Science Projects Limited is a company with charitable status founded by Stephen Pizzey 1986 to aid public understanding of science through interactive exhibits. It operates The Observatory Science Centre in the south east of England at the former home of the Royal Greenwich Observatory which moved its telescopes there in the 1950s. Science Projects also operates travelling exhibitions from its design and production workshop in London which specialises in the development of hands-on exhibits.
Contents |
The company was set up in 1986 when people were coming to the conclusion that a hands-on approach to informal learning, as characterised by exhibits where the people could explore scientific phenomena and experiment with technology, was both effective and engaging. The Ontario Science Centre in Canada had already instigated its 'Science Circus' which had travelled to a number of countries, including a visit to the Science Museum in London. It proved extremely popular but was still constrained by being an exhibition which required a museum or other venue in which to operate.
Science Projects' idea was to have the building travel with the exhibition as well, creating a travelling science centre. Deciding to test out the theory, an Omni System tent was hired and some exhibits from the Exploratory in Bristol (now At-Bristol) borrowed for an Open University open day in Milton Keynes in 1986. The result was a success and provided the impetus to take the next step.
With funding from grants, the rest of the year was spent progressing the plans for what would become the 'Discovery Dome'. In February 1987 Science Projects was incorporated as a charitable company and moved into a small workshop in West London. The first handful of staff were employed and manufacturing of the 50 or so exhibits required began in earnest.
The Discovery Dome was an enormous success, attracting over 100,000 [1] visitors in its first year. It led to teachers basing classroom projects on many of the topics covered and requests to borrow some of the exhibits. From this interest, the idea of ScienceWorks arose. This consisted of specially designed, curriculum-based exhibitions available for hire to schools which started operation in 1989 and continues today.
Meanwhile, Science Projects was developing a new exhibition in Glasgow, intended to form the basis of a science centre for the 1990 City of Culture celebrations. After searching for a suitable location, the South Rotunda - a domed building on the former garden festival site, was identified. The Glasgow Dome of Discovery opened to the public on 6 April with over 50 interactive exhibits, a workshop and a small shop.
In 1991 the company was commissioned by the British Council to design and build a travelling exhibition in the style of the Discovery Dome exhibits. Named Exploring Science, this exhibition toured the Middle East and North Africa. It proved to be popular and another version was commissioned for permanent use in Saudi Arabia.
A few years later, the success of this exhibition inspired Science Projects to create a new series of travelling exhibitions for the UK. They used the same name of 'Exploring Science' and built the exhibitions to the same high specifications. Over the next few years 'ScienceWorks' expanded as exhibits were reviewed in light of the National Curriculum and more contract work was undertaken along with training and consultancy programmes.
The company had the resources to implement an earlier idea for a network of small science centres drawing on the resources and expertise of the exhibit development workshop. One site which had been of interest for a long time was Herstmonceux, in East Sussex, the former home of the Royal Greenwich Observatory. Negotiations for a lease proceeded over a period of time with agreement finally reached in early 1995. At the same time an historic medieval church became available in Norwich, and plans were rapidly progressed to establish the Inspire Discovery Centre.
Science Projects continues to design, develop and build exhibits for science centres, museums and visitor centres around the world. The growth in this field has resulted in todays diverse application of interactive exhibits. They are no longer confined to science and technology and Science Projects has produced exhibitions interpreting subjects from art [2] to economics for the Bank of England [3].
In 2009, the company moved its main workshop and offices from Hammersmith to a larger building in Acton which is more suited to its production, design and administration requirements.