Sky’s the limit for planetarium upgrade

AN overhaul of the Bendigo Discovery Science and Technology Centre has been written in the stars.

The State Government has given Discovery $250,000 to upgrade its planetarium, enabling visitors to explore the skies above and more.

General manager of Discovery, Alissa Van Soest, said the project will involve moving the old planetarium dome to the front of the building.

“It’s going to double the capacity so all those people who’ve missed out on planetarium shows before, it’s not going to happen anymore,” she said.

“We’re going to have loads more room, experiences, different sorts of planetarium shows available to people.”

The location of the old dome will become the new maker’s space, giving schools and children more room to interact with science and technology.

“It’ll be a flexible space where people are creative, critical thinkers and where ideas collide. It’s basically the first step in our redevelopment,” Ms Van Soest said.

“Discovery’s been here for 26 years now, and we think our regional schools deserve just as much if not more than their urban counterparts in terms of great experiences and memorable experiences.

“By changing up the planetarium, we’re hoping to be able to draw in more people, fit more schools in because it is one of our biggest limiting factors when schools come to visit.”

Ms Van Soest said planetariums aren’t just about the stars anymore, and an upgraded space will mean Discovery has access to hundreds of shows and immersive experiences, such as exploring the human body and oceans.

There could also be opportunities beyond science, with similar spaces around Victoria hosting movie nights and being used for music videos.

“It’ll be a space for hire where we can celebrate not just science but culture,” Ms Van Soest said.

“We can have more experiences reflecting what’s going on around us. People can come into here and it’s not just about their creativity, but it’s about theirs.”

It is hoped construction will be completed by June next year.