Trips to the Museum: Art and Science

This time of year the weather does not always encourage outdoor activities. A wet day in February can be quite unpleasant and therefore difficult to cultivate your love of nature. This is where museums come in. We love going to museums as a family as it is a great way to see a wide variety of different artefacts and learn about them. They can create a fascination and interest in the world around us and support our understanding of science and nature. 

Studying the Geological Collection 

Oxford University Museum of Natural History 

 Being half-term we wanted to do something a bit more interesting so we decided to go to Oxford. When deciding what to do it did not take us long to all agree on the Natural History Museum. We were not disappointed. Their collection was incredible and well informed. We spent a total of four and a half hours pouring over fossils, rocks and animal exhibits. The way the museum was set up to tell the story of evolution of our world was exceptionally informative. I always find being reminded of how we came to be incredible and humbling.

Beautiful Natural Patterns 

Fossilised Fern

We each had a favourite bit. My daughter was fascinated with the natural patterns that nature has produced in the fossil record. She was trying to determine if there were mathematical patterns present. This came from my wife exploring fractals in her art work. My highlight was the section on human evolution. I always love looking at the way that we have changed from Australopithecus africanus (lucy) through Homo habilis and Homo erectus to the modern day humans. It was nice to sit back and look at how the changes had taken place over time.

Coral

Ammonite

Back in Worcester we went to the Worcester Museum and Art Gallery. Whilst much smaller in terms of exhibits it still had an engaging collection of fossils and animals that we were all very interested in. It was nice to see some of the pre-historic animals that lived in the Worcester area millions of years ago and to learn about the geology of the local area.

Jurassic Ammonite found in the Cotswolds

The strength of the museum in Worcester is that is has a widespread range of things that can connect a variety of backgrounds and ages. There is something for everyone. From science to art, history to geology to anthropology. This is what is needed as it connects a much broader range of people and then encourages them to learn about other areas of interest. Whilst only a small museum we had a lot of fun exploring and learning. I think that the sign above their back door sums it up: Art and Science. Science is vitally important but we also need art to help encourage new ideas and brighten up our world.

Carboniferous Seed Fern from Wyre Forest

Art and Science

In addition to our museum visits we have been involved in the hands-on pop-up science centre in Cheltenham that has been taking place all of half-term (Cheltenham Science Group). This was set up to engage a wide range of people in science, technology, engineering and maths with the hope to show that there is a need for a permanent hands-on centre in Cheltenham. It has been a huge success and this is because it has a range of different activities that have engaged a wide range of ages and backgrounds. There were exhibits on light, sound, heat and energy. There has also been information about perfumes and mathematical art.

Koch Snowflake by Ann-marie Ison

Setting up the Art stand at the Science Centre

As part of the science centre my wife has been displaying her mathematical art. Her art work has been developing mathematical principles, such as fractals and the fibonacci sequence, in an artistic way to try and engage as many different people in maths as possible. It would be a much duller world if we were to keep the two worlds apart. And it was clear from the response of the people of Cheltenham that they liked the concept.

Pop-up Art at the Pop-up science Centre, Cheltenham

Volunteering is always a lot of fun and rewarding, however, what made this experience so special was the way the people in Cheltenham engage with science and maths, so much enthusiasm. The hands on experience really helps people connect and to see how the scientific or mathematic knowledge can be used in a wider context. It is clear that the people of Cheltenham really want to engage more with science and maths and they would clearly benefit from a permanent centre; this is why I am so keen to support, help and get involved! But I also think that all towns and cities would benefit and and embrace such a centre.

The Team of Volunteers for the First Day

People Engaging in Science

A lot of the pop-up science exhibits have come from @bristol. We are crowdfunding to raise money to make some of our own to use in schools, at future events and become part of the centre when we have one.

Investigating Pressure

Christ Church Meadow, Oxford