Venue

EMO 2025 will be held at the Shine Dome in Canberra, Australia. The Shine Dome, named after Academy Fellow Prof. John Shine, is a landmark building that was completed in 1958 and was the first Canberra building to be placed on the National Heritage List. All the technical events will be held in the Ian Wark Theatre, which is the main room of the building that can host up to 250 guests: 150 on the tiered ground floor in plush arm chair seating and up to 100 in the mezzanine level. The catering for the morning/afternoon tea breaks and lunches will be held in the Jaeger Room in the same building.

More details regarding the offerings, architecture and history of the venue can be found at the Shine Dome website.

Accommodation

There are several hotels in close vicinity of the venue including:

Enlighten festival/Canberra day

The duration of the conference overlaps with festivities leading up to Canberra day, which falls on Monday 10th March in 2025. The Enlighten festival will run during 28 February to 10 March in 2025 in the Parliamentary zone (25 min walk/5-10 min drive from the venue) and features animated illuminations on the major landmarks, food stalls, live music and other free outdoor events. Shortly after, Canberra hot-air balloon spectacular will run during March 15-23, 2025. More details: https://enlightencanberra.com/

Explore Canberra and Surrounds

Being the nation’s capital, Canberra is home to a large number of world-class art galleries, museums, and other important public buildings, most of which have free entry. Moreover, it is a clean and safe city with open and green spaces that give ample opportunities to enjoy outdoor leisure activities. Some highlights are given below, and a more comprehensive range of offerings can be found at: https://visitcanberra.com.au/. A video guide (approx. 8.5 mins runtime) by Expedia introducing prospective visitors to Canberra can also be found at this link: https://youtu.be/Sj-VzFlJ14o. The attractions that lie around the city center and Parliamentary Triangle are all within half an hour walking distance or a 5–10-minute drive from the conference venue.
Popular Galleries
  • National Museum of Australia (15-minute walk from the venue)
  • National Gallery of Australia
  • Parliament House
  • Australian War Memorial
  • Museum of Australian Democracy/Old Parliament House
  • National Portrait Gallery
  • Canberra Museum
  • National Film and Sound Archive (5-minute walk from the venue)
Family Attractions
  • Questacon (National Science and Technology Center)
  • National Zoo and Aquarium
  • Royal Australian Mint
  • Cockington Green Gardens
  • National Dinosaur Museum
Nature Attractions
  • Lake Burley Griffin (10-minute walk from the venue)
  • Commonwealth Park
  • Mount Ainslie
  • Black Mountain
  • National Botanical Gardens
  • National Arboretum
  • Namadgi National Park and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve (40-minute drive)
  • Beaches on the south east coast (2–3 hours' drive; closest popular coastal town is Batemans Bay)
  • Mount Kosciuszko (Australia’s highest peak and popular hiking region, about 3 hours' drive)

Beyond Canberra

Visiting Australia is on the bucket list of many, and for delegates who can spare a few more days to travel across Australia, numerous options await. These include:
  • Exploring its outback and rich cultural heritage
  • Charming cityscapes and iconic buildings, such as the Sydney Opera House
  • Natural wonders, such as the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru
  • Stunning landscapes and national parks
  • Unique wildlife experiences
  • Magnificent beaches
More details can be found at: https://www.australia.com/en.