Friday, 4 July 2008

Many believe the world began with a bang - so it is only fitting a new facility in Gingin that will communicate this story and others will be opened with a BANG.

WA Premier Alan Carpenter will witness one of the biggest electrical explosions ever created in Australia when he officially opens the new Cosmology Gallery at the Gravity Discovery Centre (GDC) on 16 July.

The Cosmology Gallery will use art and science to explore the creation of the universe, exploring themes such as the Dreamtime, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim creation stories, juxtaposed with the scientific story of the creation of the universe, the stars and our home planet Earth.

The Gallery will be home to Australia's largest projection dome as well as incorporate a purpose built limestone gallery and exhibition centre.

Two exhibitions will mark the opening. The first is the Multicultural Cosmology exhibition created by artists drawn from many cultural groups, and including a simultaneous kaleidoscope of movies which tell the various creation stories.

The second is the Brodie-Hall Timeline of the Universe which tells the history of the universe in a 60 metre long panel display linked to huge astronomical images.

Religious and cultural leaders will participate in the spectacular opening, including climbing the new Leaning Tower of Gingin. Once on top they will be invited to trial the GDC's Young Galileos experiment, dropping giant water bombs to create impact craters 13 stories below.

Media event:  Wednesday 16 July 2008, 10am -11.30am, Cosmology Gallery, Gravity Discovery Centre, Military Road, Gingin (for directions go to: https://www.gdc.asn.au/location.php )

Media references

Professor David Blair (Gravity Discovery Centre Foundation Coordinator, UWA Physics Professor and WA Scientist of the Year 2007)  (+61 8)  6488 2736
Anja Cherian (GDC Gingin)  (+61 8)  9575 7577  /  (+61 4) 08 006 742
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716

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