The Science Museum, which celebrates its one hundredth anniversary on 26 June 2009, has appointed entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den panellist James Caan to the Science Museum Advisory Committee.
James Caan, alongside twelve fellow committee members, will play an active role in championing the Science Museum. All Advisory Committee members advise the Director on Museum strategy and assist them in the Museum’s mission to be the best place in the world to enjoy science. Caan will have especial responsibility for promoting the interests of the Museum with Government, business and the media.
Professor Chris Rapley, Director of the Science Museum, said, “As the Science Museum enters its second century, I am delighted that James Caan is joining us at this exciting time. Committee members have a valuable role in shaping the Museum’s contribution to public life and my colleagues and I really value their input. The Science Museum is committed to its part in enriching the nation’s knowledge economy; offering insight and inspiration to everyone, most importantly the next generation who will be the innovators of tomorrow. I know that James Caan shares our aims, making him an excellent champion of the Museum.”
James Caan added, “Working with the Science Museum is an incredibly exciting opportunity for me. I see the Museum as not only recording the legacy of science and technology, but also catalysing and inspiring new minds and new ideas as we move forward in society. Science does not stand still. We, as a nation, need to be at the forefront of innovation, and my work with the Museum will allow me to engage with those delivering technological and scientific excellence.”
The Science Museum is celebrating one hundred years since being declared an independent institution with a year-long programme of events starting on 26 June with a public 3-day party. The celebrations continue with the Centenary Journey trail highlighting ten of the most significant inventions of the past few centuries, a space-themed season of events and new astronomy exhibition Cosmos & Culture opening on 23 July. The centenary year will culminate in the reopening of two contemporary science galleries, Who Am I? and Antenna, in June 2010 after major redevelopment. A public fundraising appeal, with a target of £1 million, will run throughout the year.
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Notes to Editors
For further press information, please contact:
Science Museum press office: Kerry Law on 020 7942 4328 /
kerry.law@sciencemuseum.org.uk
James Caan’s press office: James While, Hamilton Bradshaw 020 7399 6700 /
jw@hbpe.co.uk
From June 2009 the Science Museum is celebrating its hundredth birthday with a year-long centenary programme to take the renowned institution into the future. For 100 years the Science Museum has been world-renowned for its historic collection, remarkable galleries and inspirational exhibitions. With 15,000 objects on public display, the Science Museum’s collections form an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical change. Aiming to be the best place in the world for people to enjoy science, the Science Museum makes sense of the science that shapes our lives, sparking curiosity, releasing creativity and changing the future by engaging people of all generations and backgrounds in science engineering, medicine, technology, design and enterprise. The Science Museum is proud to have been awarded the Gold Award for Visitor Attraction of the Year for 2008/09 by Visit London, and a Silver Award for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year by Enjoy England.
