Mercury #7

SCIENCE

CENTRE

NEWS

The Chief Speaks BodyWorks Opens

ISSUE 7

GLASGOW

So Good You Can Taste It Unflappable Jenny T

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Glasgow Science Centre is a charity whose mission is to inspire, challenge and engage everyone with the wonders of science.

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Introduction Glasgow Science Centre has had a great start to 2013, with the launch of our £2 million BodyWorks exhibition and a range of new initiatives underway.

BodyWorks was years in the planning and when the exhibition launched just before the Easter break, we were flooded with visitors of all ages. It really was an exciting night and one that will live long in the memories of everyone who attended.

It is appropriate to remind people that the exhibition wouldn’t have got off the ground to such great effect without funding from key sponsors Wellcome Trust and GSK. The exhibition content was developed with the help of more than 200 expert collaborators.

Their contribution was superb, as was the effort of our own scientific team led by Dr Robin Hoyle.

With a total of 270,368 visitors, this past year has been the Science Mall’s busiest since it opened in 2001. Overall, the Centre experienced a seven per cent increase in visitor numbers compared to the previous year, dwarfing average industry growth of 1.5%.

Elsewhere, the Centre has resolved the long term future of the popular IMAX cinema within an novel partnership agreed with the national chain Cineworld.

We were very impressed with Cineworld’s exciting and enthusiastic response to our initial request for partnership proposals. The Centre’s ongoing education programme involving the IMAX will continue, and there will be new investment in the cinema-going experience.

Our attention has turned to the next exhibition renewal, Powering the Future. We are working hard to secure top-class sponsorship for this initiative, which will examine every aspect of the science behind energy, including oil and gas, and renewables.

The Centre’s exciting programme of events was enhanced this year by BBC TV presenter and chef James Martin’s very popular “Taste of Science” presentation, which drew visitors from all over Scotland.

This autumn, TV celebrity, comedian and science buff Dara O Briain will be hosting “A Question of Science” and we’re expecting another smash hit.

Behind the scenes, Glasgow Science Centre is undergoing change in the way we go about our business, and in the new partnerships we are creating with the private sector, as well as key stakeholders in Government, enterprise agencies and the education sector.

We are also planning some changes to the content and appearance of Mercury, so watch out for our next edition in the autumn!

Dr Stephen Breslin Chief Executive Officer

ISSUE 7

BodyWorks opens for business Glasgow Science Centre has been abuzz since the successful opening of our £2 million BodyWorks exhibition in March. Individuals of all ages are blazing a trail to unravel the wonders of the human body.

BodyWorks takes the very notion of science centre exhibitions up a notch with its highly immersive environment, allowing visitors to engage in numerous ways with the field of human health and well-being.

Visitors have been running in a giant hamster wheel, exploring the intricacies of the human brain via a 3D brain, using a “virtual autopsy” table (the only one of its kind in the UK) and getting up close to real plastinated human specimens. There’s even a “DNA disco” that explains genetic science in an entertaining way.

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“What’s really come across in the feedback is that there’s something for everybody,” says Dr Robin Hoyle, Director of Science at Glasgow Science Centre and BodyWorks Project Director. “We wanted to try and bring in more serious science, but we’re also aware that people come here to have a good time and be entertained.

“We’re hearing about teenagers spending hours on Floor 3 and I’ve noticed a lot more twentysomething couples up there too.

That’s something new for us, and I’m delighted to see it happening, as it was very much our aim that the exhibition should appeal to a wider age range.”

“It’s very much a scientific community product. GSC is a brilliant vehicle for communicating the latest research to the general public in an accessible way, and we’re delighted to see it being used so well.”

The exhibition demonstrates the far-reaching influence of the researchers, scientists, medics and engineers currently working in Scotland. BodyWorks also goes a long way towards advancing the Scottish Government’s strategic objectives to build a Scotland that is Wealthier and Fairer, Smarter, Healthier, Safer and Stronger, and Greener.

“ It was very much our aim that the exhibition should appeal to a wider age range

“

GSC Partnerships Coordinator and Bodyworks Project Leader Gillian Lang, added: “We enlisted the help of more than 200 experts and scientists from industry and academia to produce this exhibition.

Dr Robin Hoyle Director of Science

ISSUE 7

“Highlighting careers opportunities is another important by-product of our partnership working,” Gillian says. “People come in and see the enormous range of jobs available in their local environment. BodyWorks doesn’t limit our younger visitors to aspirations of becoming a surgeon or a professor; we’re able to introduce the fact that there’s an entire spectrum of careers available across health and science.”

The aim of BodyWorks has been to introduce more in-depth science to visitors. The team provided layered interpretations and strong visual content. Touch screens let the user control how much or how little they explore a subject.

“ GSC is a brilliant vehicle for communicating the latest research to the general public in an accessible way

“

To date, BodyWorks has been enjoyed by over 100,000 people. On-going ‘Meet the Expert’ sessions in the LiveLab and regular updates to the research capsules will help keep the exhibition fresh and exciting.

Dr Gillian Lang Partnerships Coordinator

BodyWorks has set a precedent for the continuing refreshment of the Centre as a whole.

This £2m investment represents the biggest upgrade since GSC opened in 2001.

“This marks the start of a new era for the Science Centre of redeveloping all of our floors on a systematic basis,” explains Gillian.

“We have a model in place for going out and conceptualising ideas, securing funding, refining those ideas and then developing a project through to installation. This is now something that we’ll be doing as standard.

“BodyWorks is just the beginning.”

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The power behind the project Take £2 million in funding, 700 square metres of space, more than 200 experts, 100-plus exhibits, five years of planning, four crates of German beer, three key contractors, two launch nights, one suitcase bursting with bratwurst, a dedicated project team and a single, unflappable project manager. Jenny Templeman explains how we built BodyWorks.

When did work begin in earnest to install BodyWorks?

I was seconded to manage BodyWorks full time at the start of 2012.

Back then we were still developing the concepts for the exhibits.

The pace ramped up for me when we began looking at working with external contractors. There was plenty to do before we even cleared the floor and started.

Who were the key contractors involved?

We had to advertise the exhibit fabrication contract Europe-wide because of its value, and the tendering process was a massive piece of work in itself. Of the many bids received, Huttinger came out top in our evaluation of quality and cost.

With Huttinger we examined things like usability, interactivity, health and safety, aesthetic appeal and their fit with the overall design.

Gillian Lang and Robin Hoyle went to Germany a couple of times to sign off exhibits as they were being built.

The third and final contract, for the set work that brings the whole exhibition space together, was advertised on Public Contracts Scotland. Glasgow based company Elmwood was the successful bidder, which meant it was very easy for me to pop in once a week to check that the quality of finish was hitting the mark for us.

“ Ultimately, it was the teams that worked on the project that really made it what it is today

“

ARKA Design Studio did all of the exhibition design, including the overall layout and vistas. The plans went through many different iterations before we arrived at a design that was practical and would work within the building.

Jenny Templeman Project Manager

ISSUE 7

What preparations did you make before beginning the installation?

We shut Floor 3 and cleared the space at the end of October.

We were really conscious that every aspect of the exhibition surroundings had to do BodyWorks justice. Before even the first piece of set work went up we configured the power and services for each exhibit, replaced the tatty old carpet tiles with a more easily maintained rubber floor, designed and built a new lighting rig, and did a deep clean.

How did the installation itself go?

Elmwood started work at the beginning of January and Huttinger then shipped over all of the exhibits.

At that stage, the set work was around 70% complete. So I had to make sure that the Elmwood team continued to complete their work, while at the same time ensuring that Huttinger had access to the set work into which they needed to install the exhibits.

I also had to manage the input of our on-site engineers so that holes were cut into set work and power fed through in time for the exhibit to be installed, and so that when the time came for our software developer to work on the interactive touch screens, the set work, screens and computers were in place. Managing that sequence of events so that everyone had what they needed when they came on site was probably the most challenging part of it for me.

Communication between all of the parties was aided by the fact that Huttinger brought with them crates of German beer and a suitcase of German sausage, and threw a barbecue on the first night for everyone involved in the installation. It seemed to be a tried and tested method of getting everyone on side!

How did everyone manage as the deadline approached?

For the first time we had a soft launch opening, which proved so beneficial. A week before the VIP launch, we welcomed 100 Science Passport holders who responded first to our Facebook invitation.

The installation was pretty full on but really enjoyable. With this project we’ve had the luxury of a lot more time, so we planned it better than ever before.

It was a really nice atmosphere to work in.

The guys from Elmwood and Huttinger were so professional and helpful. Our engineers really bought into it and got stuck in as well. Ultimately, it was the teams that worked on the project that really made it what it is today.

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STARTER

A Taste of Science with James Martin FIRST COURSE

Glasgow Science Centre’s corporate events team pushed new boundaries in the kitchen to complement our forward-looking Taste of Science dinner.

Popular TV chef James Martin was the star turn at our second annual Taste of Science dinner in March.

The BBC Saturday Kitchen host was a real attraction, with more than 450 people celebrating the taste and science of combining unusual flavours and experimenting with food.

The dinner was more than an opportunity to hear a gastronomic genius. It was also a chance to engage the business community.

Our ‘Young Chefs of the Future’ cookery competition invited youngsters in Primaries 4 to 7 to plan and cook an imaginative two-course menu for their favourite scientist.

The winners met James Martin as well as winning an annual family pass to the Science Centre.

“Scotland has a great range of cookery talent with Michelin star chefs such as Martin Wishart, Andrew Fairlie and Tom Kitchin,” said James Martin. “The contest can inspire the next generation to follow in their footsteps.”

MAIN COURSE

The dinner helped our Corporate Events team to showcase how the Science Centre can be transformed into a really special evening venue. The high calibre of both the food and its delivery underlined our five-star service.

“Our food is sourced locally, prepared with skill and passion, and served in a way that supports the aims of the Science Centre,” says manager Judy Rae. “Our procurement recycling policy helps us minimise our carbon footprint. All of these things came into play when determining our menu.”

DESSERT

A quick glance at the menu provides a flavour of what was on offer. Our highly creative chef Kenny Meechan likes to push boundaries on the plate, without going too far off the scale.

“Before the meal, James Martin said he thought the duck combination sounded very exciting; afterwards he commented that the flavours worked together superbly,” Judy says. “It’s great to get feedback from someone like James that you’re one step ahead of the game. It’s the next generation of food.”

Proud to support Glasgow in its aim to become a city of science

0141 420 5000 | www.glasgowsciencecentre.org Glasgow Science Centre is a charity whose mission is to inspire, challenge and engage everyone with the wonders of science.