Open doors for Open House Melbourne
More than 140 people visited the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) on Saturday, when we opened our doors to the public as part of Open House Melbourne weekend. Open House Melbourne fosters public appreciation for architecture and public engagement across the city. Visitors are offered an opportunity to explore buildings not ordinarily open to the public; to go in, look around, and learn more about what they do.
Welcomed by volunteer staff and students, along with Director Professor John Carroll, visitors to the Monash BDI were encouraged to experience the different elements of our foyer’s scientific exhibition and discover the ways we tackle major research questions.
Our visitors were curious about the institute, with questions ranging from the Monash BDI’s areas of research to the architectural concepts in the foyer space. The architect of the foyer design, Ms Jane Caught from Sibling Nation, was in attendance, available to answer questions about the transformation of the plain foyer space into the colourful, interactive exhibition it is today.
Visitors were keen to interact with the exhibition, with younger members of the public enjoying, in particular, the game that allows them to reprogram cells. A favourite for all ages was the interactive research timeline wall, which displays information in response to movement.
“For the volunteers, it was an opportunity to chat with people we rarely see walking around our building,” Dr Claudia Del Campo, Research and Engagement Project Manager, said.
“We were able to explain the ideas behind the foyer design and the exhibition,” she said.
“Every story, model and image in the exhibition comes from real research that takes place at the Monash BDI. We felt really proud to showcase the quality of our research and our efforts to reach out to the community.”
Some visitors had been students at Monash University in the 1980s and 1990s, and were amazed to see so many new buildings on campus. Many expressed interest in visiting again next year, when the new Biomedical Teaching and Learning Building is open.