The Funding Of Science And Discovery Centres

Examines the role and effectiveness of science centres, how science centres are co-ordinated and organised, and how they are funded. This report also welcomes the offer by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills to take responsibility for science centres.

Government response to HC 903-I, session 2006-07 (ISBN 9780215036667)

Powering Discovery examines successful international practices for supporting natural sciences and engineering research and how some of these could be applied in Canada. The report explores approaches for supporting researchers and a wide spectrum of research. It also sheds light on promising and novel approaches for increasing funding efficiency and promoting and measuring impact.

The development of interactive displays has transformed the traditional museum world in the last decade. Visitors are no longer satisfied by simply gazing at worthy displays in glass cases - they expect to have hands-on experience of the objects and be actively involved with the exhibits, learning informally and being entertained simultaneously. Hands-on museums and science centres provide the most remarkable example of how museums are redefining their roles in society - improving access to real objects and real phenomena, so that they can be enjoyed by more people. In recent years museums have been thrust into intense competition for the public's time and money with all branches of the leisure industry, from commercial theme parks to retail shopping and home entertainment. This has upset the traditional stability of the museum and their visitors. A hands-on approach encourages a broader visitor base, which in turn helps to bring in additional revenue at a time of declining public subsidy. Tim Caulton investigates how to create and operate effective exhibitions which achieve their educational objectives through hands-on access. He concludes that the continuing success of hands-on museums and science centres hinges on attaining the very best practice in exhibition design and evaluation, and in all aspects of operations, including marketing and financial and human resource management. Hands-On Exhibitions provides a practical guide to best practice which will be indispensable to all museum professionals and students of museum studies.

The pressure to be seen to be making cuts across the public sector is threatening to undermine both the Government's good record on investment in science and the economic recovery. Whilst the contribution of a strong domestic science base is widely acknowledged, methodological problems with quantifying its precise value to the economy mean that it is in danger of losing out in Whitehall negotiations. Scientists are under increasing pressure to demonstrate the impact of their work and there is concern that areas without immediate technology applications are being undervalued. The Committee believes the Government faced a strategic choice: invest in areas with the greatest potential to influence and improve other areas of spending, or make cuts of little significance now, but that will have a devastating effect upon British science and the economy in the years to come.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest : Tenth report of session 2008-09, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written Evidence

Incorporating HC 370

work of the Committee In 2008-09 : First report of session 2009-10, report, together with formal minutes, and written Evidence