$500k museum science centre boost

Otago Museum director Dr Ian Griffin celebrates a $500,000 grant towards the museum’s planned...
Otago Museum director Dr Ian Griffin celebrates a $500,000 grant towards the museum’s planned science centre redevelopment. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery
The Otago Museum can press ahead to create a new-look "world-class'' science centre, thanks to a $500,000 grant from the Otago Community Trust.

Museum director Dr Ian Griffin made the comment yesterday, after the grant for the museum's Discovery World Stage Two science centre project was announced.

The community trust had long supported the museum, but this latest and largest contribution from the trust would "do much to help us to achieve our goal of becoming New Zealand's leading science centre'', Dr Griffin said.

The funding would help provide "learning opportunities for all ages'', and develop "new ways to engage curious minds with science and technology''.

The museum's vision was for "everyone in Otago to be inspired by Otago Museum's science programmes''.

Museum staff were excited by the trust's "incredible'' contribution, which amounted to an act of "faith'' in the museum's future.

The second stage of the museum's planned science engagement-related redevelopment is expected to cost between $2million and $2.5million.

The overall funding had been underwritten by the museum, but it was planned to raise $800,000 from the community, $500,000 of which had now been gained, he said.

The donation would also help with the creation of the museum's science engagement centre, and would contribute to the cost of new interactive science displays.

These needed to be ordered within the next few months to ensure they would be available for the planned opening in October-November next year.

The redeveloped centre will include more than 40 interactive displays, a separate Discovery Den for under-5s and a mobile exploration station to engage visitors in impromptu learning opportunities.

The science centre rebuild would begin at the end of August, Dr Griffin said.

john.gibb@odt.co.nz

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