WINTER—SPRING - Canberra 100

ANU Science Safari
November
Canberra’s passion for science will go on safari in
2013/2014, as the Australian National University and
Questacon share the fun and relevance of science
through South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Malawi.
Thousands of school students and the public will be
invited to experience hands-on exhibits and science
shows covering topics of local interest and need. The
model is based on the Shell Questacon Science Circus,
a long term collaborative project between Questacon
and the ANU’s National Centre for the Public
Awareness of Science.
A big part of the project is sharing Canberra's and
Australia’s successes in science education with
colleagues in Africa, with a key long-term aim of
creating permanent science centres in Botswana,
Zambia and Malawi.
“The project is about building momentum for science
education and science centres in Africa”, explains the
ANU’s Professor Susan Stocklmayer. “At the moment
there are no science centres in any of these countries,
and we really believe that lessons from places like
Questacon can help, and the expertise we have here
in Canberra can also play a role.”
Worldwide
www.questacon.edu.au
National Remembrance
Day Ceremony
11 November
Remembrance Day (11 November) marks the
anniversary of the armistice which ended the First
World War (1914–18). Each year, Australians observe
one minute’s silence at 11 am on 11 November, in
memory of those who died or suffered in all wars
and armed conflicts. The National Remembrance Day
Ceremony commences at 10.15 am. It will include
a formal wreath laying and will be attended by many
high-level dignitaries and diplomats. Australian’s
Federation Guard and the Band of the Royal Military
College will be on parade. After the ceremony, families
often place red poppies beside the names of relatives
on the Memorial’s Roll of Honour, which lists over
102,000 Australians who have died in war.
Australian War Memorial Parade
Ground
www.awm.gov.au
Royal Australian Mint
Centenary Coin Sculpture
from july
The Royal Australian Mint celebrates Canberra’s Centenary
with a specially commissioned sculpture. Hundreds of
resin cast ‘coins’ refer to the art of coin-making since
the Mint opened in 1965. Designed by Chris Mether,
and brought to life by the skilled technicians of the Royal
Australian Mint, this sculpture spans the bright lofty ceiling
of the Mint’s public entry foyer.
Making a Mint
october
The Royal Australian Mint was officially opened in Canberra
in 1965. Now a Canberra landmark, its story is closely
intertwined with that of decimal currency in Australia. In
the lead-up to the Mint’s 50 th anniversary in 2015, Making
A Mint presents photographic memories of the creation of
the Mint in Deakin, and invites visitors to submit their own
memories and stories of the Mint’s construction, opening
and subsequent years of operation.
Keys to the House
october
Enjoy this light hearted presentation of the spare ‘key
under the mat’, as the Royal Australian Mint joins with
Parliament House in celebrating its 25 th anniversary.
The key to the House was made right here at the Mint, and
few would be aware that the ‘spare key’ to the house is
kept in the Mint vaults, forming part of Australia’s National
Coin Collection.
The key will be presented alongside a special selection of
rare and collectable coins, and other commemorations, the
Mint has made to recognise Parliament House through its
25 years.
Royal Australian Mint
www.ramint.gov.au
Image: Australian Academy of Science.
Australian Academy of
Science lecture series
continues
The Chemistry of
Sustainability
5 November
Thomas Maschmeyer’s ground-breaking research in
materials and catalysis has gained him international
recognition. His work underlies discoveries in
the pharmaceutical industry, manufacturing and
particularly biofuels.
Shine Dome
www.science.org.au/events/
publiclectures
Seeing the Light with
Polymers
December
Professor Andrew Holmes is the Australian Academy of
Science’s Foreign Secretary and the inventor of a new
generation of solar cells. Join him at the Shine Dome to
hear about his flexible polymer solar cells which can be
printed, much like Australia’s polymer bank notes, and
wrapped around any surface to turn entire buildings or
vehicles into energy collectors.
Shine Dome
www.science.org.au/events/
publiclectures
the shine dome
Fondly known as the Martian Embassy, the Australian
Academy of Science's Shine Dome appeared on Canberra's
landscape in 1959 like a message from the future. Unique
in the world, this reinforced concrete structure clad in
copper plays host to the nation's top scientists in every
field, while its moat plays host to several duck families
every year.
www.science.org.au/dome
100 canberra100.com.au