a virtual spaceport, moisture farm community and walled Jawa town to discover how climate and conditions affect the way we live. A VR explorer using a head-mounted display lets you  ‘fly’ through the collaboratively built environment.
Models of real world technologies including the Moller Sky Car and Daedalus spacecraft.

Interpretation and special events
Trained volunteer interpreters will be stationed throughout the exhibition to engage students in activities showcasing the science and technology behind the Star Wars films. A range of workshops and programs and curator-led tours for students and teachers will also be available.

School bookings
Exhibition visit: $10 per student (includes general Museum entry and teachers notes) / $5 for same day visit by Year 11 & 12 students attending the designTECH seminar / teachers and supervisors are free according to ratio, each additional supervisor $10. Additional costs apply for workshops and curator led tours.

Booking request form
Booking request form for Design and Technology students

Phone: (02) 9217 0222
Fax: (02) 9217 0622
Early bookings essential
Exhibition closes 26 April 2009

Student Optic Fibre workshop and Star Wars: where science meets imagination exhibition visit
26 March - 3 April 2009
Highly recommended for Stage 5/6 Physics and Senior Science students
details and bookings

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