WA Governor Kim Beazley took a spin in a space capsule and explored the universe in his first visit to the Gravity Discovery Centre.
The August 13 visit to the science hub north of Perth coincided with National Science Week, giving Mr Beazley an opportunity to learn more about the gravitational waves research and astronomy.
Centre guide and astronomer Hayden Crisp led a tour around the interactive exhibition hall, including giving the governor a spin in a space capsule to demonstrate gravitational forces.
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READ NOW“That was extraordinary,” Mr Beazley said.
“What I was seeing in there was like a boat on a giant sea.”
Mr Beazley said WA was a “good science state” through its involvement in the Square Kilometre Array project and relationships with NASA.
“This is an important part of it,” he said.
“The good thing about this place is it has really orientated itself to a public explanation.
“It’s got a beautiful ambience to it and it’s so informative.
“It’s also not so far from the centre of town that we could not promote it even more as a tourist destination.”
The centre, located on Military Road off Indian Ocean Drive, also features the Leaning Tower of Gingin, a cosmology gallery, observatory, solar system walk and biodiversity gallery.
It will host SciVR, a virtual reality and astronomy experience with a live stream talk by Alan Duffy and Rebecca Allen on Saturday, August 17 from 11.30am to 1pm. Tickets cost $14 per person – call 9575 7577 to book.
National Science week runs from August 10 to 18. Visit www.scienceweek.net.au.
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