Science Centre News
Science centres and museums: agents of change for European cities?
ANTONIO GOMES DA COSTA
hood obesity by educating citizens and advocating for nutritious school meals. Other cities are planning: a new public
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transportation system; updated garbage disposal and recycling methods; redesign- ing green areas to protect biodiversity; and a health program with local hospitals. All these projects deal with science in
society issues at the local level. T is is the essence of PLACES (Platform of Local Authorities and Communicators Engaged in Science), an FP7 project involving 79 European cities and regions. Launched in June 2010, the four-year
project is guiding science centres and muse- ums to play the role of facilitator in helping local leaders address local challenges using science-based problem solving. T is means science centres and muse-
ums will have an impact on the daily lives of people in their communities. PLACES’
“The project guides science centres to help local leaders address challenges using science- based problem solving”
over arching goal is to grasp the conditions and initiatives that support strong scientifi c culture in Europe and translate these ideas into science communication policies. What’s the link between scientifi c culture
and culture? And how can scientifi c culture manifest in European policy making? At the project’s conclusion in 2014, local
and European Union-level recommenda- tions will be assembled into a blueprint for building European Cities of Scientifi c Culture by establishing science communi- cation policies based on the experiences of each participating city and region. Visit
www.openplaces.eu to fi nd out more.
Antonio Gomes da Costa is the coordinator of the PLACES project for Ecsite
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ne city aims to address c hi ld-
New-look planetarium for TAM PETE HAYMAN
Taiwain’s Taipei Astronomical Museum has opened its new- look planetarium, featuring a new Fidelity Black fulldome system supplied by UK-based Global Immersion. T e attraction comprises
12 Zorro projectors from Rockwell Collins and also acts as an Omnimax venue due to its status as one of the largest dome theatres in Asia. Global Immersion worked
with Taiwan-based Dacoms Technology Co in the initial stage of the scheme, which has maintained the multi-purpose venue’s two existing display systems. T e new digi- tal fulldome system has increased the theatre’s fl exibility and allows three separate media pro- grammes to “immerse and engage” visitors. Global Immersion’s Tony Scott said: “Taipei Astronomical Museum is another prime
Global Immersion worked with Dacom Technology Co on the scheme
example of a client of ours who is seeking to transition their immersive space into the next generation of astronomy education. “While the new hardware confi guration pro-
duces unrivalled performance, what matters most is the truly incredible experience this dig- ital theatre system will off er audiences.”
Council backs BMAG/Thinktank merger PETE HAYMAN
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) and the UK city’s T inktank science attraction are poised to merge into a new single trust. Birmingham City Council
(BCC) has approved a busi- ness case for the formation of a charitable trust to take over the attractions, as well as other council-owned museums. A report put before BCC’s
cabinet on 11 July said that combining BMAG and Thinktank would improve the city’s standing among other global museums. T e T inktank trust board’s already agreed
T e science centre will merge with BMAG as part of a new single trust BCC cabinet member for leisure, sport and
to transfer services into the single trust, follow- ing a meeting held on 22 June. T e charitable trust will be wholly-owned by the council.
culture Martin Mullaney said: “We’re looking at exciting new opportunities for the city’s museums in terms of fundraising and collab- orative working.”
Newfoundland science centre work commences PETE HAYMAN
Memorial University of Newfoundland has shut the public education programme at Canada’s Ocean Sciences Centre (OSC) until 2013. T e closure is to allow for work to take place on a new CA$16m (£10.3m, 11.8m, US$16.9m)
Read Attractions Management online
attractionsmanagement.com/digital
cold-water and deep-sea research venue at the OSC’s Logy Bay site. More than 15,000 visitors access the cen-
tre’s public education programme each year, which is now closed until 1 January 2013 while the construction process takes place.
AM 3 2011 ©cybertrek 2011
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