November 6, 2009 

The greatest of all museums

This week it was my privilege to visit the Natural History and Science museums in London. Two of the most amazing places.

I have always enjoyed going to these museums, they are in the most amazing buildings and they have fantastic displays and exhibits. The main reason for being there is my sons love of the dinosaurs, he has been looking forward too going.

What can be more noble for an institution than to be one of the countries leading museums. They have a simple goal, to enlighten the general public to the amazing natural world around them, and to the wonders of science. These are things close to my heart and I am proud that my children love going to these places to the point they were happy to ignore the toy shops.

Tell me and I forget.
Teach me and I remember.
Involve me and I learn.
Benjamin Franklin

Launch Pad

For the first time in a long time I was able to get into the launch pad at the Science Museum. My children love the basement, but that was nothing compared to how they now feel about the launch pad.

This has always been something the Science Museum in particular has done very well. Involving children in the science, don’t just present them with facts they will want to come back again and again. My son is still telling me about the echo tunnel.

The Unwelcome surprise

At the end of the day it was time to leave, and of course everyone wants to have a wander through the little shop (not to little at these majestic museums). Both have a wide range of stuff, from the very cheap to £150 Telescopes and robots.

But then I was listening to one of the people on the floor demonstrating a cardboard flying ring. It looks a little like a UFO and it hovers and flies around.

The guy did a good display, but then something shocked me. I was standing in this cathedral of knowledge and learning. This guy said to this little child staring at him with wide eyes, eager to know how this wonder worked. His answer was “Its magic, if you want to know you have to buy it!”.

I was destroyed and actually quite angry. This child wanted to know what is going on here. This place is all about shining a light on ignorance, and exposing the truth no matter how distasteful. But at once it has been corrupted, if you want to know that it will cost you!

There are floors and floors of pure answers in the very building I was standing in. Huge machines around me showing the most basic laws of mechanics and steam power. Ironically these very machines were used to stop research into high pressure steam (find out about Trevithick). Space flight in the next hall, a full size Lunar Excursion Module. The worlds only full size Babbage Difference Engine up stairs.

There is nothing you can not find out in this place and this guy says to the boy.. “Its magic.. you have to buy it”. How dare you, getyour money grabbing hands of him and just say its a piece of string and a lot of practice. Chances are he will still love it regardless of how it works.

I was so depressed!

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  • nikobe

    Ah used to go to the Natural History museum loads when I lived in London, was just down the road. Never got bored of it.

    How annoying about the “UFO” thats so lame.

  • Grizz

    They are good however, and its a big HOWEVER for me some of the exibits in the science museum are dated, and the thing with science is it’s continually evolving its a growing subject. Its not like History, history has happened and because of that doesn’t tend to change much. Science does it changes. Now i’m sure you can explain to your child because you are not dumb that the largest plane in the world is now the A380 not the jumbo and that the fastest passenger plane in the world was Concorde but these are just a couple of the things in the science museum that bugged me some was new but a lot of it hasn’t changed in over 10 years and the science has. They are great museums but until sirs Sugar or Branson sponsor the museum with their millions of wonga earned through science, so that it can stay current I’m worried what some kids will go away having learnt. Is a Tornado a cutting edge military aircraft? I think not.

  • binny

    I have to say I agree with you, there are parts of the Science Museum that fall short of expectations, and some that are just wrong. As you say mostly in the technology areas where it is constantly moving forward. But I also think part of what the museum is trying to tell you is don’t just believe what you are told, don’t get your information from one source, find out the truth.

    Some of it is just don’t to lack of funding, others like the computer exhibit (that is always closed or I can’t find when I am there) is out of date, and there is little excuse for that. But I can forgive these minor over sights for all the other things it gets very right.

    Next time you are there see if you can find the SNES on the ground floor. Is it a museum piece already?

  • Grizz

    I think I know where that is, right next to the copy of windows 3.11 or 95..

    Of course if it is a museum piece, Sideswipes house is no longer a house, it is a shrine a museum an archive and he is the CURATOR!