How do you start making an Orrery? I have enough difficulty saying ‘Orrery’, much less get my head around putting one together. The task was given to my much cleverer colleague Ian, who over a few months put together the 52 gears and sprayed all the planets to create the most beautiful mechanical structure. And just to show off, it’s possibly the world’s largest at 5m diameter.
The Orrery was commissioned by the award winning Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, part of the Jodrell Bank Observatory. As well as running on auto-mode, it is also linked to a hand generator to enable visitors to ‘drive’ it themselves.
Jenny
Link to BBC article
The University of Manchester's article about the orrery
Sheep Exhibits
25 February 2013
Having photos of our exhibits is important to us. Clients refer to them, we refer to them, and its just good to keep a record especially if you’ve been making exhibits for over 25 years. So on installation trips, I remind my colleagues to take lots of photos of the final exhibition especially if it’s abroad. These days it easy with digital cameras right?
On a recent visit to Sørlandet, Southern Norway, the team installed some wonderful, large exhibits interpreting the area’s coastal heritage. A triple ‘pull yourself up’, giant hamster wheel, energy exhibits and a delightful exhibit that explored coastal currents which, at its prototyping stage, everybody at work wanted to play with.
So I was a little disappointed to hear that only two people took photos of the exhibits. One managed to take some of the ‘insides’ for the O&M manuals and another took about six of the exhibits. “OK”, I said to them, “i’ll take them anyway, whatever you’ve got”. To my surprise, there were lots of photos, hundreds actually. It appears there was a trip organised by their generous hosts to a lighthouse on a nearby island whose inhabitants included some friendly sheep.
So for now, here are the unofficial photos for the project.
Jenny
Our latest clients…are ourselves!
10 January 2013
As a non-profit organisation, the income from building exhibits for others goes back into our own Science Centre - The Observatory Science Centre in Herstmonceux, East Sussex.
At the end of last year we installed the new Earth and Beyond exhibition consisting of 25 exhibits as well as a large constellations exhibit. We are also undergoing a refurbishment of our Discovery Park - an outdoor interactive park which, after 15 years is getting a major upgrade and refurbishment.
The Centre occupies the buildings and grounds that were part of the former home of the Royal Observatory after it moved from Greenwich. As a science and discovery centre, it continues to have astronomy at the centre of its operations with events, outreach and of course, interactives.
A return to the Arctic Circle
28 August 2012
We were delighted to return to the Tromsø based science centre to install new exhibits in time for their 10th birthday anniversary celebrations. There are additions to their existing galleries on weather, the environment, energy and human biology, as well as a set of puzzle exhibits.
Once again, we have enjoyed working with the team at the centre in creating new exhibit designs and interpreting this region in the Arctic Circle.
Finishing touches to The Science Garden
02 July 2012
We have just completed the installation of a large outdoor Science Garden for Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum. Despite the summer being one of the wettest on record, the team have completed the last stages of this project which is already attracting some great reviews.
Science Projects worked closely with the Outside Studios and the Thinktank team to develop and refine the exhibit designs before building and installing them.
More information on this project can be found here.
Exhibit Prototyping Conference: hands-on development of hands-on exhibits
29 June 2012
The workshop was buzzing with activity last week as representatives from five different science centres and museums spent three days at our workshop for an Exhibit Prototyping Conference. Each team worked with our exhibit designer/builders making, testing and prototyping ideas for exhibits they wish to develop for their centres. After the conference, each centre will go on to build their exhibits themselves or choose a contractor to do so.
Imogen leaves to continue her studies
28 May 2012
After 9 months working with us, Imogen Ransley Buxton leaves Science Projects to continue her final year of her degree in Furniture and Product Design at Nottingham University.
Quickly proving herself to be a quick learner, what started out as a 10 week student placement turned into 18 weeks, followed by a further 8 weeks full-time employment. Imogen became an important team member in the workshop, quickly acquiring new skills and helping on site in Hungary and Birmingham UK.
We all wish her the very best of luck for the future.
Science Projects at ECSITE 2012
23 April 2012
The European Network of Science Centres and Museums will be holding its annual conference at Cité de l’espace in Toulouse. As usual, Steve, Tim, Ian and Jenny will be at the Science Projects stand in the Business Bistro to welcome friends and colleagues old and new. Ecsite conference website
Car themed science centre opens in Hungary
15 March 2012
A new science centre opens its doors to the public. ‘Mobilis’ is situated in the historic city of Gyor in north west Hungary. A striking building based on the Wankel engine houses over 70 interactive exhibits over two floors and is based on the science, mechanics and technology of cars and their relationship with people.
Science Projects were priviledged to be involved in this project, supplying all the interactive exhibits and graphics.
Exciting times for Nordnorsk Vitensenter
22 January 2012
Nordnorsk Vitensenter is located at the world’s northernmost University in Tromsø, Norway. Already established as a planetarium, it has recently taken steps towards the expansion of its science centre with exhibits interpreting the fascinating geography and climate of the region (the centre is located within the Arctic Circle).
We were delighted to be asked to provide an overall design style as well the design and build of exhibits including many new designs which are unique to the centre.
With the expansion continuing and more unique one-off exhibits to come, The Science Centre for Northern Norway is certainly one to keep your eye on.
Science Projects wins contract for new interactive park
It consists of a 2,750 sqm outdoor space where people of all ages can interact with hands-on exhibits to explore the scientific principles and technology behind harnessing energy for different uses. Science Projects have been working with the development team at Thinktank and exhibition designers Outside Studios to create unique one-off designs that provide a high level of interaction for its users. Large iconic body-on exhibits, water interactives and a host of other exciting exhibits will be able to accommodate multiple users and encourage group work.
The exhibition is part of a massive regeneration project to create a new centre for learning, technology and heritage in Britain’ second largest city.
Bringing life to the radars on HMS Belfast
1 May 2011
HMS Belfast served Britain for 32 years and is the only surviving vessel of her type to have seen active service during the Second World War. In a newly restored Operations Room, visitors walk into the midst of an exercise – based on 1961’s ‘Operation Pony Express’.
The room’s radars needed to be animated for the experience to work and we were given the challenge of fitting realistic radar animations into the original radar units without disturbing or modifying the historical hardware. With guidance from veterans and experts, we are delighted to have brought the radars back to life after all the years of silence.
Our science centre has been awarded a Quality Badge from the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom. This is a national accreditation which confirms that the Observatory Science Centre in Herstmonceux, East Sussex offers good quality teaching and learning experiences in a safe environment.
The accreditation is a great boost to the science centre whose ambitious programme of events and activities now includes workshops, open evenings, astronomy courses, science shows, lectures, seasonal events, telescope tours and even an annual astronomy festival.
Exhibits installed in Malaysia
25 January 2011
A team from Science Projects have returned from installing exhibits for The National Science Centre of Malaysia. The large exhibits 'stations' are about optics, photosynthesis and energy.
Pictured: The Energy Circuit is a centre-piece exhibit which can be used by many users at the same time. Balls are fed into the exhibit and lifted up by using various mechanisms and devices. As they fall, they interact with falling elements and roll along the tracks, ready to be lifted up again. The exhibit design was developed by Science Projects especially for the science centre.
The Atmosphere Gallery opens at the Science Museum
16 December 2010
Prince Charles officially opened the new gallery at the Science Museum in London. The stunning new exhibition presents the issues surrounding climate as well as the methods used by Scientists to investigate how climate has changed.
Pictured: The Keeling Curve, named after scientist Charles David Keeling is a continuous measurement of carbon dioxide in the atmospheric and is credited with bringing to the World’s attention the effects of human activity on the Earth’s climate.
We worked with designers Casson Mann to produce an interactive 3D version of the chart which includes a animated video of the sample collection. Science Projects also built an electroluminescent graph which is illuminated by the visitor to display temperature graphs of the sea, land and air.
Exploring constellations at the Gaziantep Planetarium
15 October 2010
The new Gaziantep Planetarium in Turkey have approached Science Projects to supply one of our large iconic exhibits about the Constellations.
Their aim is to find and move the mythical characters to the correct position in the sky by simply moving the arm and hand. The unique interface provides a totally new visitor experience in the world of museum and science centre interactives.
School’s Science Zone opened by Nobel Prize winner
14 October 2010
East Barnet School’s state-of-the-art science facility was officially opened by world renowned Microbiologist Sir Tim Hunt. The London school was one of just 7 selected for the government’s Project Faraday scheme to ‘deliver the best in science teaching and learning’.
New cutting-edge equipment provides an inspirational and interactive learning environment. These include the iconic 60 Year Clock, Robot Lab and Drop Zone, developed from concept ideas into functional installations by Science Projects. Pictured: the Drop Zone is a giant three storey clear enclosure fitted with cameras and devices for pupils to conduct a whole range controlled experiments.
Exhibits installed at Chicago's new Science Park
11 June 2010
These are some of the exhibits recently installed in a new ‘Science Park’ in Chicago, USA. Garoon’s Gateway to Science is a new outdoor centre with an aim to promote science by engaging visitors with an interactive experience.
We supplied a suite of large mechanical interactive exhibits which include some of our classic designs such as the Water Circuit and Archimedes Screw.
Attending ECSITE?
10 May 2010
If so, come and see us on stands 26 and 27 at the Business Bistro. The 2010 ECSITE conference is being held in Dortmund, Germany from 3-5th June.
