CSIRO's Discovery Centre in the nation's capital city, is a showcase of cutting edge technology and world class research science, built right in the middle of working laboratories.

"CSIRO up until this time, hasn't really had one place where people could visit and see our research."

Visitors are welcomed by an introductory video that shows the expertise and achievement of CSIRO, since its inception in 1926. Many of the exhibits are interactive, like the 'face in the crowd' device. Images of people in a crowd are captured on video, processed almost instantly and compared to those in a database. Airport security is just one application of this technology.

The Haptic workbench is a simulator that allows you to feel virtual objects. Here the operators are feeling the surface of the earth and spinning satellites around the globe. It may one day be used to perform virtual surgery.

There are displays showing the work of CSIRO in grain research, food and nutrition, alternative energy sources, and medical advances such as the skin polar probe that detects skin cancer and the flu drug, Relenza. In the environment hall, an interactive display shows the many threats to the biodiversity of a grassy woodland setting.

Touch screens display mini documentaries, radio stories and CD ROMS on the diversity of science being undertaken by CSIRO.

"It's going to be changing all the time, in fact we're working on some changes now. But we'll probably do major changeovers about every two years of certain parts of the exhibition."

CSIRO Enquiries
Email: Enquiries@csiro.au
Phone: 1300 363 400
Locked Bag 10
Clayton South
VIC 3169