SOYUZ HITS ROBOTS ARE A FEAST OF MAGIC OF ILLUMINATING ALL GO AT THE ROAD ON THE MARCH FESTIVALS MATHEMATICS INDIA LOCOMOTION RETURN TO CONTENTS PAGE ILLUMINATING INDIA ‘Thank you for the contribution that the Science Museum made to the UK Commonwealth INDIA IN A Summit, and the visit of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. I am very grateful for the role you played in making this happen’ SPECIAL LIGHT Matt Hancock, Culture Secretary Illuminating India celebrated the country’s rich cultural and scientific history The Illuminating India season The then Secretary of State for Culture, brought together the Indian diaspora Media and Sport, Karen Bradley, in the UK, culminating in a visit to the sent a recorded message to the Science Museum in April from HRH season launch event to ‘convey my The Prince of Wales and the Indian congratulations and those of the entire Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, UK Government. It is especially fitting during the Commonwealth Heads that tonight the Science Museum, of Government summit. The Living which is the most visited museum in the Bridges event, organised by the UK by school groups, celebrates India’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, contribution to science, technology saw Prince Charles and the Indian and mathematics.’ She went on to thank PM touring the exhibition Illuminating the British High Commission and British India: 5000 Years of Science and Council, notably Baroness Prashar, Innovation with curator Matt Kimberley deputy chairman; and Alan Gemmell and Science Museum Group director OBE, director, British Council India. Ian Blatchford. The Prince of Wales left the reception in the Jaguar She extended a warm welcome to I-Pace, a new zero-emissions electric the Indian High Commissioner, His car produced by Jaguar Land Rover, Excellency Mr Yashvardhan Sinha, who which is owned by the Indian Tata told the guests that it was important Steel company. that the people of his country and the UK connect and share, ‘not just what A hugely popular event series ran we did in the past but what we are alongside the exhibitions and new going to do in the future.’ work by artist Chila Kumari Burman, and included a screening of Oscar- Illuminating India is an outstanding winning film Slumdog Millionaire and example of collaboration between Q&A with Danny Boyle, a tea-blending the UK and India – supported by the workshop and a weekend of activities Bagri Foundation, the Helen Hamlyn for families. ‘I originally asked Chila Trust and the John S Cohen for one modest painting inspired Foundation – it has brought together by India but she was so inspired by organisations including the University ‘Witnessed the Illuminating India exhibition the exhibition she presented us with of Oxford Bodleian Libraries; the From top left, clockwise: director Danny with The Prince of Wales. The exhibition 29 pieces of artwork and created Alkazi Foundation, the Survey of India, Boyle, external affairs director Roger showcases India’s rich history in science, a glittering tuk-tuk that welcomes the British Council and the Indian Highfield, Eugenia Chen and Venki Ramakrishnan in discussion and the technology and innovation’ visitors as they enter the museum,’ diaspora, forming a living bridge Prince of Wales welcoming the Indian PM, said Blatchford. between two great nations. Narendra Modi, to the Science Museum Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister RETURN TO CONTENTS PAGE CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME ‘This is the cradle of the Industrial OUR FIVE WORLD-BEATING MUSEUMS Revolution, it’s fantastic history’ Science Museum, London National Railway Museum, York Vince Cable, Liberal Democrat leader, Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester on the Museum of Science and Industry National Science and Media Museum, Bradford Locomotion, Shildon ‘When I visited the National Science and Media Museum as a kid I was SUPPORT OUR MUSEUMS OUR CELEBRATION captivated by the idea of the Visit sciencemuseum.org.uk/about-us/support-us animated image. So it was a thrilling or for corporate membership and patrons see page 59 and surreal experience to be THE YEAR ON VIDEO exhibiting Thresholds in the museum’ OF SCIENCE AND sciencemuseum.org.uk/annual-review-video Mat Collishaw, artist ‘The National Railway Museum is best placed to showcase both ENGINEERING the historical and contemporary advances in railways in a new, The vision of the Science Museum Group is of a society that celebrates science, modern world-class building’ technology and engineering and their impact on our lives, Sir Peter Hendy, chairman of Network Rail now and in the future, says Mary Archer, chairman of the Group ‘The Science Museum presents incredible opportunities for people to engage with some of For me, one of the enduring pleasures European Regional Development Fund re-imagining of the Great Hall and the most important technological of walking round any of the Group’s – officially became part of the Group the steady progress we and our partners developments of the last two five museums is to see the impact our last December, and we still enjoy a close are making with the York Central centuries. It tells the powerful SCIENCE MUSEUM GROUP collections have on our visitors. From the working relationship with the council. It development; this will give us the space ANNUAL REVIEW 2017–18 unbridled enthusiasm of the 445,000 was kickstarted by a commitment from the to showcase the current renaissance of story of human progress’ children who came with their teachers in council and our Board of Trustees to fund the railways and future developments Eric Schmidt, © 2018 The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum booked school groups this year, to the jointly long-overdue repair work to the in the rail industry. Board Member and Technical Advisor, Alphabet Edited by Bob Williams quiet appreciation of visitors to our First historic buildings on this site. with generous input from staff across the group World War exhibition, Wounded, and the The annual science festival run by our and its many bloggers new audiences brought in by speakers Our medium-term plans for Locomotion Museum of Science and Industry in Designed by Steve Lancefield such as mathematician Andrew Wiles and will see even greater investment, but Manchester is now the most successful in exhibitions such as Illuminating India, I see already it can draw on the Group-wide the country, and here too we plan major Project manager Jessica Lloyd-Wright day by day how we are building science infrastructure rolled out in the past year, capital improvements to the public realm Copy editor Lawrence Ahlemeyer capital in individuals and society. ranging from a new brand and look to surrounding our historic buildings, as well new web and digital estate. as the buildings themselves. Main photography from group resources: We are the most national of the nation’s Museum of Science and Industry National Science and Media Museum museum groups, with four of our five At our National Railway Museum in York, it At our National Science and Media National Railway Museum/Pictorial Collection museums in the North. When we welcomed has been good to see the first signs of the Museum, the new Wonderlab and Science & Society Picture Library the 2,500,000th visitor to the smallest of rebrand have stimulated an uplift in Science Museum Library and Archives Science Museum Photographic Studio these – based in the country’s first railway visitor numbers. Partnership working has Daily Herald Archive/National Science and Media Museum town, Shildon, County Durham – it sent enriched the Bradford Science Festival, out a loud signal that it is full steam which we relaunched in summer 2017, and With thanks for additional photographs by: Alchemy VR, Tim Anderson, Anderson & Low, Kasim Asim, Stephen Baxter, ahead for the Group. the museum’s outreach work has been a Dan Clarkson, John Clifton, Kieran Davis, Benjamin Ealovega, Drew Forsyth, continued success. Hugo Glendinning, Nick Guttrdige, Jody Hartley, Jennie Hills, Kate Hunter, Our milestone visitor in January of this year Jill Jennings, Jody Kingzett, Jason Lock, Barry Macdonald, Lee Mawdsley, Michael Mckeown, Roger Moody, Phil Oates, Dan Oxtoby, Hazel Palmer, was Sean Richards, from Sedgefield, who None of this would be possible without Richard Pearson, Jonathan Perugia, Plastiques Photography, Dan Prince, came with his daughters Anna and Alex, financial support, not only from SMG Digital Lab, Paul Thompson, Kira Zumkley and nephew Thomas. They were there to government through our much-valued Printed by Go Agency, using sustainable paper – Cocoon Silk 100, which see Tim Peake’s Soyuz spacecraft which, and much-needed Grant in Aid, but from is produced from 100% post-consumer recycled, FSC certified pulp. Less with the support of Samsung, has been our many partners, patrons, supporters energy and water are consumed and fewer CO emissions are produced 2 touring our five museums, and other sites and visitors. We thank them all for their during manufacturing, compared with the production of virgin fibre paper. FSC recycled certification, NAPM 100% recycled certification, ISO 14001, across the country (by land not space) and generosity and commitment. Finally, I note Process Chlorine Free (PCF) and PAS 2020:2009 Level 3 inspiring the next generation of astronauts. that we are looking at a substantial change in our Board of Trustees in 2019, and I am Our Shildon museum – born in 2004 grateful to our current board for their Cover image: The Sokol KV-2 emergency spacesuit worn by British ESA astronaut Tim Peake during the Principia mission to the International Space Station, 2015-16. Recently acquired by the Science Museum Group and unveiled at The Museum of Science and Industry in March. with the support of the Heritage Lottery Dame Mary Archer inside this year’s Manchester hard work and commitment throughout Photography by Jennie Hills for the Science Museum Group Fund, Durham County Council and the Science Festival immersive experience, Tape another busy and successful year.