The Science of Survival, explores how our lives could be affected by changing climate and resource availability, and how new applications of science and technology could affect how we live by 2050. Now open at the Science Museum, the exhibition is a fun and thought provoking, hands-on attraction that will enable visitors, particularly families, to explore options for a more sustainable lifestyle, and how science and technology could play a part.
Stephen Foulger, Content Director of The Science of… says “The Science of… tackles the big questions in science and technology and there are no bigger questions at the moment than how we cope with changing climate and the availability of resources like oil and water. We know everyone is bombarded by messages about living more sustainably, but these can be confusing and contradictory, so we developed The Science of Survival to enable people to explore and understand some of the options sustainable living.”
Developed in consultation with scientists and researchers across the UK, such as Dr Tim Wheeler of the Walker Institute for Climate System Research at the University of Reading, and Jacob Tompkins, hydrogeologist and Director of Waterwise*, The Science of Survival, demonstrates how science, technology and lifestyle changes could help us mitigate and adapt to climate change and diminishing resource availability.
The exhibition has seven areas; Briefing, Drinking, Eating, Enjoying, Moving, Building and Future City; chosen because they relate to everyone’s daily lives. These areas use artefacts, expert sound bites, stories, as well as interactive games and design activities to look at some of the various possibilities of how visitors could live sustainably in the future.
Throughout the exhibition, a series of unusual and thought provoking objects collected from around the world demonstrate how science and technology are being used to help us cope with our changing planet. Artefacts include a model of the Pivo electric car that show us options of how we could help make transport greener; water saving devices like the Toilet-lid sink; water transport systems such as the Qdrum; food production ideas like the Eglu, an urban chicken coop; and the eCube, a device that makes refrigerators more energy-efficient; each showing us alternatives to our current lifestyles.
The exhibition also features the voices of people who face real sustainability challenges in today’s world, like Euan Murray of Carbon Trust, Pushpanath Krishnamurthy of Oxfam and The Climate Group’s Steve Howard. These first-hand experiences highlight possibilities for positive change and the role science and technology could play in responding to these challenges.
Interactive exhibits and graphics explore other aspects of how science and technology could change the way we live in future. Some of the themes look at include whether we should use genetic modification to create new crops to cope with a changing climate and the challenges in developing a hydrogen economy.
Using an individual RFID tracking system, visitors can interact with several games and design activities. Here they will get the chance to apply science and technology to real life problems in a playful, hands-on way. Visitors will get the chance to use their imaginations when designing their own 2050 eco-vehicle, perhaps a superfood of the future and even discovering new ways to find drinking water…and many other challenges.
At the end of their experience, visitors will use their Survival RFID card to see their 2050 neighbourhood that they have built rise from the ground and come to life in our 2050 Future City, which shows how everyone’s lifestyle choices combine to have impact on all our futures.
Chris West, Director of the UK Climate Impacts Programme, who advised on the exhibition development, says “The Science of Survival makes it clear that climate change will make changes to our day-to-day lives here in Britain, as well as having devastating effects elsewhere in the world. It gives visitors an insight into the science behind how we may deal with climate change and other environmental challenges that we’ve heard so much about in recent years. The exhibition also demonstrates how science and technology could help us find some solutions for the future.”
The Science of Survival is sponsored by three global organisations BASF, HSBC and Nissan who have signed on for the duration of the exhibition’s tour. The Science of…is excited to work with three global partners who are committed to tackling the important issues addressed in the exhibition, not only through their business operations but also by their investment in education and the environment. Much of the organisations’ environmental commitments and practices complement the themes and messages of The Science of Survival.
The Science of Survival exhibition at the Science Museum runs until 2nd November 2008 before embarking on a global tour.
To find out more about the exhibition, purchase exhibition tickets or access educational resources visit www.scienceof.com/survival.
For further information, interviews, or visuals please contact:
Melissa Prince on 020 79424375, melissa.prince@scienceof.com
About The Science of…
“The Science of…” is a new media brand, founded by a partnership between the Science Museum, London and Fleming Media. Conceived to take popular science to a global audience, The Science of… produces exhibitions, publications, TV and online projects – all focused on bringing to life the impact of science and technology in everyone’s lives. This is the third exhibition in The Science of… series, following The Science of Aliens and The Science of Spying, now touring through North America and Asia. “The Science of wants you to explore, play and learn through participating in a new, vibrant world of science“. www.scienceof.com
About the global sponsors
The Science of Survival is supported by three global sponsors BASF, HSBC and Nissan. They all share a commitment to a more sustainable future. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. HSBC was the world’s first major bank to go carbon neutral and is helping to tackle climate change by working with clients, governments, businesses and partners to help find solutions to the challenges of climate change. Information on HSBC’s programmes can be found at www.hsbccommittochange.com. Nissan are focusing on both reducing the impact that vehicle production and driving has on the environment and developing new technologies to deliver sustainable vehicles and energy sources
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF’s high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to meet the challenges of the future and open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. BASF has approximately 95, 000 employees and posted sales of €52.6 billion in 2006. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
About HSBC Holdings plc
HSBC Holdings plc serves over 128 million customers worldwide through around 10, 000 offices in 83 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of some US$2, 354 billion at 31 December 2007, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as ‘The world’s local bank’.
About Nissan
Nissan Motor Company generated global net revenues of 10.468 trillion yen in 2006. Nissan is present in all major global auto markets selling a comprehensive range of cars, pickup trucks, SUVs and light commercial vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. Nissan employs over 180, 000 people worldwide. Under the Nissan Value-Up business plan, the company continues to focus on long-term sustainable and profitable growth driven by three commitments: To maintain top level of operating profit margin among global automakers; To achieve global sales of 4.2 million units in 2009; 20% return on invested capital on average over the course of the plan.
About Fleming Media
Fleming Media was set-up by the Fleming family to explore new opportunities in acquisition, creation and management of intellectual property rights. They are financial and operational supporters of such properties as Player One, a leading publisher of video games and mobile content and the Fuse TV cartoon series Empire Square. The company has been granted the digital IP rights for the Young Bond book series and developed the popular “Young Bond: SilverFin” mobile video game with Player One and the website, www.youngbond.com.
About The Science Museum
The Science Museum (www.sciencemuseum.org.uk) is home to more than 220, 000 objects and provides fascinating insight into the worlds of science, technology, medicine and industry. The past, present and future of human scientific ingenuity are explored – you can see and experience major scientific advances from the past 300 years, from original working steam engines to the actual Apollo 10 command module, all spread over six floors in a building ¼ mile long! With an IMAX cinema, simulator rides, hands-on interactive children’s galleries, drama characters, children’s science shows and guided tours, the museum provides an educational and entertaining experience for all. The Museum was established with the profits from The Great Exhibition of 1851 and is now one of the top visitor attractions in the UK.
