Science Museum
What's On at the Science Museum
October Half Term 2011
NEW EXHIBITIONS, FREE FAMILY EVENTS & 3D IMAX FILMS
Looking for a day out with the kids? Catch a 3D movie, jump on a simulator, visit an exhibition, and encounter the past, present and future of technology in 7 floors of galleries! Turn off the TV and get down to one of the London’s best tourist attractions and come face to face with science as it happens.
Longer opening hours this half term!
From 22 to 30 October we’ll be staying open until 19.00. Catch the extra IMAX show of the day or fit in some more shopping before you leave. And don’t forget – ‘Lates’ – our adult event on the last Wednesday of every month – open til 10pm.
NEW
ANTENNA– Training secrets of GB Rowing Team revealed
Antenna gallery, FREE
October half-term Antenna Live rowing event
25-27 October
Meet the GB Rowing Team in person and find out what it takes to become a rower. How does science help the GB Rowing Team train for rowing glory? This is a special three day interactive event being staged at the Science Museum from October 25-27, during the half-term holidays. The event is supported by Siemens.
Oramics to Electronica: Personal histories behind electronic music
10 October – December 2012
FREE
The ‘Oramics to Electronica: Revealing Histories of Electronic Music’,is dedicated to the birth of electronic music and how it’s influenced our music world. The exhibition displays the Oramics Machine and rarely seen archive footage. Personalstories will show how electronic sound has advanced, changed and was democratised from the 1950s through to the modern era, and people envisioned new sounds and pushed the boundaries of what was possible. Over the years musicians have invented, altered and improved (often cheap) equipment to be able to produce these dreamt-up electronic sounds.
FREE FAMILY EVENTS THIS HALF TERM
28 OCTOBER ONLY
Ask An Astronaut (10+)
12.00 – 12.45
Julie Payette has been to space and back again! Meet Julie as she takes you through one of her space journeys, with an opportunity to ask her questions such as how do you survive in space?
Located in The Theatre, ground floor, 120 places.
In partnership with the Québec Government Office in London.
22-23 and 29-30 OCTOBER
The Real McCoy(7-)*
11.00–11.20
Choo! Choo! Next stop America. Hop on board for this storytelling adventure and discover all about the life of Elijah McCoy, an African-American who changed the way trains work for ever.
Located in the Launchpad Briefing Room, third floor, 25 places.
22-25 and 29-30 OCTOBER
Invent Event(7+)*
13.00–14.00
Inventors wanted! We challenge you to use your problem-solving skills and build a mystery object. Think you’ve got what it takes? Join our drop in session at the above time.
Located in the Energy Briefing Room, second floor.
26–28 OCTOBER
Make It Move! (7+)
11.00–13.00, 14.30–16.30
Drop in and get creative with Fire the Inventor. Connect art and technology by making your own moving toy, which bursts into life at the turn of a handle!
Located next to the Oramics to Electronica exhibition, second floor.
22-23 and 29-30 OCTOBER
A Cockroach Tour of the Museum
A Cockroach Tour of the Science Museum, is a participatory project by art collectiveSuperflex. Visitors will be invited to take on the form of cockroaches, dressing up in realistic costumes to begin a journey through the Museum, exploring the impact on the climate of scientific and technological developments from the perspective of one of the oldest, most resilient life forms on the planet. The humorous tour will take visitors through the Museum’sEnergy Hall, Exploring Space andMaking the Modern World galleries before completing their journey in theatmospheregallery.Superflexis a group of artists and designers whose work aims both to highlight global issues and to suggest and generate alternative ideas and solutions. The Cockroach Tours are every Saturday and Sunday until December 2011. To book a place call: 0870 870 4868.
COMING SOON:
Hidden Heroes – the genius of everyday things
From 9 November. Charges apply.
We use them every day. They are so common that we rarely even think about them: the Hidden Heroes of everyday life. Be it a tea bag, a zipper, or condom, these objects are classics. Based on an idea that was both simple and ingenious, they have remained unaltered for decades. The Vitra Design Museum and Hi-Cone present 36 of these everyday classics, talking about their history and demonstrating the enormous significance they have today, both conceptually and economically.
This new show presents the objects together with patent specifications and drawings by their inventors, with print ads and advertising films – not only from today, but also from the time when the products were striving to become established.
Electroboutique – Art that Cares
FREE
22 November
Art that Cares will comprise unique artworks, developed over the last five years, by Electroboutique’s artists, designers and engineers, plus a new commission specifically for the Science Museum. The display has been created by the group to present works which raise questions about technological progress, consumerism, eco-consumerism, media control, and corporate appropriation of climate change and sustainability ideologies. Electroboutique is an innovative art-production company, renowned in Russian media art. Their practice is built upon a dialogue with audiences and creating works that challenge viewers’ expectations.
Robotville and Robot Month
FREE
30 November – 31 December
Starting with the‘Robotville’ event over 5 days, the museum will showcase the latest and greatest in robotic research and development from around the world. As well as talks fromroboticists, who will demonstrate their work, the Museum is displaying over 20 unique robots, many of which have just come out of the research lab and will be on show to the British public for the first time. These includedomestic robots, expressive robots, swarming robots, swimming robots, exploring robots, humanoid robots, learning robots and many more.Robotville begins the Science Museum’s month long celebration of robots throughout December, consisting of talks with experts,robot workshops, Q&As with curators, art installations and multimedia and much more all the way up to the New Year.
EVERY DAY
The largest free interactive science gallery in the UK, Launchpad is packed with exhibits which will allow visitors to launch a rocket, turn their head into a sound box and control a magnetic cloud. Catch one of the spectacular science shows performed by Explainers throughout the day. Ideal for children aged 8-14 years old.
Flight, 13.00
Making the Modern World, 15.00
Discover the secrets behind some of the most significant items from the Science Museum’s collections in these fantastic gallery tours.
Located in Flight, third floor and Making the Modern World, ground floor, 45 places, 30 minutes. Tours available most days, please check with staff.
If you'd like to see more than just one film during your visit to the Science Museum IMAX 3D Cinema then make sure you take advantage of our special deal which allows you to watch a second movie for half price!
More 3D experiences:
Charges apply
Visit the brand new Fly Zone simulator area where you take control in 360° flight simulators or fly with the Red Arrows in our sensational 3D motion simulation theatre. And, don’t forget to visit Fly Café to refuel before taking off again.
Legend of Apollo– the ultimate 4D simulation theatre
Charges apply
See, hear, feel and even smell what it would be like to venture into space with a ride in the Science Museum’s extraordinary multi-sensory experience.The Legend of Apollohas been created with participation from former NASA Apollo astronaut Col. David R. Scott. The film draws on Col. David R. Scott’s own experiences, actual Apollo archival footage, recent satellite imagery of the Moon and exceptional 3D computer animation.
ADULT EVENTS
Last Wednesday of each month
FREE
Over 18s only
This October, Lates is all about the science of climate change – inventing a better world. Explore the wonders of clouds with the Cloud Appreciation Society and take part inA Cockroach Tour of the Science Museumto see how cockroaches have survived climate change. You can also take a tour of theatmosphere: exploring climate sciencegallery. Other activities on the evening include the SCVNGR hunt where you can use your Smartphone to solve puzzles, snap pictures and collect points as you move through the museum. The Science Museum’s new Inventor in Residence and BBC Dragons’ Den winner Mark Champkins will be on hand to talk about his latest inventions and sign copies of his new book.
Visitors can also enjoy the regular Lates activities which include the Pub Quiz, Silent Disco and Speed dating.
More details – www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/lates
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS…
ANTENNA–Water Warsexhibition
OPEN NOW
FREE
Water Wars is an exhibition that investigates how engineers are developing technologies to secure enough water to prevent a global food crisis. Our population is rising at a staggering rate. And climate change is making matters worse… We need to act fast to secure enough water – and food – for the future.
Until 13 November 2011
FREE
British artist Conrad Shawcross has now completed complete his residency at the Science Museum withProtomodel, a series of five small-scale artworks dispersed throughout theMathematicsgallery.Protomodelopens up a playful, questioning dialogue exploring how model-making, natural processes, cultural practices and historical circumstances all play their part in mathematical thinking. Paying homage to the influence theMathematics gallery has had on his practice, Shawcross has created 5 artworks displayed alongside the gallery’s distinctively stylised displays of mathematical instruments, machines and models.
Until March 2012
FREE
Ten Climate Storiesshowcases artworks from established and emerging artists includingToaster Project, by Thomas Thwaites,Longplayer, by Jem Finer and Yao Lu's arresting images from theNew Landscapes,as well as revealing hidden stories behind some of the museum's best-loved exhibits.Ten Climate Stories is part of the museum's three-yearClimate Changing programme – a series of thought-provoking events that accompanies theatmosphere exploring climate sciencegallery.
FREE
The attic workshop of the first hero of the British Industrial Revolution, the engineer James Watt, has been opened up to visitors as part of a new permanent Science Museum exhibition,James Watt and Our World. Accompanied by a new gallery of previously unseen objects and innovative multimedia, the exhibition will present a vivid portrait of the working life, ingenuity and character of the first engineer to be propelled to international fame and spoken of in the same breath as national heroes like Isaac Newton and William Shakespeare.
atmosphere: exploring climate science
FREE
‘atmosphere: exploring climate science’has transformed the second floor of the Wellcome Wing in the Museum, making itthedestination to explore the science of climate change.‘atmosphere’combines interactive exhibits with objects from the Science Museum’s collection and on loan from around the world. The gallery is accompanied by a three-year programme of related events in the Science Museum. The gallery is supported by principal sponsors Shell and Siemens, major sponsor Bank of America Merrill Lynch, major funder the Garfield Weston Foundation, and with additional support from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Patrons of the Science Museum.
FREE
Who am I? presents the latest in brain science and genetics through a mixture of interactive exhibits and object-rich displays. What makes you, you? How do your genes impact on your brain, your actions, your thoughts and your appearance? Visitors to the redeveloped Who am I? gallery will get the chance to explore answers to these questions and more by encountering striking object displays, contemporary artworks and by sharing their opinions on ethical issues in science. ‘Who am I?’ is supported by Principal Funder: Wellcome Trust, Major Sponsors: GlaxoSmithKline and Life Technologies Foundation.
Visitor Information
Science Museum, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2DD
Open daily 10.00 to 18.00, except 24-26 December
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/ 0870 870 4868