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ReDiscover – the renewal fund for science centres and museums across the UK has awarded £4 million to 9 centres around the UK in the second of four funding rounds. The £33 million ReDiscover fund is a joint venture between the Millennium Commission, the Wellcome Trust and the Wolfson Foundation and represents a major partnership between the Lottery and major charitable funders. It was set up to support institutions which promote public understanding of science to renew their science, education and technology exhibitions to keep up with advances in science and technology and continue to provide high quality education. Tessa Jowell MP, Chair of the Millennium Commission and Secretary of State for Culture, said “The National Lottery is making an important contribution to education and I am delighted that the Millennium Commission is working in partnership with the Wellcome Trust and the Wolfson Foundation in promoting public understanding of science and technology. Science and technology are an important part of our culture and we have many historic achievements of which to be proud. I want to help us continue that tradition of innovation and to help all of us understand what science can do for us. These new grants of £4m will help some of our great institutions carry that work forward”. Clare Matterson, Director of the Medicine, Society and History Division at The Wellcome Trust said, "The beauty of this scheme is that it allows museums and science centres to refresh their exhibitions so they are not left behind in the fast-developing world of science and technology. They have met the challenge with imagination which has involved, among other things, introducing inter-active theatres, human biology exhibits, and a travelling exhibition featuring wetland biodiversity." The following grants have been awarded in this second funding round:- Centre for Life, Newcastle, grant awarded £1,152,352
The main elements of this enhancement are a new interactive theatre and the creation of a flexible space for shows and temporary exhibits. The theatre will replace the existing domed theatre with a new screen, projectors and interactive seats. The Centre for Life will develop it’s own ‘Search for Life’ programme of films. W5 at Odyssey, Belfast, grant awarded £892,800
The GO; SEE; and DO exhibition areas in W5 will be enhanced with newly developed exhibits to explore topics of local importance such as health in GO; Weather Watch, looking at the relationship between flight, weather and renewable energy, and Think Creative, will look at creative thinking in the arts and science in both the DO and SEE galleries. Snibston Discovery Park, Leicestershire, grant awarded £452,837
This grant will allow for a total refurbishment of one of the main galleries looking at the theme of science and technology in our everyday lives. Satrosphere, Aberdeen, grant awarded £369,544
The main exhibition floor of Satrosphere will be renewed. Sixty exhibits will be replaced and the outreach programme will be brought up to date. A new show area will also be created and a new sound and light system installed. Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, grant awarded £319,393
Eleven new exhibits will be added to the existing galleries, and four interactive animals added to the Tropical Rainforest area. A new children’s play area will also be created and a new audio guide system will be introduced, improving accessibility for visually impaired visitors and enabling foreign language tours. The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, grant awarded £240,000
The new grant will provide two new exhibitions on the scientific and social aspects of flight; the redisplay of 31 aircraft, aviation and aerospace collections, including 10 new items and a planetarium; the development of up to 20 new interactive exhibits including flight simulators; the redevelopment of educational and community facilities allowing additional space for events and improved access and visitor facilities to the gallery. Magna, Rotherham, grant awarded £215,652
A new science and technology playground will be created to encourage learning by physical engagement. The existing outdoor play area will be expanded and will reflect the themes of the Magna galleries, with a giant Orion-themed trampoline as the centre piece. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, London Wetland Centre, grant awarded £201,465
The Discovery Centre currently has two parts; Wetland Worlds zones and Wetland Secrets zone. The new grant will enable part of the Wetland Worlds Zone to be turned into a travelling exhibition on wetland biodiversity which will move between wetland centres throughout the UK. New interactive water features demonstrating wetland functions will fill the remaining space and educational material in the ground floor gallery will also be enhanced. ss Great Britain Trust, Bristol, grant awarded £138,785
Science and engineering will be brought alive with the revitalisation of three original artefacts from Brunel’s masterpiece, the ss Great Britain, enabling visitors through hands-on interactivity to explore this technology and its modern day relevance. The artefacts will be housed in the new dockside museum. -ends-
Notes to Editors 1. The Millennium Commission is one of the good causes which distributes funds from the National Lottery and has invested over £300 million, some 20% of its total budget, in a new generation of interactive science and discovery centres which are bringing science alive and making it fun and accessible. The Commission is investing a further £25 million of Lottery money in the ReDiscover renewal fund. Contact 020 7880 2007 or visit www.millennium.gov.uk. 2. The Wellcome Trust is an independent research-charity whose mission is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health. Allied to this is a commitment to engage the public with science through a diverse range of activities. Contact 020 7611 8866, email media.office@wellcome.ac.uk or visit www.wellcome.ac.uk 3. The Wolfson Foundation is a charitable foundation set up in 1955 whose aims are the advancement of science, health, education the arts and humanities. It has for a number of years supported the renovation of museums and galleries and the promotion of scientific research and education.
Contact 020 7323 5730 x 210 For further information please contact the Millennium Commission Press Office on 020 7880 2007, out of hours 07775 812 820 or visit www.wellcome.ac.uk/rediscover
Millennium Commission 18th-February-2004
Categories: News Archive
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