St Landrew Posted 1 December, 2008 Share Posted 1 December, 2008 Visited London today, and popped in the Science Museum. Have to say it was a bit of a disappointment, compared to visits in the past. Perhaps I'm not as goggle eyed as I used to be, but I could swear it was better only 15 years ago, when I last visited. There's so much that has been changed to accomodate people with little interest in science, that IMO, it has slightly blown it for the science and technology buff. A lot of it has become abstract and interactive in a very basic way. Even the simulators weren't simulating anything real, like air or space flight. Perhaps it's just me. The GB Black Arrow rocket was a delight though, and the Flight area was its old self, so I could touch base there. Had a debate with someone over the thickness of the metal skin of a Boeing 747 [there is a section of the fuselage there]. 16 gauge we thought. Anybody know the truth..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scudamore Posted 1 December, 2008 Share Posted 1 December, 2008 Went there on Saturday strangely enough...see the Japan Car exhibition? Man was that one of the sh:ttiest 8 bucks i've ever spent... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoswellSaint Posted 1 December, 2008 Share Posted 1 December, 2008 I was there on Friday with my children. They had a great time on a rainy afternoon. They spent most of their time in the Energy Room and the Launchpad. We had to almost drag them out of there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al de Man Posted 1 December, 2008 Share Posted 1 December, 2008 Having studied as a scientist myself, I have to say I was disappointed when I went a year ago and much preferred the Natural History Museum. In fact, I probably enjoyed @Bristol more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 2 December, 2008 Author Share Posted 2 December, 2008 Having studied as a scientist myself, I have to say I was disappointed when I went a year ago and much preferred the Natural History Museum. In fact, I probably enjoyed @Bristol more. Having also studied as an scientist, earth sciences in my case, I walked past the Geographical Society exhibition, and wished very much that I'd gone in there. I gave the Japan Car exhibiton a miss. I also appreciate that the Science Museum is very clearly aiming much of its product at the children of nowadays. The children of my era would have had their fathers fill their enthusiasm by describing the dry exhibits..! But I think some dads nowadays, are a little bit more into their mobile phones, and little else, when it comes to science and technology. I should also add that, amongst some mediocrity, the actual Apollo 10 Command Module was a trance moment for me, and a lifesize copy of a Lunar Module stood out too. Finally working out how the sleeve valves of a Bristol Centaurus aero engine worked was a high point, and looking upon a few of IK Brunel designs [and his father Marc's ship block production line] just added to my admiration of a industrial design genius. Despite the above, I still left the place slightly disappointed. If anyone really wants to try a museum for the day, they could go next door to the Natural History museum [as Al De Man suggests], which is always a joy; or get real enjoyment, as I did the last time I went, at the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich. Remember MOG wrote about Nelson's tunic with the fatal musketball shot through it. It's there..! There is also the added bonus of the Royal Obsevatory at the top of the hill there, with John Harrison's marine chronometers from H1 to H5. These are real jewels of design and can't fail to excite anyone with an appreciation for such delicate but strong timekeepers. Which reminds me, back at the Science museum - Foucault's Pendulum. I bored my companion within 5 seconds of starting to explain it. Well I think it's interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoswellSaint Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 I can remember going to the Science Museum as a child and being fascinated by the interactive displays they had then. Some areas we went through last week looked like they had not been updated since the 50s though. In the Launchpad area, they had people to explain the science behind the exhibits which had my children, their cousins and other children there enthralled. The Science Museum should always be aiming at the children of the day. St L, you sound a little patronising on that point. Many of the exhibits were low tech but full of scientific interest and value. We had planned to go to the Natural History Museum but ran out of time. Next time we are in London, maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 2 December, 2008 Author Share Posted 2 December, 2008 I certainly don't mean to sound patronising. I think the nature of science and technology in the modern era has become rather less understandable than the more nut and bolty technology of many years ago. It means that many people have given up trying to understand science and technology. But I appreciate many still do keep apace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 I reckon it's all a sign of us getting old SL, RS and ADM. As a youngster I was amazed not just by the moon landings, but by the fact that the pictures somehow travelled through thin air into our front room. Amazing times. Tonight, I pointed out the Moon, Jupiter, Venus thing to my Grandson, but he just wanted to get indoors to watch one of the hundreds of TV channels now on offer! When I was a nipper I wanted to know how the TV worked, and knowing the answer to that meant that you could have a career fixing them. Nowadays, people don't care how TV's work, they just do, and when they stop working, we bin them and get a new one. Blimey, I can remember watching a mates parents TV through their open window, cos no-one else in the street owned one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Fox Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 I recently spent a weekend doing all the "big three (free)" museums up here with my younger brothers, they loved all three, but the real highlight was the Imperial War Museum, a real sense of gravitas and emotion to it all, well worth a visit and the staff are very knowledgeable on all aspects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 Visited London today, and popped in the Science Museum. Have to say it was a bit of a disappointment, compared to visits in the past. Perhaps I'm not as goggle eyed as I used to be, but I could swear it was better only 15 years ago, when I last visited. There's so much that has been changed to accomodate people with little interest in science, that IMO, it has slightly blown it for the science and technology buff. A lot of it has become abstract and interactive in a very basic way. Even the simulators weren't simulating anything real, like air or space flight. Perhaps it's just me. The GB Black Arrow rocket was a delight though, and the Flight area was its old self, so I could touch base there. Had a debate with someone over the thickness of the metal skin of a Boeing 747 [there is a section of the fuselage there]. 16 gauge we thought. Anybody know the truth..? How old are you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLYMPIC Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 Have to admit went to the history museum for the first time in years last year and still found it very enjoyable,also the same year went to the Natural history museum in New York and found that i prefered it to ours but that might just be because it was a new experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 2 December, 2008 Author Share Posted 2 December, 2008 How old are you? 50. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 I adored the Science Museum when I was younger and the Natural History Museum, afraid to go back now incase it ruins that nostalgia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopGun Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 I do some work for MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry) in Manchester. Just setting up social networking programmes for them now. I agree that MOSI like Science Museum etc is aimed towards children but that's no bad thing IMO. They get coach loads every day which is good and do special things during holidays to get people in also. What is crap about MOSI is that some of the other things get ignored. For example, the gas lamps never work properly in the gas gallery and many of the interactive screens are dead a lot of the time. I appreciate everything costs money but it's always bad when exhibits don't work properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Warrior Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 (edited) ................. Edited 7 December, 2008 by Viking Warrior Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadeem Hardison Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 I found the whole place a bit disappointing. As if the poor quality simulators and the very basic interactivity weren't bad enough, I was brutally raped by one of the hospitality staff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint francis Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 I found the whole place a bit disappointing. As if the poor quality simulators and the very basic interactivity weren't bad enough, I was brutally raped by one of the hospitality staff. Did you make a complaint? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 I still love the Science Museum and the Nat.History one, mainly because it's such a beautiful building. My favourite part of the SM is the steam engine section and the huge balance beams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadeem Hardison Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 Did you make a complaint? No, I didn't want to make a scene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint francis Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 Well it was free entry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 Lounge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jawillwill Posted 2 December, 2008 Share Posted 2 December, 2008 Lounge? No, the science museum. Do keep up Ponty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 2 December, 2008 Author Share Posted 2 December, 2008 I still love the Science Museum and the Nat.History one, mainly because it's such a beautiful building. My favourite part of the SM is the steam engine section and the huge balance beams. Cough..! It's been drastically reduced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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