Premier opens Gravity Discovery Centre in Gingin

6/11/03
The Premier and Minister for Science, Geoff Gallop, today officially opened the Gravity Discovery Centre near Gingin.
The interactive learning and tourist centre offers a range of sculptural and interactive displays and facilities which focus on gravity, astrophysics and cosmology and answers to the big question - 'the origin of the universe'.
The GDC is part of the scientific laboratory, the Australian International Gravitational Observatory (AIGO), in turn a component of a multi-billion international search for gravity waves.
The new Gravity Discovery Centre - which provides an interesting rest stop on the way to the Pinnacles - is expected to attract up to 30,000 visitors a year.
"Western Australians are very fortunate in being able to visit a research facility that is at the frontier of physics and astronomy," Dr Gallop said.
"The Gravity Discovery Centre will - along with the Scitech Discovery Centre in Perth - play a vital role in encouraging our young people to engage in science and research and consider embarking on careers in these areas.
"It will also contribute to public understanding about the importance of science and innovation in our society and support the development of tourism in the coastal Midlands area."
The State Government (including the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) and the Department of Education) and the Shire of Gingin have contributed more than $2.5million towards the establishment of the GDC.
More than $1.3million in cash and in-kind support has been provided by private benefactors and industry.
The Premier said the research being undertaken by AIGO, in collaboration with the Australian Centre for Interferometric Gravitational Astronomy, had the potential to break new ground in understanding the universe's creation.
"Gravity waves represent an entirely new spectrum with which to observe the universe," he said.
"Physicists expect to be able to listen to the vibrations of black holes and to the earliest moments of the 'big bang' when their detectors are sufficiently sensitive.
"The AIGO and ACIGO are pioneering the high power laser technology that will help to make this possible."
The next stage in the research will be the enlargement of the AIGO observatory so that it becomes the Southern Hemisphere link in a global network.
The State Government is contributing $1.8million towards the AIGO-ACIGA research under its Centres of Excellence program.
Premier's office: 9222 9475