The Questacon Smart Moves team has the best job in the world. We get to travel all over the country meeting lots of great people like you, while presenting the latest and greatest in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. Questacon Smart Moves travels in teams of two and in just four weeks one team can drive up to 4 000km presenting 50 shows to over twenty schools! We do four tours a year each, which is a lot of schools.
While it can be hard work, we wouldn’t have it any other way. As Questacon Smart Moves presenters we get the opportunity to explore towns, cities, communities and other amazing places that most people don’t get to see. Meet us by clicking on our names to read about who we are, what we like about science, technology and innovation and why we love being a Questacon Smart Moves presenter.
Who are you?
I'm Rachel, but people have started calling me "Stormy". Must be my temper...
Where are you from?
Born and bred in Sydney, though now I call Canberra home.
How’d you become a Questacon Smart Moves presenter?
Still not sure. But I did begin the journey here by studying a Bachelor of Liberal Studies majoring in physics and art history with side activities in acting. I then did a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication with the Shell Questacon Science Circus. I loved the travelling/spontaneous lifestyle of this diploma, so I got a job doing a very similar thing now with Questacon Smart Moves.
Best bit about Questacon Smart Moves?
The team, the students, the presenting, and discovering the quirky possibilities of our world every day! They also let me dance in the office.
What’s hot?
Hadron beams.
What’s not?
Winter... an icy, icy, winter. Like the ones in Canberra.
If you could invent anything, what would it be?
Something that made up my mind for me! It could tell me what I wanted to eat when I know I'm hungry, but I don't know what I feel like eating.
Favourite invention of all time?
A particle accelerator. It is so mind bogglingly huge and yet studies something so mind-bogglingly small: peering into the depths of space-time and awesomeness. Chocolate crackles are also good. That was a tasty innovative invention!
Who are you?
Dylan, although some people seem to get enjoyment from calling me Woof.
Where are you from?
I spent most of school years in QLD on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.
How’d you become a Questacon Smart Moves presenter?
I studied science at university and loved presenting and communicating my research, so I moved into science communication at the Australian National University. After having a blast travelling around Australia with the Shell Questacon Science Circus in 2011, I was itching to get back into work as a travelling science presenter in 2012, so I joined Questacon Smart Moves.
Best bit about Questacon Smart Moves?
Having the opportunity to travel around the country as part of my job.
What’s hot?
Sitting on a beach taking in some sun and having a swim.
What’s not?
Sitting on a beach and it starts raining.
If you could invent anything, what would it be?
A hover car! Or maybe a car that could reach, nay, exceed the speed of light!
Favourite invention of all time?
The teabag!
Who are you?
Aidan, and sometimes Dizzle.
Where are you from?
I was born in Canberra, and call it home. I have also lived in Singapore, Darwin, and Belgrade.
How’d you become a Questacon Smart Moves presenter?
After volunteering at Questacon in Year 11 and completing my Bachelor of Science (Science Communication), I then ran away with the Shell Questacon Science Circus. I loved travelling around Australia sharing my passion for science so much that I wanted to keep doing it, and here I am in the amazing Smart Moves team.
Best bit about Questacon Smart Moves?
The team! Everyone is just so creative and excited. And travelling around Australia is amazing.
What’s hot?
Crosswords, Wii, days spent reading good books.
What’s not?
Nine letter words – they're too hard!
If you could invent anything, what would it be?
A teleporter. Being able to go anywhere in the blink of an eye would mean less traffic, more spare time, and more awesome holidays.
Favourite invention of all time?
Skype! Being able to talk to my family from the road is great.
Who are you?
Max. Also known as 'Million' unfortunately it's not short for anything.
Where are you from?
I'm a born and bred Canberran. My dad's from Naples in Italy, though, so I'm quite Italian in a lot of ways.
How’d you become a Questacon Smart Moves presenter?
Insofar as I am a professional Actor/Singer/Comedian/Dancer I have been working at Questacon since I was 18 as part of our in-house acting troupe the Excited Particles. When I was offered the opportunity to tour around our great nation and continue doing what I love, I jumped at the chance to join the Smart Moves. What could be better than being paid to travel the nation and do what Ilove?!?!
Best bit about Questacon Smart Moves?
Spreading the idea that innovation, science and technology are all around you, all the time and that you can find ways to incorporate them into pretty much anything you do, whatever you happen to be passionate about. And touring's pretty cool too.
What’s hot?
Jimmy Paige (the guitarist for Led Zepplin), Chicken Parma and Punk.
What’s not?
Ignorance, Prejudice and most of all: Bieber.
If you could invent anything, what would it be?
A way to synthesize new sounds that nobody's made before to bring about a completely new musical sound, the way that The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers did.
Favourite invention of all time?
1973 Corvette with a supercharged big block chevy up front. The internets are a close second.
Who are you?
Amy, but I also answer to Ames. I am a short firecracker who loves presenting, dancing and baking cupcakes.
Where are you from?
I am a Canberra girl, through and through. Born here in 1986 and have lived here my whole life!
How’d you become a Questacon Smart Moves presenter?
I have been working for Questacon since 2005, with the in-house performing arts troope 'The Excited Particles' as an actress/science communicator/presenter and my fave...a puppeteer! I have also worked with Questacon's Marketing team and as part of the team that provide executive support to the Director, Graham Durant. So when Questacon Smart Moves invited me to join them—I leapt up and down at the chance to tour, be part of a fantastic team and inspire the youth of Australia!
Best bit about Questacon Smart Moves?
I love touring Australia with fantastic team mates and talking with young people everyday. I see myself as a bit of a big kid, so I love being able to inspire and inform young people on some amazing topics while having a laugh. I also love learning new things!
What’s hot?
Design. Blogging. Photography. Driving my awesome little green car. Network media. Gotye. Shoes...lots of shoes. Being able to be inspired! Australian bands and the arts. Musical theatre! Op shopping and recycling. Puppets! Reptiles. Loads of things!
What’s not?
Um..........I guess..........No I have nothing....
If you could invent anything, what would it be?
A medicine that cured cancer like it was a cold. Or a steel glove to wear when I was playing guitar that automatically knew all the chords and made me play superfast. Or a language chip that you put on your tongue and it allowed you to speak any language!
Favourite invention of all time?
My fave of all time would have to be a coffee machine. Followed by film. 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' to be exact!
Who are you?
My name is Murray, or Muz for short.
Where are you from?
Until venturing to Canberra in 2010, I lived my whole life in Melbourne.
How’d you become a Questacon Smart Moves presenter?
I studied science at the University of Melbourne before completing a Masters in Genetics in 2009. I thought I'd shake things up a bit and ventured to Canberra and joined the Circus. The Shell Questacon Science Circus that is. I presented science shows all around Australia and had a thrill engaging the next generation of students about all the cool things in science. I wanted to advance my abilities as an out-there presenter so I joined Questacon Smart Moves.
Best bit about Questacon Smart Moves?
I love being able to research some of the newest and most brilliant innovations and show it off to high schoolers all around the country! It's awesome seeing the faces on the kids and the gasps in the crowd when everyone sees something awesome for the first time. Oh yeah, and touring is heaps of fun! I feel like I'm a science rock star on the road.
What’s hot?
AFL Football 2011. Carn the mighty hawks!
Or alternatively
Magma
What’s not?
Doing the dishes. Maaannnn I hate doing the dishes. Why can't someone invent some miraculous machine that can do the dishes for you? It'd be magical, my life would be fulfilled to use a mysterious machine that washes the dishes. I would call it... The Wash-Disher.
If you could invent anything, what would it be?
Wash-Disher, or time-travel, or a jet-pack, IronMan style.
Favourite invention of all time?
The Big Daddy FiiK electric skateboard... So cool!!
Who are you?
Jillian (aka Jill or Short-stuff)
Where are you from?
I am born and bred in Canberra where the Smart Moves presenters are based so getting out and seeing the country while touring is really exciting for me.
How’d you become a Questacon Smart Moves presenter?
I had two passions when I was at school. I loved science and I loved talking (too much according to my teachers). I went to university to follow one passion and obtained a Bachelor of Global and Ocean Science. I then decided to combine my two loves and completed a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication which led me down the yellow brick road to Questacon Smart Moves.
Best bit about Questacon Smart Moves?
The chance to travel to new and interesting places and talk to people about cool new science inventions, also the Questacon Smart Moves presenters are a lot of fun.
What’s hot?
Funky phone apps, also Jacob from Twilight and comfy slippers at night.
What’s not?
Dogs in purses and bad drivers on the road that don't indicate.
If you could invent anything, what would it be?
A teleportation device. It would be so useful. I could live on a tropical island and work anywhere in the world.
Favourite invention of all time?
I'm going to say the internet. Because without that you would not be reading all about me and the other awesome Smart Moves presenters and that would be sad for everyone.
Who are you?
Amelia, but much to Mum's dismay everyone calls me Min.
Where are you from?
I grew up on the land of the Wadi Wadi people from the Dharawal nation, also known as Wollongong. A lovely town on the south coast where the mountains meet the sea.
How’d you become a Questacon Smart Moves presenter?
I studied a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience at the University of Sydney and completed an honours project in platypus phylogenetics. About this time I realised that so much important science research isn't communicated to the public. So I joined the Shell Questacon Science Circus last year. From there I joined the Smart Moves team and now I have one of the best jobs in the world!
Best bit about Questacon Smart Moves?
I get to do a job that I love and believe in, I get to travel Australia and meet lots of interesting people.
What’s hot?
David Attenborough documentaries, a band called Kyu, and picnics.
What’s not?
Vampires, litter bugs and people that don’t care about the environment.
If you could invent anything, what would it be?
Solar cells strong enough to supply all our energy needs! Then we could kick our coal habit and say “take that!” global warming! Or a coffee cup holder to attach to the handle bars of my bike.
Who are you?
Natalie or Nat.
Where are you from?
My dad told me he found me living with a family of monkeys... thanks to science I now know that monkeys have tails so they must have been apes.
How'd you become a Questacon Smart Moves presenter?
I studied Ecology in Wollongong and spent a few years working on coastal dune research projects along the east coast of Australia. Last year I moved back to Canberra to join the Shell Questacon Science Circus and that led me to Questacon Smart Moves.
Best bit about Questacon Smart Moves?
Our team! We're always laughing and it's great to be around such creative and passionate people.
Favourite invention of all time?
Wi Fi. I love that I can search the internet to get the answers to all my questions quickly and easily no matter where I am... and it was invented in Australia!
What's hot?
The mind, it can do amazing things and it is so complicated. We still don't understand everything about it, yet we all have one.
What's not?
Feeling hungry. I get cranky when I'm hungry and it makes me sad to I think there are others who go hungry every day.
If you could invent anything, what would it be?
A way to quickly upload information directly to your brain, especially languages! It would be great to be able to speak to anyone in the world.
Who are you?
Pahia or people sometimes call me ‘P’
Where are you from?
I grew up on the beach in Bundaberg, QLD, then moved to Brisbane for study. Now I live in the nation’s capital, Canberra. I have just finished trekking around India and bathing in the Ganges (a bit gross!).
How’d you become a Questacon Smart Moves presenter?
Because I didn’t have a TV when I was a kid (I know!) instead I explored the beach and took things apart to pass the time. I decided I liked science and studied Neuroscience at university.
After university, I worked in a genetics laboratory but then I heard about a new course in Canberra, the Graduate Diploma in Science Communication. I got to travel around Australia, entertaining school children with amazing science shows.
What’s hot?
What’s hot at the moment is Sam Worthington, music festivals (especially when it rains) and my mean lasagne, yum!
If you could invent anything, what would it be?
If I could invent anything it would have to be something that flies, I have always wanted to be a pilot, but at the moment I’m lacking a flying machine. Alternatively I would also like to invent a fork that keeps spaghetti on it, or a self making bed.
Who are you?
My name is Emily, call me Emily.
Where are you from?
Townsville, North Queensland and I love to remind people regularly!!
How’d you become a Questacon Smart Moves presenter?
I studied Biomedical Science and Education, but decided that I really wanted to travel more. So I packed my bags and joined the Shell Questacon Science Circus to study a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication. When I finished, joining the Questacon Smart Moves presenters was my next big step and I love it.
Best bit about Questacon Smart Moves?
Hitting the road every couple of months!! I love seeing the country and performing our shows.
What’s hot?
Real dogs, elephant puppets and diving on reefs around the country.
What’s not?
Spiders, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and angry cats.
If you could invent anything, what would it be?
A ‘pensieve’ – too many thoughts at once gives me a headache!!
Favourite invention of all time?
Choc-mint Ice Magic!! With or without ice-cream (preferably chocolate ice-cream...)
Who are you?
Priyanka or ‘Pri’
Where are you from?
I was born in Durban, South Africa and moved to Brisbane when I was 14 – quite an adventure in itself. Since then, I haven’t been able to stop travelling, I love it! For the record I also love Latin dancing, peanut butter and monkeys! Though not together, that’d be weird.
How’d you become a Questacon Smart Moves presenter?
Over the last six years I’ve been sky diving, bungee jumping, backpacking and finished degrees in both science and journalism at the University of Queensland. Last year I continued the adventure by doing a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication and the Shell Questacon Science Circus.
What’s not?
If you could invent anything, what would it be?
Favourite invention of all time?
My favourite invention of all time is Reese’s peanut butter cups, and if I could invent anything it would have to be a machine that can generate ideas or at least write my bio!
Once I accidentally covered all the students in slime during a show…at first I panicked but then I realised that the students really enjoyed it. Turns out being “slimed” is actually pretty fun!
Who are you?
Dennis! Sometimes Den or D or Denny.
Where are you from?
I grew up in a town called ‘Hughenden’ in Queensland and now live in Canberra.
How’d you become a Questacon Smart Moves presenter?
That is a story of many steps. In the shortened version I obtained a Bachelor of Science in the Field of Mathematics, decided that Canberra looked like a place that could have some more maths thrown around, so I moved down there. Once that move was complete I found out that Questacon had a job that would let me travel all over the country talking about maths, science, technology and innovation.
Best bit about Questacon Smart Moves?
ME!! No really it is the team I work with and the chance to see Australia.
What’s hot?
ME!! No ... the Planck temperature, I think it is about 1.4 x 1032 k and our closest guess at absolute hot at the moment.
What’s not?
An embedding of a circle in 3-dimensional Euclidean space! No whoops that’s a ‘knot’. Litter, it is very 20th century.
If you could invent anything, what would it be?
A universal translator, I would love to be able to talk to everyone. The same as the Babel fish in the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, except I don’t want to put a fish in my ear.
Favourite invention of all time?
The book, I just really like reading and there are so many!