Melbourne Science Gallery, where art and science collide

August 03, 2021

As a leader in science, Victoria produces the largest number of science graduates in Australia annually and the University of Melbourne secured the rights to the Australian node of the acclaimed Science Gallery Network. The Melbourne network forms part of the university’s innovation precinct for research, industry, government and students, Melbourne Connect.

The Science Gallery Network is the world’s only leading university network dedicated to public engagement to ignite creativity and discovery where science and art collide. By joining the Science Gallery Network, the University of Melbourne can draw on global connections to benefit local communities and use their insights to generate new research with international impact.

One of only eight nodes worldwide, Science Gallery Melbourne, located on Grattan Street between Swanston and Cardigan streets, will involve, inspire and transform curious minds through arts and science.

Melbourne’s creativity and innovative thought leadership is evident in the award-winning Digital Bricks Exhibition that resulted from a multi-year research and development cycle. The project’s design research was led by Science Gallery Melbourne and Melbourne Connect, in partnership with the School of Computing and Information Systems.

The Digital Bricks exhibition housed at the Science Gallery Melbourne involves over 200 LED screens placed behind glass bricks. With the largest combined pixel display in the Southern Hemisphere. A bespoke piece of technology designed for the building, its distinctive design and functionality also required interdisciplinary collaborations between construction, electronics engineering, graphic design, and lighting design.

The inaugural content piece reflects First Nations and histories associated with the Royal Women’s hospital, and across the year it will display a rotating program of content related to Science Gallery Melbourne’s annual exhibition program.

Learn more about why Melbourne is considered an innovation hub here.