If you have ever wondered what the inside of a booze bus looks like, or how tactical equipment and chemistry can help solve a crime, then the ChemCentre Open Day is the day for you.
Around 4000 people attended ChemCentre Open Day on October 26, to celebrate science.
The ChemCentre Open Day gives visitors an opportunity to go behind the scenes to see how some of the state’s top scientists operate with tours of the forensic science and analytical chemistry laboratories.
The event is held every second year and this year’s highlight was POW! The ‘explosive’ science show, which went off with a bang.
Hundreds of budding scientists completed their mission brief, undertaking activities and discovering science at a variety of different displays before collecting a take-home science kit.
One of the most popular activities was dressing in the HAZMAT protective gear and the ‘clan lab decontamination experience’, the ‘under the influence’ goggles and an inside look at the Western Australia’s Police Random Breath Testing bus.
Many visitors provided fibres from their clothing to be added to ChemCentre’s world- leading fibres database, which is being used to solve crime in WA.
There were also laboratory tours and liquid nitrogen ice cream available.
ChemCentre chief executive Peter McCafferty said the event was an opportunity for the community to learn about some of the insights of science.
“It offers visitors the chance to connect with science in an engaging and interesting way and discover the diverse range of work done to support the West Australian community,” he said.
“We hope this event inspires younger visitors to consider a future career in science.” Some of this year’s participants included the WA Police, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, PathWest, Department of Health and Greyhounds as Pets.
