Huge boost for DNA science education as Ministers Brumby and Kosky open GTAC

Tuesday, July 20th 2004

The newly-completed Gene Technology Access Centre in Parkville is revolutionizing the teaching of biology and genetics in Victoria.

Named for the four letters of the genetic alphabet - G, T, A and C - the $6.3million Gene Technology Access Centre (GTAC) in Parkville is a far-sighted commitment made to DNA education by The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), the Department of Microbiology & Immunology of The University of Melbourne, The University High School, the Victorian state government and private benefactors including the Colonial Foundation, the Pratt Foundation and Dame Elisabeth Murdoch.

The building seeks to inspire scientific wonderment through artistic forms and is dominated by its distinctive helical stairway symbolizing DNA, the central molecule of life. Above all, GTAC is working laboratory and learning centre designed to stimulate the scientific interest and understanding among of school students and the wider community.

Inspired by the renowned DNA Learning Center at Cold Spring Harbor, New York, GTAC provides Victorian students and teachers with real-life, hands-on education about DNA, genetics and biosciences. Talented young scientists and PhD students are mentors and role models in this program. GTAC aims to inspire the best young minds to consider careers in science. It also seeks to promote informed debate about the wider social, legal and ethical issues arising from the DNA revolution that is transforming modern society.

Even before its official opening on 21 July 2004, 250 secondary school students have attended GTAC sessions each fortnight since April. Students have been attracted from all over Victoria and from state, independent and Catholic schools. The news of the spectacular success of GTAC has spread fast, leading to student laboratory sessions being booked out for the year.

GTAC also has a leading role in the promotion and distribution throughout the Pacific region of a BAFTA Award-winning DVD, DNA Interactive. The DVD is a joint Anglo-American-Australian project that contains interviews with some of the world's leading scientists and includes highly advanced animations from WEHI that bring to life DNA, genetics and molecular biology.

The DVD is for sale in Europe and the Americas, but WEHI has negotiated the right to have the DVD provided at no charge to secondary schools throughout the Pacific region, as a gift from WEHI. So far, 330 of the DVDs have been provided to schools in Australia and 240 to New Zealand schools.

GTAC is located at 1H Royal Parade, Parkville, in the grounds of The University High School.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Brad Allan

WEHI Community Relations Manager
Phone: (03) 9345 2345
Mobile: 0403 036 116
Email: allan@wehi.edu.au