Geoscience Australia’s Open Day 2014
WELCOME TO GEOSCIENCE AUSTRALIA’S OPEN DAY
Geoscience Australia is the national agency for geoscience and geospatial information.
Our work contributes to the economic, social and environmental benefits for the Australian community
by informing decisions about resource use, management of the environment and the safety and
wellbeing of all Australians.
The work we do includes research to support petroleum and mineral exploration, management of
Australia’s marine jurisdiction, groundwater resources and mitigation of the impact of natural hazards.
Hear Local Radio station 666 ABC Canberra broadcast live as part of this year’s Open Day from
10.00am to 12.00pm in the foyer. Watch the live Science Experimentium session with Dr Graham
Walker and 666 ABC’s Lish Fejer.
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Geoscience Australia Open Day Program
SCIENCE TALKS—SIR HAROLD RAGGATT THEATRE
Come and listen to a range of talks, 30 minutes for adults and 15 minutes for kids c
are applying geoscience to some of Australia’s most important challenges.
. Learn how we
Working as a surveyor in Antarctica
(Ryan Ruddick)
Since the first expeditions to Antarctica over 100 years ago, surveying and mapping have been
essential components of Antarctic exploration and research.
Session time: 10.30am–11.30am
Everything you ever wanted to know about dinosaurs
(Phil Hore—National Dinosaur Museum)
What is a dinosaur? Why did some have weird horns and frills and other peculiarities?
(Kids participation encouraged)
Session time: 11.30am–12.00pm
Using a Super Computer for flood risk information
(Leo Lymburner)
Learn more about Geoscience Australia’s Landsat satellite imagery.
Session time: 12.00pm–1.00pm
People and natural disasters
(Shelby Canterford)
The summer of 2011 saw severe flooding over much of Queensland with Tropical Cyclone Yasi
impacting the north. Following these disasters Geoscience Australia developed its capabilities in data
collection, for the purpose of assessing the vulnerability of people and their resilience to disasters.
Session time: 1.00pm–2.00pm
Solid as a rock?
(Tegan Smith)
This talk covers the difference between rocks and minerals, looking at the three main rock types;
sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic. Learn how they form and can change from one type of rock
to another (the rock cycle). (Kids participation encouraged)
Session time: 2.00pm–2.30pm
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Geoscience Australia Open Day Program
ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Children of all ages are encouraged to participate in one of our many activities.
Stamp hunt
The Open Day passport is your key to explore and learn about the amazing world of Geoscience
Australia. Pick up a passport from the Information Desk.
The science of sediment (Education Centre)
Create layers of sand, pebbles and shells in a pattern of your choosing and take home your own mini
‘sediment column’. Learn about sediments and formation of sedimentary rocks. Suitable for ages 5+.
GPS adventure (outside)
Use GPS units to locate waypoints outside the Geoscience Australia building. Kids who finish are
supplied with a completion certificate. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Bookings
required.
Session times: 10.15am, 11.15am, 1.15pm and 2:15pm
Earth in 3D (Scrivener Room)
Where do most earthquakes occur? What causes a tsunami? Do mountains and valleys exist under
the ocean? How much do we really know about what lies beneath the surface of the Earth? Come and
see a 3D view of the Earth and find out how 3D works.
Making maps (Between Scrivener Room and library)
Explore and create topographic maps using Geoscience Australia’s resources.
Fossils under the microscope (Street)
Explore the world of microfossils! Hands-on activities using microscopes to look at tiny fossils, such as
forams, pollen and spores. Discover how microfossils are used to interpret the age of rocks, determine
what the environment was like in the past and help explorers find oil!
Mapping the seafloor (Street)
See how seafloor mapping is carried out—including acoustic mapping demonstrations, underwater
video footage, sediments and critters from the deep.
Erth dinosaur and petting zoo
Our visitor from the past will roam the building.
Pan for gold and sieve for precious gems (outside)
Mineral detectives and rock identification (foyer)
Find out how geologists identify rocks and minerals, bring your own ‘mystery’ rock specimen to get an
expert identification.
Geoscience Australia Open Day Program
Children’s activities in the library
Come and take a look around our world class library. See our exhibition showcasing Treasures of the
Doc Fisher Library, marvel at our ancient Antarctic rock display and for the kids there’s colouring in fun
and other activities!
Volcano!
See Questacon’s amazing exploding volcano!
Disjointasaurus fossil tattoos (outside)
Decorate a dinosaur (outside)
Murray–Darling Basin Authority (Street)
Interactive displays and demonstrations on a range of issues facing the Murray–Darling Basin. Explore
groundwater, salinity, catchment models and wetland functions in a hands-on experience along with
posters, videos and items from across the Basin.
Discover the National Dinosaur Museum (outside)
Kids will be able to participate in a safe activity where fossils are extracted from rocks with hand tools,
then be assisted with their identification and presented with a specimen for their own collection.
DISPLAYS
Explore the many science displays throughout the building and chat to some of Geoscience Australia’s
staff.
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
Natural hazards and risk

Geophysics: Imaging the sub‑surface

Seismic interpretation

Geodesy: Positioning and navigation

What is CO2 storage?

Oil and gas

Groundwater

Murray–Darling Basin Authority

Earth observation

Geological Timewalk display

ACT Geology

Treasures of the Doc Fisher Library

Rock identification

Mineral detective

Ask a geologist

Critical commodities for a high-tech world

Careers @ Geoscience Australia
Geoscience Australia Open Day Program

National Dinosaur Museum

Canowindra Age of Fishes Museum

Research School of Earth Sciences—Australian National University

Seismometers in Schools

Mapping the seafloor

The role of IT at Geoscience Australia
TOURS
Geological Timewalk
Tour through 4600 million years of the Earth’s history from the formation of the Earth to where we are
living today. Tours will take approximately 45 minutes.
Tours depart from the Timewalk display (foyer) at 11.00am, 12.00pm, 1.00pm and 2.00pm.
= departure point on map
Shrimp tour
Discover Geoscience Australia’s Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP) laboratory—the
latest technology used to discover the age of rocks.
A short walk downstairs to the laboratory is required. Please notify tour leaders if you require
assistance. Numbers are limited to 20 per session. Tours will take approximately 40 minutes
Tours depart from outside the Education Centre at 12.00pm and 2.00pm.
= departure point on map
Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre talk and tour
Learn how geologists analyse and provide warnings about possible tsunamis. Numbers are limited to
20 per session. Talks and tours will take approximately 30 minutes.
Talks will meet in room G051 at 10.15am, 11.15am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm and 2.15pm.
= departure point on map
Laboratory tour
Ever wanted to study microfossils used by scientists to explore for petroleum and interpret ancient
environments? Now’s your chance! Tour through some of Geoscience Australia’s laboratories.
Numbers are limited to 20 per session. Tours will take approximately 30 minutes. Bookings required.
Tours depart from the foyer end of the Street at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
= departure point on map
Geoscience Australia Open Day Program
Geodesy: Positioning and navigation tour
Visit the Global Navigation Satellite System which consists of two outdoor robots. These robots will
increase satellite positioning precision to less than one millimetre and will allow geoscientists to
monitor changes in the surface of the continent. Tours will take approximately 45 minutes.
Tours depart from the Geodesy marquee at the front of the building at 10.45am. 11.45am, 12.45pm
and 1.45pm.
= departure point on map
WHAT
WHERE
WHEN
Working as a surveyor in Antarctica
Sir Harold Raggatt Theatre
10.30am–11.30am
Everything you ever wanted to know about
dinosaurs
Sir Harold Raggatt Theatre
11.30am–12.00pm
Using a Super Computer for flood risk
information
Sir Harold Raggatt Theatre
12.00pm–1.00pm
People and natural disasters
Sir Harold Raggatt Theatre
1.00pm–2.00pm
Solid as a rock?
Sir Harold Raggatt Theatre
2.00pm–2.30pm
Natural hazards and risk
End of Street
All Day
Seismic interpretation
End of Street
All Day
What is CO2 storage? Carbon Capture and
Storage in Australia
End of Street
All Day
Oil and Gas
End of Street
All Day
Seismometers in Schools
End of Street
All Day
Groundwater
Middle of Street
All Day
Careers @ Geoscience Australia
Middle of Street
All Day
The role of IT at Geoscience Australia
Middle of Street
All Day
Research School of Earth Sciences—ANU
Middle of Street
All Day
ACT Geology
Foyer
All Day
666 ABC Canberra
Foyer
10.00am–12.00pm
Earth Observation
Foyer (back)
All Day
Critical commodities for a high-tech world
Foyer (back)
All Day
Rock identification
Foyer (back)
All Day
Mineral detective
Foyer (back)
All Day
Canowindra Age of Fishes Museum
Foyer (back)
All Day
Geological Timewalk
Foyer (front)
All Day
Ask a geologist
Foyer (front)
All Day
Treasures of the Doc Fisher Library
Library
All Day
Geophysics: Imaging the sub-surface
Outside (front)
All Day
Geodesy-—Positioning and navigation
Outside (front)
All Day
SCIENCE TALKS
DISPLAYS
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Geoscience Australia Open Day Program
WHAT
WHERE
WHEN
Erth dinosaur and petting zoo
Roaming
11.00am, 12.30pm and
1.30pm
Stamp hunt
Pick up from foyer
All day
The science of sediment
Education Centre
All day
GPS adventure
Bookings essential
Outside (front)
10.15am, 11.15am, 1.15pm
and 2.15pm
Earth in 3D
Scrivener Room
All day
Making maps
Between Scrivener Room and
library
All day
Pan for gold and sieve for precious gems
Outside (back)
All day
Pan for gold and sieve for precious gems
Outside (back)
All day
Disjointasaurus fossil tattoos
Outside (front)
All day
Decorate a dinosaur
Outside (front)
All day
Children’s activities in the Library
Library
All day
Volcano!
Outside (front)
Every 30 minutes starting at
10.15am
Fossils under the microscope
End of Street
All day
Murray–Darling Basin Authority
Middle of Street
All day
Discover the National Dinosaur Museum
Outside (front)
All day
Mapping the seafloor
Centre of Street
All day
Meet outside the Education
Centre
12.00pm and 2.00pm
Meet in room G051
10.15am, 11.15am,
12.15pm, 1.15pm and
2.15pm
ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
TOURS
SHRIMP tour
Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre
talk and tour
Geological Timewalk
Laboratory tour
Bookings essential
Geodesy—Positioning and navigation tour
Geoscience Australia Open Day Program
Meet at Timewalk display in Foyer 11.00am, 12.00pm 1.00pm
(front)
and 2.00pm
Meet at Fossil display at start of
Street
10.30am, 11.30am 1.30pm
and 2.30pm
Meet at Geodesy display outside
(front)
10.45am, 11.45am, 12.45pm
and 1.45pm
DISCLAIMER
Geoscience Australia makes every effort to provide a safe and comfortable environment for visitors.
Geoscience Australia is not recognised as a child-related employer (Commission for Children and
Young People Act 1998). With this in mind, duty of care is owed to visiting children and remains the
responsibility of the supervising parent/carer while visiting Geoscience Australia.
Please be aware that photos/video footage may be taken of you during your visit. These photos/video
footage may be used for promotional purposes, e.g. posters, websites, publications and videos.
Details are correct at the time of printing, however program is subject to change.
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Geoscience Australia Open Day Program