AIGO CONCEPT

Western Australia could soon be home to the biggest international science investment in Australia’s history. This would arrive in the form of a new Advanced Gravitational Wave Observatory, valued at about $300Million. The observatory would combine the most precise mirrors and the largest vacuum ever created, and laser beams that might blow up the death star!

The observatory, called LIGO-Australia is planned to be installed near Gingin, one hour’s drive north of Perth. LIGO-Australia will be the most sensitive measuring instrument ever created, able to measure gravitational “sounds” from black holes and the birth of the universe. The sounds, which in reality are ripples in space and time, are a billion times softer than the softest sound detectable by the human ear.

The Gravitational Observatory offers an exciting opportunity for Australian industry. Vacuum pipe construction and innovative geothermal cooling technology will provide WA companies with an advantage in international markets. Some of the most sophisticated digital control systems ever created will boost industrial control technology. Data analysis will use teraflop graphics processors, which are being developed in collaboration with the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) radio telescope project.

The Gravity Discovery Centre attended the Energise South East Asia Convention last week. There was an amazing turn out of exhibitors from Australia and Overseas, all involved in sustainable energy! It was a great event to be part of.

At the GDC we are very interested in educating future generations about sustainable energy and caring for our beautiful planet Earth. There are so many new developments and technologies in sustainable energy sector that we would like to tell you about.

Hopefully we will be able to showcase some of them at the Centre at various times throughout the year.

We will be hosting the UWA electric Lotus sports car from 11^th July to 18^th July. The Lotus is not only an amazing looking car, but also an amazing piece of technology.

Carnegie Wave Energy have kindly offered a Wave Pump to be installed at the Centre to demonstrate how to harness electricity from waves.

We are also talking to Swan Energy regarding a wind turbine for the Leaning Tower of Gingin.

So if you are interested in the latest in sustainable energy, become a member of the SEA and visit the GDC website for updates of new technology exhibits.

Please contact us for further information.