Geoscience Australia has formally unveiled its brand-new, cutting-edge laboratory facilities, furthering the Government’s ongoing commitment to the sustainable development of Australia’s resources and a future with low emissions.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King officially opened the new laboratory, ushering in a new era for Australia’s Earth sciences. Minister King said it is inspiring to witness where the science that will help Australia’s future begins.
“This new modern laboratory will ensure decisions by government, industry, and the community regarding the sustainable development of Australia’s resources, including supporting our transition to a low emissions future, will be underpinned by high-quality geoscience,” Minister King stated.
The Minister added that as the globe progresses towards decarbonisation, global demand for resources such as critical minerals required for electric vehicles and battery technologies is increasing, and Australia has tremendous potential to supply this demand.
The laboratory will be able to analyse organic materials to learn more about natural gases like hydrogen and helium found deep beneath the Earth, which are critical ingredients in the trip to net zero.
“Our world-class mining industry is leading the way in finding the next big discovery – and the data and expertise of Geoscience Australia is helping guide their efforts,” Minister King said.
The new investment modernises Geoscience Australia’s labs and replaces ones that have been in operation since 1998.
The previous laboratory examined tens of thousands of samples from across the country, assisting in the development of a fundamental understanding of Australia’s geology. This activity will be expanded in the new facility, enhancing its position as a vital source of high-quality geoscience data and information.
“Data from the Geoscience Australia laboratory is the foundation for evidence-based decision-making across government, industry and the community on how to best leverage Australia’s abundant available resources,” Minister King said.
In addition to the new laboratory, Geoscience Australia will create a mobile laboratory as part of the $225 million Exploring for the Future program to aid in discovering minerals, energy, and groundwater.
The mobile laboratory will house new equipment, including portable analytical instruments that use cutting-edge electronics pioneered by NASA‘s robot rovers on Mars, providing direct support to scientists in the field and educating communities on the importance of earth science in Australians’ daily lives for a sustainable future.
