Visualisation Outreach

Many people have visited the eRSA Vislab (and the SAVRC) as part of various public outreach activities. Many of these involve school groups, and have involved children from as early as Year 1&2, through to senior secondary students.

In the Vislab, these shows typically run for around 30 minutes or so, and give those attending a taste of 3D content used in an educational (and yet still entertaining and stimulating) way.

The content that's available consists of interactive software, and 3D still images and videos/animations.

Vislab

The content for most Vislab shows is chosen from among the following selections:

The Journey Home : a 3D tour of the Solar System, duration approx. 50 minutes. This show uses Celestia and eRSA-developed animations to present the main features of our solar system's planets and moons to the audience.

Interactive software : Celestia (a tour of our Solar System / nearby stars / examples of exoplanet systems)

Still images : excerpts from Tim Baier's stereo photography / Botanic Gardens / antique / Mars / Sun / astronomical

Video : examples of 3D video taken with mini-DV cameras

Animations : CGI-based Mars / Jupiter / Saturn / tectonics & geology

The choice of content and delivery is tailored to suit the age group and, where possible, interests of the audience. Whilst a group size of around 15 or so is considered suitable, larger groups may be accomodated (up to about 25) if necessary, at a bit of a squeeze.

SAVRC

These shows tend to concentrate on the use of interactive software, including applications related to the geosciences and petroleum indistries. Demonstrations of the Visible Human Project and molecular visualisation are available, and visualisation of some of the scientific concepts of subatomic physics have been shown. Tiered seating for 23 is available.