INPEX partners with Questacon to future-proof Australian students

Sydney, Australia – INPEX today announced a four-year, million-dollar partnership with Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre, to make science and technology more accessible to students across Australia, including in remote and regional areas.

The partnership focuses on a national energy literacy program for schools and will support student education and teachers to be engaged in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

INPEX Corporation President and CEO, Mr Takayuki Ueda said together, INPEX and Questacon aimed to inspire the next generation to think about the shifts in global energy production, while educating tomorrow’s workforce about sustainability.

“We are proud to be partnering with Questacon to deliver long-term positive impact in STEM education for students and teachers in Australia and Japan,” said Mr Ueda.

“There is a real need to engage and connect with the next generation about shifts in global energy and raise awareness of sustainable energy within the wider community. Our education investment with Questacon will equip the future workforce with knowledge for a rapidly changing world.

“Through this innovative partnership our aim is to provide benefits across Australia and contribute to the development of vibrant, prosperous and resilient communities.”
The partnership with Questacon will deliver:

• A new ‘energy show’ developed by Questacon that will seek to improve energy literacy through engaging demonstrations that build understanding of energy, power, units, transmission and energy economics. The show will be filmed and shared with communities across Australia.
• Questacon STEM Futures – professional learning workshops for teachers and school leaders to support delivery engaging STEM education.
• An engaging forum for youth dialogue and discussion about the energy for the future, that will link students in Australia, Japan and Indonesia to build international understanding of the complex issues around power generation and increase awareness of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on SDG 7 – Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
• A suite of interactive energy exhibits designed and developed by Questacon that will tour venues in Japan as part of the Science Circus Japan Tour in 2023.
• Science Circus Japan – the third Questacon Science Circus Tour to Japan hosted in partnership with Japanese science centres and museums, to produce a co-created energy show and science exhibits to communities in and around Niigata.

“We may be a Japanese company, but creating jobs in Australia, being a good corporate citizen and enabling the Australian way of life are core principles for us,” said Mr Ueda.

Questacon Director, Professor Graham Durant said” This partnership provides us with an opportunity to deliver a suite of inspiring activities to raise awareness and generate a greater understanding of energy within the community”.

“The INPEX partnership provides us with a great opportunity to strengthen relationships with Japanese institutions through a science communicators’ exchange program and linking students and future leaders in a sustainable energy dialogue.

“The multi-year agreement aligns with the values of Questacon, which was founded in 1988, with the support of the Australian and Japanese governments and business community.”

INPEX commits for the long haul in Australia
The Questacon investment comes as INPEX continues to ramp-up production at its Ichthys LNG facilities - one of the largest and most complex liquefied natural gas developments in the world.

Signalling the importance of Australia to the company’s global operations and long-term growth strategy, INPEX directors this week visited the company’s Ichthys LNG onshore operations in Darwin and held their first Board meeting outside of Japan.

Since the first LNG cargo departed Darwin in October 2018, Ichthys LNG has now safely produced 100 cargoes of LNG, LPG and condensate.