play:

Play & Learning

2008 Annual Report

Contents

01 Vision

02 Mission

03 Markets

04 Technology

05 Business

06 Financial statements

The Science Museum matters. At a time of rapid and radical change, when humans have become a force on a global scale, where better to find insight and inspiration?

Our unrivalled collections show the power of human ingenuity and enterprise. We tell stories not just of science, engineering and medicine, but of the creative industries and businesses they underpin. We cover issues that are important to everyone, now and in the future.

Our aim is to make the Science Museum the best place in the world for people to enjoy science. This commitment drives everything we do. The Science Museum’s staff are leaders in science communication and learning, giving the Science Museum an international reputation. But we plan to go further, establishing new ways of making meaningful connections between our visitors and our collection.

Message from the Director

The Science Museum has now completed the first year of its development programme and we are well on track towards realising our vision to be the most admired museum in the world.

2008 Annual Report 2

Summer 2009 will be an important time for the Science Museum, marking the start of our Centenary year. This will be an opportunity to celebrate this important milestone for the Science Museum and milestones in innovation and invention. I look forward to announcing the new galleries, exciting programmes and captivating events which will commemorate this special occasion.

In 2007-08 we welcomed almost 4.5 million visitors to our museum, the highest visitor figures since free admission. Our learning programmes continue to reach record numbers of children across the UK, both at the museum and through our outreach programmes.

A particular highlight was the redevelopment and opening of the new Launchpad children’s gallery, specifically designed to make Physics more accessible to 8-14 year olds; we were delighted to welcome the Prime Minister, George Brown to open the gallery in November 2007.

Improving the care of, and access to, our collections is very important to Science Museum. I was delighted that our exciting plan to create an inspiring collections centre and visitor attraction at our Science Museum Swindon site – called Inspired

Professor Chris Rapley CBEDirector of the Science Museum18 July 2009

Overview

3 Play & Learning

Uniform Polyheora

The Science Museum has over 300,000 objects in its care, with particular strengths in the history of Western science, technology and medicine since 1700. It has been uniquely placed to acquire objects recording the Industrial Revolution, and now holds unrivalled collections in this area. Medical artefacts from all periods and cultures also form an important part of its holdings. The Science Museum Library & Archives is a major research library of the history and public understanding of science and engineering, which is freely available to the public. It contains half a million items, including many which are rare or unique, such as a first edition of Sir Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica, a signed copy of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, the personal archive of Barnes Wallis and a copy of the Apollo 11 flight plan signed by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. From the Industrial Revolution to the year 2000, Making the Modern World contains a peerless display of original iconic objects which have shaped our society.

“Learning is at the heart of the Science Museum, making it one of the most popular school-trip destinations in Britain, with a global reputation too”

Steam power has driven Britain’s industry for 300 years, and still meets 75% of our energy needs today. The Energy Hall showcases an unparalleled collection of historic full-size engines and models. The Antenna gallery reports on what’s new and hot in science. Visitors can check out the latest technology and meet scientists during the school holidays. Part of the ongoing Science Museum Arts Projects, and presented by The Art Fund, Listening Post is a ‘dynamic portrait’ of online communication, displaying uncensored fragments of text, sampled in real-time, from public internetchatrooms and bulletin boards. Learning is at the heart of the Science Museum, making it one of the most popular school-trip destinations in Britain, with a global reputation too.

The Learning team help teachers take science beyond the classroom and turn it into a thrilling learning experience for primary and secondary students. When students visit the Museum, curriculum-based events help boost their learning through memorable live demonstrations. Our diverse and creative resources can be used in the Museum and for homework and science clubs.

2008 Annual Report 4

What’s more, we develop and deliver a range of continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities for educators as part of our partnership with the Science Learning Centre London. Our Learning and Education teams are regular contributors to the education and lifestyle press, commenting on such diverse topics as science toys and how to explain the inner workings of the body.

Rockets, satellites, space probes and landers are all to be found in Exploring Space. Visitors can find out about Sputnik, the world’s first satellite, and how we have subsequently launched thousands of satellites around Earth, sent spacecraft to other planets, walked on our Moon and peered into the heart of our galaxy and beyond.Launchpad is for 8 to 14 year-olds and packed with over 50 interactive exhibits, plus electrifying shows and lively demos, all from the wonderful world of physics. Pattern Pod is a hands-on gallery that was created especially for 5 to 8 year-olds.

Using multi-sensory technology Pattern Pod encourages children to recognise and copy patterns – or create entirely new ones of their own. For the youngest budding Einsteins, The Garden is the place to be. Playing is just another way of learning and The Garden is ideal for 3 to 6 year-olds to discover science in an exciting, multi-sensory environment.

With a screen taller than four double-decker buses, state-of-the-art 3D technology and wraparound sound, the Science Museum IMAX 3D Cinema transports audiences deep into t he action. It runs a daily schedule of largeformat 3D and 2D films, with current favourites including Deep Sea 3D, Fly Me to the Moon 3D and Space Station 3D. Legends of the Sky 3D opens in 2009.

Achievements

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“The Museum received more visitors than it has done in the last three years with the total of 2,604,612 and the number of educational visits rose to 317,112”

It was an exciting year all round. The Museum received more visitors than it has done in the last three years with the total of 2,604,612 and the number of educational visits rose to 317,112. There was a parallel increase in commercial activity with the IMAX cinema and the Museum store breaking all trading records. The Museum’s website continued its year-on-year upward trend in visits, with over 8.1 million visits this year.

The Science Museum Swindon also increased its visitor figures this year to 49,283. The Science Museum Swindon became one of six visionary projects to progress to the next stage of the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks: The People’s Millions programme. It secured a £500,000 development grant to be used towards the cost of developing the project through to stage two by May 2009.

The six shortlisted projects will compete for a single Lottery grant, with the winning project to be decided by a televised public vote in late 2009. Another coup for the Museum was the publication of the critically acclaimed Giant Leaps in Novecmber. The book combines the Sun’s headline writing skills with the Museum’s expertise in presenting the greatest developments in the history of science. Endorsers included Buzz Aldrin, Sir David Attenborough and Professor Colin Blakemore, with the Prime Minister himself reading from the book at a Royal Society conference.

2008 Annual Report 6

Hyperbolic Paraboloid Elliptic Paraboloid Cone in two sheets

Activities

7 Play & Learning

Stellation

During the year audiences were treated to a wide range of exhibitions. Pixar: 20 years of Animation was the first in a series of family-oriented exhibitions, exploring the art and science of animated films such as Toy Story and Cars. The successful Game On spanned the history of computer gaming and technology, also examining the culture of gaming.

The year also saw members of the public taking part in exhibition curating for the first time ever in the Museum’s history. Playing with Science showcased visitors’ toys alongside objects from the Museum’s own collections such as a 1930s chemistry set that once belonged to King George V. The Museum also celebrated the bicentenary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel with Isambard Kingdom Brunel: Fame and Fate, an exhibition examining the engineer through some of the most iconic photographs taken of him. Issues of contemporary science were also addressed through the cutting-edge Antenna exhibition series, which included NEURObotics… the future of thinking? exploring the effect medical technology can have on the human brain.

The Dana Centre continued its public engagement work through innovative events such as the Cybersonica digital arts festival and Fairground: Thrill Laboratory where participants could learn about the science behind fear and excitement, and experience the fairground rides themselves. Other highlights included witnessing a live kidney transplant for the first time in the UK and Drugsfutures, part of the Academy of Sciences public consultation project. During the year the Dana Centre also developed its first audience-led events in partnership with the Chinese community in London.

An impressive number of people, from nursery groups to adults, took part in the Museum’s schools and outreach programme. The team continued to offer some of its most successful programmes such as the Creative Canal project, which engages with disadvantaged groups along the Regent’s Canal. New projects include an outreach programme to support Launchpad, the Museum’s hands-on interactive gallery, and a programme about waste management for Key Stage 3 students in association with SITA and DEFRA.

2008 Annual Report 8

The Museum’s collections information team carried out extensive work to improve the quantity and quality of collections documentation data. Fundamental research into the collections resulted in a book on penicillin by one of the senior curators and a display of key items from the astronomy collections. The Museum also received its licence from the Human Tissue Authority for the storage and display of human remains, and continues to ensure that all its collections meet the requirements of the current legislation.

“The year also saw members of the public taking part in exhibition curating for the first time ever in the Museum’s history”

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Total incoming resources

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRYCONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR YEARENDED 31 MARCH 2007

2

225

2 -24

68

3

Incoming resourcesIncoming resources from generated fundsVoluntary income Grant in Aid from DCMS Grants, legacies and donationsActivities for generating funds Income from commercial activities Rental income from operating leasesInvestment incomeIncoming resources from charitable activities Lottery income Sponsorship Other income

Total incoming resources

Resources expendedCosts of generating funds Costs of generating voluntary income Commercial costs [fundraising trading: cost of goods sold and other]

Charitable activities Care for and research into collections Science education and communication Visitor servicesGovernabce costsTotal resource expendedNational costs of capital

Total resource expended includingnotional costsNet incoming/[outgoing] resoursesGain/[Loss] on revaluation of assetsReversal of notional costs

Net movement in fundsFund balances brought forward at 01.04.06Fund balances carried foward at 31.03.07

Notes

10

2007unrestricted

funds£000

53,478

35,322

13,966459362

4692,741

159

3,425

11,077

15,1779,706

53,1871,153

4551,153

13,437

365

54,340

74626,64427,390

[862]

62,532

36,697

13,966459365

6272,2342,741

5,443

2007total

£000

3,706

15,451

24,16812,168

69,3584,895

2,4324,895

13,437

365

74,253

[4,394]264,118259,724

[11,721]

57,849

34,093

13,466487199

6642,0151,880

5,065

2006total

£000[restated,

see note23]

3,137

13,302

22,07911,474

65,0614,971

17,4454,971

14,678

391

70,032

10,233253,885264,118

[12,183]

9,051

1,375

---

6271,765

-

5,284

2007restricted

funds£000

281

4,374

8,9912,525

16,1713,742

1,9773,742

-

-

19,913

[5,143]237,387232,244

[10,862]

3

-

--3

---

-

2007endow

ment£000

-

-

--

--

--

-

-

38790

3

2007unrestricted

funds

2007total

2006total

2007restricted

funds2007

endowment

53,478

62,532

57,849

9,0513

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRYBALANCE SHEETS AS AT 31 MARCH 2007

Notes[restated, see note 23]

2007 £000 2006 £000

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

[restated, see note 23]

2007 £000 2006 £000

MUSEUM BALANCE SHEET

39 8

- -

242,05610 249,81012,82711 11,560

254,886 261,378

Fixed assertsIntangible assetsTangible assetsHeritage assetsInvestments

Creditors: amounts falling duewithin one yearNet assetsTotal assets less current libilitiesCreditors: amounts fallingdue after one yearProvision for liability and chargesEarly Retirement provision

Net assets

Represented by:Resticted fundsSponsorship, Grants andDonations ReserveRevaluation ReserveCapital Projects Fund

Unrestricted funds

Designated fundsMuseum Improvement ReserveCollections Purchase FundRevaluation ReserveCapital Projects FundContingency FundPost Office Building Purchase Reserve

General funds

Total income fundsEndowment FundsTotal Funds

- -

605 620

15,076 13,590

[6,521] [6,603]

- -5,91414

15.2

17

19.1

7,558 8,203 9,5858,500 5,000 8,500 5,000

57 412 [541] 305

16,252 14,890

[4,716] [4,568]

8,555 6,987 11,536 10,332263,441 268,365 260,478 265,296

259,724 264,118 259,138 263,623

4,581 3,892 4,581 3,89279 119 79 119

3,272 2,902 2,040 1,67017,727 18,688 17,717 18,688

645 623 645 623200 100 200 100

886 320 1,532 1,057

22,169 21,805 22,169 21,805205,615 211,216 205,615 211,216232,244 237,387 232,244 237,387

19.2 27,390 26,644 26,804 26,149

259,390 264,031 259,048 263,53619.2 90 87 90 87

259,724 264,118 259,138 263,623

[2,910] [3,157] [533] [583]

[807] [1,090] [807] [1,090]

235,704 243,003

248,942 254,974

12,827 11,560411 411

2008 Annual Report 10

254,886

261,378

248,942

254,974259,974

264,118

259,138

263,623

0607 0607

Investments Total funds

0607 0607

Consolidated Balance Sheet Museum Balance Sheet Consolidated Balance Sheet Museum Balance Sheet