The UWA Renewable Energy Vehicle Project (REV) hopes to “revolutionise personal transport” by building zero emission vehicles, powered by electricity from renewable sources, charged from any plug point and viable to both the performance and commercial markets. REV is tackling the problems created by rising fuel prices and vehicle pollution head-on. The REV team is comprises Engineering staff and students from the University of Western Australia, fuelled by a passion for a sustainable future. REV provides a unique opportunity for students to learn and develop multi-disciplinary teamwork plus innovative, design, leadership, management, marketing, finance and practical skills.

The Hyundai Getz will be at the centre from Monday 11th July, throughout the school holidays.

Skype is a marvellous tool for long distance communication. On Wednesday 6^th July, a group of year 9 science students from Gingin DHS attended the Gravity Discovery Centre for a Space Science Presentation by Emily Bathgate via Skype link. Emily is the winner of the 2010 Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC) – NASA Australian Space Prize. She is the only Australian attending the NASA Ames Research Centre as part of the NASA Academy program. Emily is working with scientists and engineers in cutting-edge research facilities, including those at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the USA.

Emily engaged students with her presentation, which included information about her research into life on Mars. Emily is looking for geological evidence on the Planet Mars of the presence of ice sheets and the possibility of an ancient ocean. Student questions to Emily over the Skype link included whether expected life forms would be carbon based, as on Earth, and whether there is a possibility of life elsewhere in our Solar System or Universe. She was clear that life would almost certainly exist elsewhere in our universe, although in a form unlike life on Earth. Aliens?

The NASA Australian Space Prize was established to promote quality space related research in Australia and raise awareness of study and career opportunities for students. Australia is one of the few international countries involved with this program. Students in their final year or Honours year at an Australian University can be nominated for this prize. The NASA Academy program is a highly competitive program, with only 13 US delegates selected annually to attend the program at NASA Ames.

This student experience was only possible with the assistance of Mark Gargano. Mark is an experienced high school science teacher, and a member of the Mars Society Australia (MSA). He is currently involved in exciting astronomy research with high school students to determine the effect of science enrichment programs on students’ attitudes towards science. Students involved in Mark’s research will be using remote telescopes to study astronomy, and will be practising scientific processes in astrobiology. For more details on his work and the MSA see links below.

http://www.seeproject.org.au/

http://www.marssociety.org.au/

The GDC is very excited to announce an exhibition by Toogarr Morrison in the Cosmology Gallery. Toogarr is an elder of the local Bibbullmun people and a very well known artist.The painting above has been in the Cosmology Gallery since it opened in 2008. It is a wonderful introduction into indigenous astronomy – a topic we are very passionate about at the GDC. Toogarr will exhibit with another exciting indigenous artist, Kristi Chua. As we get closer to the opening, which is planned for the 28th August 2011, we will update our website with further information.