- The Science Museum Group has published the first of six episodes in a new series of climate films for children exploring technologies helping to create a low carbon future.
- From space to more sustainable food production, greener travel to more energy-efficient houses, each episode focuses on a specific theme and solutions to addressing climate change. Hosted by two young presenters, the series features interviews with scientists, engineers and astronaut Tim Peake.
- The episodes will be released on Wonderlab+, the Science Museum Group’s free website for families, together with additional new content that includes engaging quizzes and the Explore it, Make it! game.
The Science Museum Group today released the first episode of a new six-part series of engaging videos for children exploring technologies that are helping to tackle climate change. In this child-led series, two young presenters examine renewable energy and technologies needed for a low carbon future. Scarlett introduces each episode from a virtual space station, while Jeriah reports back from Earth. Viewers will discover how important technologies work, the stories behind them and their potential in reducing carbon emissions.
The films will be published on Wonderlab+, the Science Museum Group’s free website for families which brings science to life through interactive content, and they form part of the Science Museum Group’s activities to engage the public with the science of climate change. The new series joins existing Wonderlab+ content that explores climate change, from a healthy planet quiz to a series of animations exploring common questions about climate change.
The first episode, available from today, examines how we can harness wind and tidal energy to produce renewable energy. Exploring the story of power generation with a visit to the Science Museum, Jeriah looks into the impact of the industrial revolution and fossil fuels on the planet and visits a wind turbine farm to discuss ways of producing greener energies. Back on the virtual space station, Scarlett reveals how wind turbines make electricity.
The second episode explores the impact of climate change from space, delving into the use of satellites to collect data and measure changes to the planet. This film features an interview at the Science Museum with former ESA astronaut Tim Peake, who shares his experience of seeing Earth from the International Space Station.
Astronaut Tim Peake said: ‘It was a real pleasure to talk to Scarlett for this brilliant video series to highlight the beauty and fragility of Earth and the importance of satellites in monitoring the impacts of climate change. The creativity of young people will be vital in tackling climate change, and I have no doubt these films will inspire young people to engage with the challenges that lie ahead.’
Upcoming episodes will uncover how to make our houses more energy-efficient, with a visit to full sized houses built inside a vast climate-controlled warehouse at Salford University; and how to make travel greener, exploring the history of electric vehicles and the future of aviation. In another episode, Jeriah and Scarlett ask what food will be like in the future and get first-hand experience, taste testing alternative meat and insects. The final episode will explore what net zero means and how carbon capture technologies could help us limit the worst impacts of climate change.
Laura Southall, Head of Learning at the Science Museum, said: ‘Our museums make for an inspiring day out for families and the essence of a great visit – igniting our young visitor’s curiosity and interest in science – can be found in these six new films exploring climate change, presented by young people for young people.
The films aim to deepen young people’s understanding of the technologies which are already having an impact on their lives and our planet, while being accessible to a wide audience. I believe they can also help inspire the next generation of scientists, inventors and engineers needed to address the impacts of climate change.’
Joining the climate films on Wonderlab+ is Explore it, Make it!, a playful, creative new way for children to discover objects from the Science Museum Group Collection. The interactive game invites users to go on an imaginary adventure through around 100 objects from the collection, many of which are cared for at the Science and Innovation Park in Wiltshire.
Through this game, children can explore museum objects by theme, from space to fashion and transport, learn more about the stories behind the objects, download images of the objects and create virtual postcards. The objects whose stories can be discovered include a rubber duck which helped engineers plan a comet landing, steam locomotives and even a trumpet-playing robot. The postcards can be downloaded or shared with friends and are displayed in an online gallery for other users to enjoy.
Content on Wonderlab+ is frequently updated, with new videos and quizzes uploaded regularly. Recently added quizzes include Under the Microscope, exploring the hidden worlds revealed by microscopes, or the super-cyborg quiz to sort fact from fiction. Upcoming new content will enable children to playfully discover the science of fireworks and video games.
Wonderlab+ is generously supported by Urenco.
Notes to Editors
Engaging people with humanity’s greatest challenge—the fight against devastating climate change—is a major priority for the Science Museum Group alongside reducing the impact of our own activity as we work towards achieving net zero by 2033. This new film series is part of the Group’s climate focused public programme, which includes our free Climate Talks series that has been watched by tens of thousands of people and featured more than 70 global leaders, experts, activists and campaigners. More information about sustainability and the Science Museum Group is available on our website.
For more information please contact Will Dave at William.dave@sciencemuseum.ac.uk or on 020 7942 4886. You can download images available for editorial use in this link:
Wonderlab+
wonderlabplus.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk
Free online learning resource
Recommended age: 7 – 11
Wonderlab+ is the Science Museum Group’s free to access website designed to bring science to life with a range of interactive content. Wonderlab+ enables the Science Museum Group to reach a new global audience online, help grow science capital and inspire children aged 7–11 to engage with STEM themed activities from home. Bringing together the Science Museum Group’s informative and dynamic science and maths content into one family-friendly destination for the first time, on Wonderlab+ users can watch YouTube demonstrations, get creative with everyday items found in the home, play online games and test their knowledge in interactive quizzes.
About the Science Museum Group
The Science Museum Group is the world’s leading alliance of science museums, welcoming over five million visitors each year to five sites: the Science Museum in London; the National Railway Museum in York; the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester; the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford; and Locomotion in Shildon. We share the stories of innovations and people that shaped our world and are transforming our futures, constantly reinterpreting our astonishingly diverse collection of 7.3 million items spanning science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. Our mission is to inspire futures - igniting curiosity among people of all ages and backgrounds. Each year, our museums attract millions of visits from individuals to education groups, while our touring exhibition programme and websites bring our creativity and scholarship to audiences across the globe. More information can be found at www.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk.
About Urenco Group
Urenco is an international supplier of uranium enrichment services, fuel cycle products and related solutions with sustainability at the core of its business. Operating in a pivotal area of the nuclear fuel supply chain for over 50 years, Urenco facilitates the reliable delivery of low carbon electricity generation for consumers around the world.
With its head office near London, UK, Urenco’s global presence ensures diversity and security of supply for customers through enrichment facilities in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA. Through its technology and the expertise of its people, the Urenco Group provides safe, cost effective and reliable services, operating within a framework of high environmental, social and governance standards, complementing international safeguards.
Urenco is committed to continued investment in the responsible management of nuclear materials; innovation activities with clear sustainability benefits, such as nuclear medicine, industrial efficiency and research; and nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers.