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The Royal Society's Local Heroes Programme The Royal Society’s Local Heroes Programme A collection of case studies 1 2 Introduction The Local Heroes programme was established to celebrate the Royal Society’s 350th anniversary in 2010. The programme enabled smaller museums, galleries, libraries and science centres across the UK to develop activities and events featuring their community’s local scientific heroes, thinking creatively about the way they were celebrated. The Society initially funded 50 The original Local Heroes programme and organisations, however by the end Extending the Reach led to the realisation of 2010 partner institutions had that the Society now had a wealth of expanded to 149, with over 1,500 experiences and excellent partnerships, individual events. In addition, the which has led to the development of the Society partnered with institutions Sharing the Experience workshops. These in major UK cities on more extensive workshops took place across the UK programmes of events, featuring in autumn 2011, and enabled museums both historical and contemporary that may not have a traditional science local heroes. focus to develop scientific activities, particularly for schools. Following the success of the 350th anniversary programme, the Royal This booklet contains case studies Society established a further grants from some of the original Local Heroes scheme for the original participants institutions, as well as tips on how to of the Local Heroes programme. The explore the science within the collections Extending the Reach grants enabled of your own institution and develop recipients to develop further schools exciting science-related activities. education activities. 1 How doth the busy banking bee? Bromley Museum is a local authority museum, located in the south east corner of the London Borough of Bromley, although the museum works to increase awareness of its collections and programme throughout the Borough. The museum has three full-time staff and six volunteers with an annual average footfall of 24,860. The activity Schools The museum holds the Avebury The museum currently works with Collection of ethnographical and 30 local primary schools. Traditionally archaeological artefacts, which was the focus has been on history, but the exhibited for the first time in 2010. project has given staff the confidence to introduce science into their programme. A neighbour and friend of Charles Based on the life and work of local Darwin, John Lubbock, First Lord electricity pioneer, Joseph Swan, Avebury was famous for keeping a pet the museum developed its first ever wasp and introducing Bank Holidays. scientific workshop. Schoolchildren Lubbock also had a keen interest in built a doll’s house based on Swan’s science, botany and insects and the home and learnt how to light it using museum aimed to share his belief that electricity and circuit boards. everyone has the capacity to advance their knowledge. The museum also developed a Darwin and Discovery box, reflecting life in The museum also introduced a bee Victorian Britain, and containing tools hive and ran a series of workshops for investigating insects. These give a on bees, honey and beeswax as real hands-on experience, just as Darwin well as a programme of talks on and Lubbock would have wanted. the contemporary relevance of Lubbock‘s work. 2 What can you do? • Think about unusual spaces for activities and getting new audiences. Bromley Museum exhibited some of their collection in a local park, accompanied by a talk for passers by. • The Joseph Swan workshop was the first time the museum tried a scientific workshop for schools – don’t be intimidated by trying new subjects, it may be easier than you think! • Create hands on experiments. Bromley Museum Lubbock created the wormery The Priory, Church Hill, Orpington, which can be a great way to Greater London, BR6 0HH teach a variety of scientific Tel 01689 873 826 topics. bromley.gov.uk/info/200070/museums_ and_galleries/357/bromley_museum Above: John Lubbock FRS, Lord Avebury © The Royal Sciety. 3 Mary Somerville – Reach for the Stars Burntisland Heritage Trust is a voluntary organisation supported by the Friends of the Heritage. Burntisland is a small seaside town in Fife with a population of around 5,500. The Trust holds an annual summer exhibition which attracts 1,400 – 1,800 visitors. The activity Schools An exhibition celebrated the The Trust worked in partnership with achievements of Mary Somerville (1780- the Museum of Communication and 1872), who lived in Burntisland as a child. the University of Edinburgh to develop It was through her childhood hobbies of workshops with Burntisland Primary music, painting and studying the natural School. The University’s Department world that Somerville developed her of Engineering recreated some of interests in science and astronomy. Born Mary Somerville’s experiments and in a time when the education of women the Museum of Communication held a was discouraged, Somerville became workshop on astronomy and telescopes. a well respected figure within the The school also received a visit from scientific community. The exhibition and the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh’s associated talks and school workshops miniature planetarium, Star Lab. These aimed to promote Somerville as an workshops were developed as part of inspiring figure for local children. They the Curriculum for Excellence, a new also aimed to encourage the idea that initiative by the Scottish Government. the interaction of different subjects can result in new learning and interests. 4 What next? The Trust will continue working What can you do? closely with the local primary school • Explore how aspects of the in delivering workshops as part of the lives of historical figures annual exhibition. They will also continue such as Mary Somerville can to establish and maintain links with other be inspirational to modern organisations that can help deliver future audiences and promote women events and activities. in science. • Think about new ways to communicate with your existing or target audiences. The Trust developed a special newsletter aimed at children, which proved very successful. Burntisland Heritage Trust burntisland.net/heritage-trust.htm Above: Workshops taking place at Burntisland Primary School. Photo courtesy of Burntisland Heritage Trust. 5 Local Heroes Opened in late 2008, Caithness Horizons is an independent museum based in Thurso. The county of Caithness is largely made up of small rural communities, with limited public transport. Despite Thurso’s population of 7,000, the museum has an annual footfall of 70,000. The museum has six full-time and four part-time members of staff and 18 volunteers. The activity Family and school age activities The museum launched a permanent In May 2011, Caithness Horizons ran exhibition on botanist and geologist, Keep It Under Your Hat, a colourful arts Robert Dick (1811 – 1866), which was project devised by local artist Joanne B accompanied by a series of walks Kaar. The project, aimed at school-aged and a conference. Robert Dick was a children, was designed for the Museums Thurso-based baker, who while entirely Galleries Scotland’s Festival of Museums self taught, collected an extensive week. The museum also runs a series of Herbarium, which was described as educational workshops based around “unique in its completeness”. Dick also the life of Robert Dick. challenged the accepted theories on local fossils. 6 What next? The exhibition has enabled the museum What can you do? to begin a successful fundraising • Work with experts to campaign to conserve the individual complement your collections, Herbarium specimens. Caithness for example Caithness Horizons Horizons created a temporary exhibition gained expertise on the to celebrate the bi-centenary of Robert relevance and conservation Dick’s work in Autumn 2011, interpreting of the Herbarium. his story from an artist‘s perspective. • Consider if your research or The museum has also developed links collections can be used as a with other science organisations to help basis for a fundraising initiative. develop the scientific content of further Local pride in an individual exhibitions and activities. or locally relevant topic may encourage local businesses to get involved in your work. Caithness Horizons Old Town Hall, Thurso, Caithness, KW14 8AJ Tel 01847 896 508 caithnesshorizons.wordpress.com Above: A participant in a Keep It Under Your Hat workshop. Photo courtesy of Caithness Horizons. 7 Trilobites, Time and Space Congleton Museum is an independent charitable Trust, situated in the historic rural market town in Cheshire. The museum is entirely run by volunteers with two paid staff. The activity Schools The museum hosted an exhibition Three workshops, Rocks and Fossils, and programme of talks on the life of Time and Earth and Planets were John Whitehurst. Whitehurst was an developed and offered to local schools, 18th century clockmaker, geologist who then selected the most relevant and hydraulic engineer, who found topic and year group. Following inspiration from his childhood walks in discussion with teachers, each the Peak District. These activities were workshop was adapted accordingly. accompanied by a schools programme. All workshops included an introduction to John Whitehurst and an explanation of why he was so important. The initial project was delivered to 10 local primary schools (392 children) in 2010 and was extended to the neighbouring town of Biddulph in 2011. All of the sessions involved pair/group interactive activities, ensuring that visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning styles were utilised. 8 What next? The workshops were used by schools What can you do? as an introduction to the science and • Use your local heritage as a mathematics topics they were covering basis for scientific workshops. and many plan to repeat the workshop Whitehurst‘s wide interests have in the next academic year. The sessions a direct relevance to the area, will continue to form part of the which helps put the subject into museum’s education programme. a local context. The exhibition attracted many new • Develop workshops that fulfil visitors to the museum and prompted different requirements, rather many to undertake their own research than establishing new ones.
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