On Friday 3 December, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will officially open the Science Museum’s new gallery atmosphere: exploring climate science.
atmosphere is a new gallery that will provide a dedicated space for visitors to deepen their understanding of climate science in an enjoyable, engaging and memorable way.
HRH The Prince of Wales will be among the first to explore the new gallery which is a fresh and exciting way to make sense of the climate - the science of how it works, what’s happening now and what might happen in the future. His Royal Highness will be shown around the gallery which is divided into five zones focussing on different areas of climate science through a rich variety of interactive exhibits and objects.
More than a hands-on gallery, atmosphere reveals some of the key instruments used by today’s scientists, reports on some of the latest climate science news, and gives you the chance to dig deeper into the story of the science behind our changing climate.
Professor Chris Rapley CBE, Director of the Science Museum, said, “The Science Museum’s role is to make sense of the science that shapes our lives – our latest addition, atmosphere, aims to make sense of one of the biggest issues today, climate change. We are delighted that His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, a well-known supporter of climate change science, will be officially opening our climate science gallery. Whatever your level of understanding the gallery will provide you with an enjoyable experience and a clear framework of what is currently known about the climate so you are better able to make up your own mind about this subject.”
Gallery highlights include a section looking at how scientists have studied past episodes of climate change illustrated by tree ring and stalagmite samples and a real ice-core from Antarctica – the only one on display in a UK museum.
His Royal Highness will be one of the first visitors to see a range of objects, previously not on public display, including an original Keeling flask used by Charles Keeling of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography to measure the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere from the late 1950’s.”
The gallery will also feature examples of how designers and engineers are responding to the challenges of climate change and contributing to a low carbon future. Exhibits include a hydrogen fuel cell car from eco transport company Riversimple, an energy-generating paving slab and a specially-commissioned animated video Life in a Low Carbon World.
atmosphere: exploring climate science has been made possible by support from principal sponsors Shell and Siemens, major sponsor Bank of America Merrill Lynch, major funder the Garfield Weston Foundation, with additional support from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Patrons of the Science Museum.
Visitor Information
The Science Museum will be closed until midday on Friday 3 December 2010 for the launch of the new atmosphere gallery. The Museum will re-open at midday, although the Wellcome Wing will remain closed for the day.
atmosphere: exploring climate science opens to the public on 4 December 2010.
FREE
Science Museum, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2DD
Open daily 10.00 to 18.00, except 24-26 December
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/atmosphere / 0870 870 4868
For further information and images please contact Laura Singleton, Science Museum Press Office –
Laura.Singleton@sciencemuseum.org.uk
/ 020 7942 4364.
For more information about the Royal Rota on Friday 3 December, please contact Clarence House Press Office: E-mail:
Hannah.howard@royal.gsx.gov.uk
or Tel: 020 7024 5729.
Visitor Information
atmosphere: exploring climate science opens on 4 December 2010.
FREE
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
Notes to Editors
Science Museum
For 100 years the Science Museum has been world-renowned for its historic collection, remarkable galleries and inspirational exhibitions. With around 15,000 objects on public display, the Science Museum’s collections form an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical change from the past few centuries. 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. In 2008/09 the Science Museum was proud to have been awarded the Gold Award for Visitor Attraction of the Year by Visit London and a Silver Award for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year by Enjoy England. The Science Museum works with a number of partners and retains editorial control over all gallery content.
Royal Dutch Shell plc
Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 100 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of Liquefied Natural Gas and Gas to Liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects. For further information, visit www.shell.com. Shell runs a series of nationwide social investment programmes and sponsorships. For more information please see www.shell.co.uk/socialinvestment.
Siemens plc
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 167 years ago and now employs 16,915 people in the UK. Last year’s revenues were £4.2 billion. As a leading global engineering and technology services company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, across the key sectors of energy, industry and healthcare. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Frimley, Surrey. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Bank of America Merrill Lynch is the marketing name for the global banking and markets businesses of Bank of America Corporation. Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) footprint offers an integrated and comprehensive set of products and services across all businesses, serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and government clients, by combining the best of local knowledge and international expertise
About Bank of America's Environmental Commitment
Bank of America understands the critical importance of addressing global climate change. That is why, in 2007, the company embarked on a 10-year, $20 billion initiative to address climate change through lending, investments, philanthropy, and its own operations. Bank of America is focused on reducing its environmental footprint and helping to advance energy efficiency and low-carbon energy markets, including wind, solar, biomass, nuclear and other emerging technologies. The Bank of America Charitable Foundation will donate $50 million over 10 years to support nonprofit organisations focussed on addressing climate change. For more information about Bank of America's environmental commitment, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/environment
Defra
Defra is the government department responsible for policy and regulations on the environment, food and rural affairs. Defra runs the cross-Government Adapting to Climate Change Programme, aimed at ensuring that the country is prepared for the challenges and opportunities posed by a changing climate. In March 2010, Defra published its Climate Change Plan, along with all other government departments. The Plan explains what Defra is doing across its policy areas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to address the risks and opportunities that climate change presents. More information on Defra’s work to adapt the UK to climate change can be found at www.defra.gov.uk\adaptation\.
Patrons of the Science Museum
Our Patrons are people who are united by the same aim – to make the Science Museum the best place in the world for people to enjoy science. Annual support from our Patrons enables us to develop cutting-edge exhibitions, innovative new galleries and to continue our inspirational and award-winning learning programmes. For more information please visit: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/supportus
