Exhibit Hall

The Science Centre has a two story exhibit hall with the exhibits grouped in themes such as "Machines", "The Changing Earth", "Energy And Motion", "Vision" and "Astronomy"

The Changing Earth

"The Changing Earth", features include a Cryolophosaurus skeleton ( Cryolophosaurus panorama ) build a dinosaur puzzle, the fossil dig, a fossil collection and a seismograph (Earthquake detector). There is even a mechanical Dimetrodon, a prehistoric lizard which roamed the Earth before the dinosaurs.

The Machine

A spectacular new exhibition ( Machine west panorama ) created inlate 2009 with exhibits under the theme of 'machines' include a pneumatic dinosaur, a hydraulic elephant ( Machine south panorama ), robots, gears and mechanical advantage. There are exhibits for all ages and information on careers in engineeering.

Energy And Motion

The Science Centre's Energy And Motion exhibit area includes a Harmonograph (pattern drawing table), a ballet table (spinning table), a hydrogen powered rocket and an endurance tester.

Dinosaurs Fossils and Coal

This exhibition tells the story of coal from its ancient beginnings to its importance as a an energy source and then on to its use in the future. The exhibition takes you through the age of the dinosaurs with roaring, moving dinosaurs ( Dinosaur panorama ) in a realistic setting and then into the world of coal mining. Journey through a virtual coal mine and look at spectacular fossils from the mines ( Coal panorama). You can even try your hand at digging for fossils!

NANOTECHNOLOGY

In 2012 the Wollongong Science Centre proudly launched its Nanotechnology display, their first ever completely in-house-built exhibition. The project involved many collaborators including major sponsors the Australian Research Council, Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science and Bluescope Steel Cadet Development program. The display is supported by a series of information panels explaining the latest developments in nanotechnology and how they will affect advancements in science and technology in the future, including some that already play a role in our lives, like smart phone materials and bionic device electrodes. All the display panels contain QR codes that allow visitors access to further information with their smart phones particularly about research and applications. The information panels were developed to support the concepts behind a series of interactive exhibits that provide a hands-on learning experience.

Interactive exhibits:

• A microscope station with samples under the lens including the world’s second smallest bible, a silicon chip wafer and micro-organisms in water

• A ferrofluid station where the user can control the base magnets to manipulate the magnetic liquid movements. A real hit with kids and adults!

• A quantum dot display including electrochromic devices to convey the idea of changing optical properties by manipulating the conditions at the nanoscale

• A probability machine that represents Gaussian distributions through randomly dropping small balls through a grid

• An iDome interactive tour of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science laboratories, with local scientists explaining their nanotechnology research

• The Planetarium show “Nanocam” which is a clever insight and introduction into the world of nanotechnology and is definitely not to be missed!

• An interactive demonstration of electrolysis • Video presentations of nanotechnology research.

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