Get ready to tinker, build, and innovate! Scienceworks is launching its newest hands-on exhibition, Tinkertown, on 5 April 2025, promising to inspire the next generation of engineers, designers, and creators.
This vibrant, interactive village is designed to turn the world of engineering and design upside down, offering playful experiences that ignite curiosity and creativity in visitors of all ages.
In Tinkertown, imagination and innovation collide. This fictional village comes alive with structures and landscapes that encourage visitors to think outside the box. From constructing cubby houses and inventing wacky contraptions to solving engineering puzzles and sending secret messages, every corner of Tinkertown offers a new adventure.
Through hands-on activities, children learn the iterative design process, discovering that trial and error is part of the fun. Key STEM concepts like forces, material properties, and estimation are explored in a way that’s both fun and accessible.
But Tinkertown isn’t just for kids. It’s an intergenerational space where families can come together to build, play, and learn, fostering creativity and teamwork across generations. Lynley Crosswell, CEO and Director of Museums Victoria, said, “Tinkertown solidifies Scienceworks’ standing as the ultimate destination for curious minds.”
“Packed with opportunities to build, invent, and explore, visitors of all ages are invited to unleash their curiosity, push the boundaries of imagination, and tinker to their hearts’ content,” she said.
Mei Liu, Tinkertown experience developer, added, “Developing Tinkertown has been an exciting journey. We hope that everyone who visits leaves inspired, with a renewed sense of creativity and the confidence to tackle challenges through curiosity and collaboration.”
The launch of Tinkertown aligns with Museums Victoria’s mission to break down barriers to STEM participation, particularly for women and girls. With only 15% of STEM-qualified jobs held by women, exhibitions like Tinkertown aim to inspire future scientists, engineers, and astronauts.
Scienceworks is also launching the second season of its educational web series, Science is a Superpower, hosted by Holly Ransom. The series, which has already reached millions of viewers, aims to reignite a love for science among tween girls and non-binary individuals, fostering a brighter, more innovative future.
Gather your village and head to Tinkertown – where creativity is always under construction, and innovation is built one playful step at a time!
