Among the many things that arts and science have in common is the encouragement of curiosity and creativity.

The National Science and Technology Centre’s long-running current exhibition ZAP! CLANK! POW! is an example of how to do this. 

With a loud title that conjures up what Questacon describes as “shocking and surprising science,” you don’t just look at the 17 interactive exhibits, you use them, play with them and experiment as you travel through the world of electricity, (ZAP!) machines, (CLANK! ) and motion (POW!). It’s a clever way to explore real scientific principles.

I was lucky. My very overqualified guides for the journey through the forces of science were the director of Questacon, Jo White, and the senior exhibition designer Ella Cameron, who supervised the build of each exhibit at Questacon’s centre in Deakin.

Cameron, a graduate in industrial and product design from the University of Canberra, has worked in all phases of design from concept through design development, technical design, troubleshooting on the workshop floor, and installation focusing on cultural museums, children’s museums and entertainment centres. 

She is quick to praise her colleagues, the curators who came up with the ideas behind the show and the catchy comic-book feel, matching the visuals.

White says: “Whether it’s lifting yourself off the ground, exploring the invisible forces of magnetism or building something that really flies, this exhibition promises a fun and meaningful discovery of science for the entire family. 

“It’s all very interactive, it’s all about having fun.” 

For this exhibition, the forces of electromagnetism, electricity and motion have been reimagined so you never know what you’re going to do, she advises as she shunts me towards the hands-on Pulley Power exhibit where some serious physical effort is needed.

One thing White and Cameron stress is their attention to the question of gender preferences when it comes to exhibits about physics, traditionally unattractive to girls because of so many blokey examples used in experiments.

“Although we’ve come a long way, a lot of thought has been put into that,” White says.

White’s own favourite of the show is the Make a Circuit module – ”very instantly rewarding,” she says. 

But beyond instant gratification, there is a more serious intent, seen in the provision of QR codes for at-home experiments that are also accessible on YouTube. 

“The whole idea is that you start out playing, but you might like to go into a question deeper when you go home,” she says. 

ZAP! CLANK! POW! at Questacon until February 1.