Discovery Dome

Funding Stories

The Otago Community Trust is investing in inspiring a new generation of young people in science.

The Trust has donated $100,000 toward stage one of the Otago Museum Discovery Dome Sky Theatre in Dunedin.

The plans are to build a 55 seat theatre at the Otago Museum in 2015, that includes a planetarium imported from the United States, and an associated gallery, and to tell the story of the night sky from Otago’s perspective. A show will be produced that incorporates Māori astronomy.

Museum director Ian Griffiin said Dunedin’s position on earth and its lack of light pollution makes it an ideal place to become a centre for the stars. “We’re extraordinarily grateful to the Community Trust to provide the support we needed to get this project underway.”