Questacon has said it has no conflict of interest by receiving $1 million in funding from Shell each year, after a grilling from a Greens senator at Senate estimates.
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![Questacon's partnership with Shell was highlighted by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Questacon's partnership with Shell was highlighted by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc6tf99h6kxer1ljppelnv.jpg/r0_213_1953_1311_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The national science and technology centre has a handful of corporate partnerships that fund some of the institution's programs, including oil and gas company Shell as one of two principal partners.
Shell has supported Questacon for 35 years, principally to fund the Questacon Science Circus, which brings Questacon's programs to schools outside Canberra. So far more than 15,000 science shows have been performed, and more than 450 postgraduate students have been trained and now work across the world.
In Senate estimates last week Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young asked Questacon's director Graham Durant about the partnership and whether it affected content about climate change and fossil fuels in the exhibitions. Resources Minister Matt Canavan said there was no evidence that was the case and the government fully supports institutions like Questacon having such partnerships.
"Obviously, a lot of young students that study science or technology disciplines at university end up working for our world class resource industries," Senator Canavan said.
![Lawrence Menz with Afira Shabbir and Rayyan Qureshi, 6, of Casey at the Questacon Science Circus. Picture Elesa Kurtz Lawrence Menz with Afira Shabbir and Rayyan Qureshi, 6, of Casey at the Questacon Science Circus. Picture Elesa Kurtz](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc72whg9lbvlu22x0g5do.jpg/r0_112_3870_2296_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"So I think it's great that they partner with our science organisation in this way to facilitate that understanding from young Australians, and as the resources minister always telling resources companies that they should do more to give back to the community."
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she was concerned about the perception created by funding from Shell when exhibits don't mention the effect of fossil fuels on climate change. In a statement provided to The Canberra Times after the hearing, a Questacon spokeswoman said while fossil fuels aren't mentioned at the moment, content is currently being reviewed.
"We are reviewing our content and exhibits in relation to this and other topical themes of sustainability and climate change. A range of content updates are anticipated that will engage and inspire our audiences," the spokeswoman said.
It was also pointed out that Questacon offers engagement activities relating to sustainability and including climate science.
Professor Durant didn't answer the claims put by Senator Hanson-Young during the hearing, but in the statement Questacon said the institution retained "absolute editorial control over all of its content".
"Through our programs we encourage our audiences to talk about climate change and other important global issues relating to sustainability, reflecting the priorities for action articulated within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals."