Session 1: 06:00-08:00 a.m. UTC, November 23, 2023
Aluminium Adventure: From Australia to Japan
Dr. Akiko Yoshioka
Osaka Science Museum Volunteers SCIENCE de DOYA
Osaka, Japan
Patrick Helean
Questacon the National Science and Technology Centre of Australia
Canberra, Australia and
Dr. Jo Clyne
International Museum Theatre Alliance (Asia Pacific)
Melbourne, Australia
Field of Presentation
Science
Session Proposal
In this session, Dr Akiko Yoshioka (Science de Doya, Osaka Science Museum), Patrick Helean (Questacon), and Dr Jo Clyne (International Museum Theatre Alliance, Asia Pacific) will share some of the strategies they are utilising to develop a piece of museum theatre about aluminium. The objectives of this work are to;
• create a piece that can be understood by both Japanese and English-speaking museum visitors
• develop an internationally collaborative work between museum theatre colleagues in Australian and Japan
• teach visitors about aluminium – its uses, and the process of mining, processing, and recycling it.
• communicate how the trade, export and import of aluminium connects Australia and Japan
Professional Bio
Akiko Yoshioka is a Japanese patent attorney since 2007 and the Goodwill Ambassador for the Osaka Science Museum since 2016. She has worked as a professional patent attorney on weekdays over ten years and has spent her weekends as a science communicator over ten years as well. Previously, she taught science and mathematics at an afterschool program. She thinks that being a patent attorney, a science communicator and a teacher are like a bridge to connect different worlds. She enjoys playing a role to connect different fields, such as one where a frontier science is promoted and one where a frontier science is applied.
Yoshioka was raised in Osaka and earned a Ph.D. in science from the Osaka University. She experienced a three‐month internship in Prague, Czech Republic, during her doctoral course. She founded a team of volunteers "SCIENCE de DOYA" at the Osaka Science Museum in 2022 with her friend volunteers.
Patrick Helean has been a professional actor, puppeteer and director for over 35 years. Before moving to Australia he was the managing director of ‘Prairie Fire Theatre’ a professional touring theatre. After moving to Australia became a member of the Questacon Excited Particles a professional theatre troupe. In this time at Questacon he has developed science shows on topics from radio astronomy and laser physics and played multiple characters from a cheeky little dinosaur puppet, Mutty the Muttaburrasaur to Albert Einstein.
Recently Patrick has turned his professional focus to the development and mentorship of science communicators and has facilitated training programs for the Shell Questacon Science Circus Masters students. And has facilitated science theatre workshops in Korea and Japan and lead the Science Circus Japan 2014 bringing science theatre and an exhibition to support science museums in the tsunami affected Tohoku region.
Now as Questacon’s Knowledge Partners Coordinator he is working with ARC Centres of excellence to strengthen the science communication skills of the scientists and to strengthen the science skills of the communicators.
Dr Jo Clyne is an historian, magician, teacher, and the current president of the International Museum Theatre Alliance Asia Pacific. She holds a PhD in History and Theatre Studies from the University of Melbourne, and enjoys presenting her historical research through the medium of performance. For the past five years, she had collaborated with Dr David Waldron on history/magic shows including; The Witching Hour, A Night of Spiritualism, The Quack and the Charlatan, and Shades of Haunted Melbourne. Jo has previously worked for the History Teachers’ Association of Victoria, the University of Melbourne, Macmillan Publishers, and the Melbourne Museum. She is the host of the international podcast series ‘Museum Theatre Musings’.