London, 2011-Nov-25
His Royal Highness will be shown around the £4.5m climate gallery, divided into five zones focusing on different areas of climate science showcased through a variety of interactive exhibits and objects, each of which literally responds to the actions and decisions visitors make.
Siemens, who are a key sponsor of the gallery, provides essential infrastructure and services across the key sectors of industry, energy and healthcare and actively encourages the growth of skills in science, technology and engineering.
Andreas J. Goss, chief executive, Siemens plc said: “Siemens is delighted to be a principal sponsor of this important climate science gallery. Climate change is the most serious challenge facing us all and it is imperative that young people in particular are inspired to engage in how we as a society adapt to a low-carbon world.”
“Siemens is a leading company providing innovative environmental infrastructure solutions. Last year, globally our customers reduced their CO2 emissions by 210 million tonnes using products and services from our environmental portfolio, said Goss. “That’s the equivalent of the emissions from New York, Tokyo, Berlin and London put together. This global focus on environmental care is driving innovation and investment and underlines the importance of scientific advances in combating climate change.”
“The new climate science gallery at the Science Museum promises to play a central and authoritative role in the public debate on climate change.”
More than a hands-on gallery, atmosphere reveals some of the key instruments used by today’s scientists, reports on some of the latest climate science news, and gives visitors the chance to dig deeper into the story of the science behind our changing climate.
Prof. Chris Rapley CBE, Director of the Science Museum, said: “The Science Museum’s role is to make sense of the science that shapes our lives – our latest addition, atmosphere, aims to make sense of one of the biggest issues today, climate change. We are delighted that His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, a well-known supporter of climate change science, will be officially opening our climate science gallery. Whatever your level of understanding the gallery will provide you with an enjoyable experience and a clear framework of what is currently known about the climate so you are better able to make up your own mind about this subject.
”Gallery highlights include a section looking at how scientists have studied past episodes of climate change illustrated by tree ring and stalagmite samples and a real ice-core from Antarctica – the only one on display in a UK museum.
His Royal Highness will be one of the first visitors to see a range of objects, previously unseen, including an original Keeling flask used by Charles Keeling of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography to measure the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere from the late 1950’s.
The gallery will also feature examples of how designers and engineers are responding to the challenges of climate change and contributing to a low carbon future. Exhibits include a hydrogen fuel cell car from eco transport company Riversimple, an energy-generating paving slab and a specially-commissioned animated video ‘Life in a Low Carbon World’.
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Notes to editors:
About Siemens in the UK
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 168 years ago and now employs around 16,000 people in the UK. Last year’s revenues were £4.1 billion. As a leading global engineering and technology services company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, across the key sectors of energy, industry and healthcare. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Frimley, Surrey. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk
For more information, contact:
Laura Smith
PR Manager
Siemens plc
Tel. +44 (0)1276 696374
Laura.smith@siemens.com
About the Science Museum
For 100 years the Science Museum has been world-renowned for its historic collection, remarkable galleries and inspirational exhibitions. With around 15,000 objects on public display, the Science Museum’s collections form an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical change from the past few centuries. Aiming to be the best place in the world for people to enjoy science, the Science Museum makes sense of the science that shapes our lives, sparking curiosity, releasing creativity and changing the future by engaging people of all generations and backgrounds in science engineering, medicine, technology, design and enterprise. In 2008/09 the Science Museum was proud to have been awarded the Gold Award for Visitor Attraction of the Year by Visit London and a Silver Award for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year by Enjoy England. The Science Museum works with a number of partners and retains editorial control over all gallery content.
Visitor Information
atmosphere: exploring climate science opens to the public on 4 December 2010.
FREE
Science Museum, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2DD
Open daily 10.00 to 18.00, except 24-26 December
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/atmosphere / 0870 870 4868
For more information, contact:
Laura Singleton
Science Museum Press Office
020 7942 4364
Laura.Singleton@sciencemuseum.org.uk
For more information about the Royal Rota on Friday 3 December, please contact Clarence House Press Office:
E-mail: hannah.howard@royal.gsx.gov.uk
