What is happening to Light on Science?

Selwyn van Zeller

The last newsletter correctly reported that the Museum of Science & Industry did indeed close on 31st October 1997, (quietly and finally) and that Light on Science did relocate to the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. It also correctly reported that the future of Light on Science was unclear. Although it all sounded a bit sad and depressing - I am able to report that the reality - three months on - is a little different.

The debate over whether the Birmingham Science Museum had to close when it did will doubtless go on for a very long time. What is unarguable, particularly for anybody involved in the development of any Millennium scheme, is that the years 2000 and 2001 are not far away and there is too much to do in too little time by not enough people. The early closure of Birmingham Museum of Science & Industry is allowing key personnel with valuable knowledge and expertise to focus their activities towards the development of the new Discovery Centre at Millennium Point.

The future of Light on Science is unclear? - Well I guess it is. Will it be relocated as an entity to the Discovery Centre? Will the philosophy of hands-on be relocated? Will Light on Science remain at the Museum & Art Gallery when the Discovery Centre opens? These are all questions that I look forward to answering at some stage. In the mean time I would like to say that for the short to medium term Light on Science does have a very definite future and a very positive role to play in delivering science and maths in Birmingham and in the development of lo-tech interpretation.

For the time being Light on Science has a new city centre location, it is situated on the third floor of the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in what used to be the old natural history gallery. The new space, although slightly smaller than its previous home, provides an attractive and an appropriate setting for a science centre - particularly a science centre in an art gallery.

There are two distinct areas in the new Light on Science gallery. In the main area “traditional” lo-tech hands-on interactives allow visitors to explore a number of themes including Flight and Flow, Colour and Light, Reflection and Symmetry, Sound, and Thinking Mathematically. Also within this space there is an area where the exhibits are designed particularly for the Under 5’s ( - like most Under 5’s areas the exhibits in this space are particularly popular with anyone over 5 years old!).

The second area is smaller and is bounded by displays of objects from the natural history and science collections of Birmingham Museums that will eventually find their way to the new Discovery Centre. This area has a number of functions. During the week in term-time it is a greeting space for school groups visiting Light on Science. Other times it can provide a quieter space where families can take a Discovery Box or where a visitor can simply sit and read the latest “New Scientist”. At weekends the enablers may set up a table and run workshops, where children and adults alike may be engaged in a range of science activities.

The staffing model for Light on Science has been a significant contributor to our success. The enablers’ role is more than just front of house. In Light on Science it is the same team of people that enable the exhibits, that maintain and develop the exhibits - evaluation feedback is direct. As a team all staff are able to make a direct contribution to the day to day presentation and management of the gallery as well as to the improvement of the service over all.

So, what about the future?  It has to be said that at the beginning of 1998 we, in Light on Science, are experiencing a renewed optimism. This is reflected in the bright, newly renovated gallery, the refurbished hands-on exhibits, some new additions and next year’s development programme. There is a feeling amongst the staff that this might really be a new beginning.

The move to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery has increased the range of opportunities for development, and diversification. A number of new Discovery boxes are currently being created to boost our armoury of family directed activities. The new boxes supported by M.E.G. funding (Museum Economic Growth Project from West Midlands Regional Museum’s Council) will allow family units to handle and study real material and objects. The new topic areas include fossils, mineralogy, and archaeology. We are also extending the Discovery Box idea to include Under 5’s. SET 98 is going to be a platform on which we can take simple lo-tech hands-on interactives into the rest of the museum.

These interactives will allow the visitor to physically explore ideas like golden proportions, perception and perspective, symmetry and pattern alongside real objects in the Museum’s collection where the same ideas may have been used. The objects include paintings, fossils, jewellery, marquetry and textiles. We are hoping, of course, that there will be a synergy between the display of the real object and “interactivity”. I believe that lo-tech, hands-on exhibits are still very under-used and undervalued outside of science museums and science centres. (In Light on Science I am concerned if a visitor walks past an exhibit, I want to know why. Yet many museum curators do not seem at all concerned that most visitors walk past most of the exhibits that are on display!)

In the short to medium term Light on Science has an exciting future. It will continue to provide one of the most popular museum services in Birmingham at least until the Discovery Centre opens in 2001. More importantly we have a chance of being at the cutting edge in terms of taking the hands-on approach to other areas of museum interpretation.

Selwyn van Zeller is Manager of Light on Science

Newsletter Spring 1998 Contents

Centres > Satrosphere News | What is happening to Light on Science? | Inspire News | Herstmonceux News

Exhibits > BIG working group on exhibit development | What is Design? | Exhibit Aphorisms | "Here's Looking at Euclid" - exhibit idea | Roald Dahl and the Children's Gallery | Are hybrids best? - viewpoint

Demonstrations and shows > Shows at the Exploratory | Exploding Can Demonstration | Water to wine Demonstration | Nitrogen story - urban myth?

Millennium News > More Millennium Grants | Pantechniques rewarded | Millennium awards scheme | A listing of interactive projects funded by lottery grants

Research > Measuring the performance of interactive centres

Resources and conferences > Conferences and Future Events | Indian Science Congress Report | Managing Science Centres Book Review | Children's Museums Book information

BIG > BIG Moves - From the Chair | BIG AGM Report | BIG Annual Report 1997