The Gravity Discovery Centre (GDC) is the public arm of the Australian International Gravitational Observatory (AIGO). Being much more than a tourist destination, the GDC is a cathedral of science, with soaring ceilings, magnificent murals and stunning exhibits.

AIGO is the sole Southern Hemisphere component of a worldwide array of five gravitational wave observatories. Major government funding has ensured that AIGO will continue to be a world-class research facility, at the frontier of knowledge. The Gravity Discovery Centre (GDC) ensures that the technological advancements, new technologies and ground-breaking findings will be available for the public to see and interact with.

The GDC, in conjunction with the Southern Cross Cosmos Centre, acts as a stage for the promotion of science discovery and knowledge. They use inspirational and exciting hands-on exhibits to improve public education on the big questions of life and the universe.

The GDC is open to school groups (primary and secondary), who can choose from a number of exciting and different modules. These include, Einstein & Relativity, Gravity, Forces of the Universe, Sound, Rotations and Orbits and Magnetism, just to name a few. Also available is the Our Star: The Sun module, which includes activities such as solar cooking, observing sun spots through the telescopes at the SCCC.

Visits to the GDC can also be run in conjunction with SCCC evening stargazing sessions, giving students the chance to look at the planets, nebulae and far-off galaxies they’ve learnt about.

For more information about the Gravity Discovery Centre, the exhibits they have and how to book a group excursion please visit their website.