Science-related tourist attractions in Queensland
William Burns
Sunday, 01 June 2008 05:30 UTC
I thought I’d start this one off with (allegedly) the world’s longest running experiment: the Pitch Drop Experiment housed in the University of Queensland’s Physics Museum.
To my shame, I have never actually dropped by to see this marvel of science, but I intend to do so in the near future.
Any other suggestions on where a scientifically-minded tourist should visit in Brisbane – and Queensland?
Updated 01 June 2008 05:31 UTC
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Replies
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I work on campus and I’ve never been to see the pitch drop either! For shame.
Let’s start with the obvious: the Queensland Museum, Brisbane. Showing its age but still full of fun stuff. Somewhere else I’ve never been: the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, Mount Coo-tha Botanic Gardens, Brisbane.
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No doubt there’s a whole world of places to connect with Peter Doherty, who grew up in Brisbane and won the Nobel for Physiology or Medicine in 1996. He went to Indooroopilly State High School and UQ’s Veterinary School. Not sure if there’s anything specific to see at these places, but perhaps there’s an “atmosphere”.
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This isn’t a place, but I think it must still count as a science-related attraction in Brisbane. It’s BrisScience. They organize monthly talks by leading scientists, aimed at the general public.
The next talk is on Monday 7 July 2008. Professor Peter Andrews, Queensland’s Chief Scientist, will speak on building a smarter future in Queensland science. I wonder what that will be about?
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I found a web page which is kind of doing our job for us by listing all the museums and visitor attractions in Brisbane. There are a fair few with a scientific theme. The site’s called Brisbane’s Living Heritage Network
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Here’s a more obscure science-based destination in Brisbane: Dr Joseph Bancroft’s house in the Kelvin Grove district. I don’t know it’s address, and I suspect it’s no longer standing because Kelvin Grove has long since been concreted over.
Bancroft, of course, lived in Brisbane in the 1800s, and was one of the first scientists to suggest that diseases could be spread by mosquitoes.
He’s immortalized in the species name of the parasite Wuchereria bancrofti, the cause of the mosquito-borne disease elephantiasis.
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the Winton dinosaur digs are worth a visit – you can go to Lark quarry and see the footprints.
http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/inquiry/factsheets/leaflet0004.pdf
OK so not an experiment – but all I could come up with on that front was the “how long can you hide a dried out cup of milo under your bed” experiment that my daughter is running – and that one isn’t open to the public….
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I would imagine Milo is rather a good culture medium for bacteria and fungi. Perhaps there’s a paper in that?
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Townsville’s aquarium is pretty nice too (it’s also run by the same trust as the Queensland Museum).
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