‘To me, seeing by telephone always seemed as reasonable a possibility as hearing by the telephone.’
John Logie Baird - invented electromechanical television
Science Museum Swindon unveils Inspired bid for £50m
4th April 2007
Today Science Museum Swindon launched ‘Inspired’ its transformational new project to open up the world of science and innovation and unleash the genius in everyone. The project, which aims to create a brand new type of interactive museum by 2010, is one of just six candidates bidding for £50 million from the Big Lottery, to be voted for by the British public later this year.
Set on a stunning 545 acre, ex-WWII site just outside Swindon, Inspired will deliver serious fun for everyone by bringing to life the human stories and moments of genius behind 200,000 iconic objects which have been previously inaccessible to the public. Drawing on the skills and expertise of the Science Museum in London - the sixth most popular visitor attraction in the UK - Inspired will also offer spectacular tours, workshops, themed dramas and science shows on an unprecedented scale.
Martin Earwicker, Director of the National Museum of Science & Industry, hosted the launch event which unveiled a fresh and exciting new identity for one of the most significant developments in the museum world. He said:
“Inspired will not only provide a brand new type of museum with access to previously unseen inventions and innovations, it will also inspire future generations of scientists to step up to the challenges of our world.”
He added:
“More than a museum, Inspired will be a marvellous, interactive spectacle, a treasure trove of vast, iconic objects that have shaped and continue to shape the past, present and future of our world. All of this will of course, be housed within a sustainable, environmentally-friendly building.”
At the launch, Viridor Credits, the Swindon based charitable arm of Viridor Waste Management, announced its pledge to donate £1 million as part of the matched funding required for the museum’s Lottery bid. Ten acres of new woodland on the site has already been named after the company, as recognition of its role as a founding funder of the project.
Dr Ian White, former Chairman of Viridor Credits said:
“Viridor are proud and excited to be a founding supporter of Inspired because it’s a project that we believe will provide so much fun, as well as valuable learning for everyone.”
“It is such an important project for anyone who has ever had an x-ray, played a games console or driven a car, so anyone who has relied upon science and technology for any reason. Inspired will encourage people of all ages to take an interest in science, technology, engineering and invention which is vital to ensure that as a nation we have a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future.”
The launch event also included a show by the Science Museum&rquo;s hugely popular Punk Science team, made famous by their appearances on the Discovery Channel. Their show provided an example of the fun, science-based programming that will be common place at Inspired, and culminated in the launch of a new text service to generate support for the project.
Guests at the launch included organisations from across the local area who have supported the project to date. These included pupils from Hreod School in Swindon who are part of the Young Ambassador Team – a group of school children providing vital advice to the Inspired project from a young persons perspective.
Dr Ian White, former Chairman of Viridor Credits said:
“We are really excited about Inspired and the opportunities that it will provide for school children like us. I think it will make science a much more exciting subject and to have it on the edge of Swindon is brilliant”
If Inspired is successful in winning the vote, it is scheduled to open in 2010. It will comprise of a vast 40,000m2 (10 acre) building, with a chalk downland grass roof to fit in with the natural surroundings. Its operation will be both energy efficient and sustainable providing a multi-use site for leisure, learning, as well as corporate hire.