Message from the Chief Executive, Linda Conlon 



I don't think I’m alone in being thankful that spring is just around the corner. February was the wettest on record in the UK, combined with what seemed like an endless succession of imaginatively named storms.  With such wild weather in abundance, it's not surprising that a recent study by Cardiff University found that nearly a quarter of people think climate change is the "most pressing issue facing the UK".
 
Given current concern about the COVID-19 outbreak, I imagine that researchers would find a different result if they polled the public today.
 
Read below to see what Life is doing to help its visitors navigate these turbulent times.
 
As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or experiences to share, please get in touch by emailing info@life.org.uk.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent explores Life Science Centre's new Space Zone by Exhibition Developer Sarah de Launey.

Royal stamp of approval


 

Life is no stranger to Royal visits: the centre was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen in 2000, who applauded the novel approach of bringing together NHS clinics, academic research and public engagement on one site. Two decades on and royal enthusiasm hasn’t waned.
 
His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent visited Life on 5 March and described the centre as “an amazing place”. This was a double celebration – marking the start of British Science Week and Life’s 20th birthday this year.
 
The Duke was welcomed by Life chairman Alastair Balls and chief executive Linda Conlon.

During his visit, the Duke met members of the Life team and partners from across the site including Professor Chris Day, the Vice-Chancellor and President of Newcastle University, Professor Mary Herbert, Professor of Reproductive Biology at Newcastle University and Scientific Director of the NHS Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life and Dr Jane Stewart, Head of the NHS Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life. He was also presented to Dr Vicky McFarlane-Reid, Executive Director of Enterprise and Business Development, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
 
His Royal Highness, who has a personal interest in science and innovation, toured the science centre, including the new Space Zone and the Making Studios, and Life’s education laboratories. He also met some of the 4000-plus school children expected to visit over the next month.  Before leaving, he found time to sign the ‘wall of fame’ which includes the signatures of a range of luminaries including best-selling author Bill Bryson, Nobel Prize Winner Peter Higgs and astronaut Helen Sharman.
 
A selection of images from the day is included at the end of this newsletter.

Viral news you can trust


 

Information and anxiety about COVID-19 is rife at the moment, and it’s increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction. Science centres the world over have a responsibility to help people make sense of complex science – particularly those issues that have such a profound impact on our everyday lives.
 
With this in mind, Life has introduced new digital TV screens around the centre to share facts about COVID-19 with our visitors.
 
The graphics were created by the New York Hall of Science who, in the spirit of partnership which the science centre community is famous for, shared with colleagues around the globe.
 
For more information on how science centres can help to turn the tide on the rise of fake news, read this article by Linda Conlon (from p.112 onwards.)

Alastair Balls, this is your Life!


 

Later this month, Alastair Balls will step down as Life's chair following 13 years of steering the organisation in this pivotal role. Before becoming chair, he was chief executive of Life for 9 years.
 
Alastair was a major driving force behind Life’s creation and delivery. It was his idea to build a science village that would bring together educators, researchers, entrepreneurs and clinicians – all on one city centre site. He raised nearly £60 million to make this ambition a reality. 20 years after opening, Life is still regarded as an original and innovative organisation. It’s no coincidence that business leaders, prime ministers and Royals put Life on their itinerary when visiting the region.

Before Life, Alastair had an illustrious career in Whitehall. In 1987, he was appointed Chief Executive of the newly established Tyne and Wear Development Corporation, a post that he held until the corporation was dissolved in 1998.  In the New Year’s Honours of 1994, Alastair was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath for services to regeneration in the North East of England.
  
The general consensus is that Life wouldn’t be the same without him, so he’ll be taking on a new title of Honorary President.

Fiona Cruickshank OBE will succeed Alastair as chair later this month.

Expert additions


 

One of the advantages of being a science village is we have cutting edge researchers on-site who share their exciting work with visitors. The public love to meet ‘real’ scientists, while the researchers often get the chance to gather data for their projects. Win, win! As well as scientists on-site, we involve researchers and experts from universities and industries across the region.
 
During the recent February half-term holidays, a Durham-born planetary physicist from Oxford University and NASA shared how he's studying Mars' atmosphere; scientists from Teesside University brought to life the excitement of a rocket launch; and a geologist from North Pennines AONB enthused visitors with her fossils and meteorites proving not all rocks on our planet are from Earth.
 
Large-scale themed events with multiple experts provide a real buzz in the science centre. We recently saw our first Making Studio takeover with 32 engineers from 8 different organisations, for what has become a now annual ‘Meet the Engineers’ event. Visitors explored various fields of engineering including structural, civil and electronic through activities such as hand-crank Scalextric, balloon cars and leaning towers. By doing this, young people are able to see the potential of a range of rewarding career pathways.
 
We are always looking to expand the ‘Meet the Expert’ programme. Interested? Please email ben.orrock@life.org.uk

Appreciating our planet from two directions


 

The stormy weather this winter has meant that our planetarium has offered a unique opportunity to see beautiful clear skies. Life offer tours of the stars and planets in the Live Skies planetarium shows and visitors have been treated to stunning views of the constellation Orion and the planet Venus, which is dazzlingly bright at the moment. They have also been awestruck by a fly-out from Earth, through the solar system, neighbouring stars and beyond our galaxy to appreciate the vast scale of the universe!

Meanwhile, relative new-kid-on-the-block, the Sphere, has allowed visitors to experience contemporary science with the aid of striking visuals. Feedback from the Climate Change show has confirmed that our visitors are exceptionally keen to engage with urgent environmental issues. 

Royal visit gallery


His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent is welcomed by Life chairman Alastair Balls and chief executive Linda Conlon (top left).

The Duke meets Professor Chris Day, the Vice-Chancellor and President of Newcastle University, and Dr Vicky McFarlane-Reid, Executive Director of Enterprise and Business Development, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (top right).

Schoolchildren explore the Space Zone (bottom left).

The Duke talks to Professor Mary Herbert, Professor of Reproductive Biology at Newcastle University (bottom right).
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