Message from the Chief Executive, Linda Conlon
Dear Friend,
I hope you and your family continue to stay well.
This week, the global science centre community was due to meet in Pittsburgh, U.S, for the annual ASTC (Association of Science and Technology Centers) conference. As is the new norm, we swapped conference halls and meeting rooms for virtual sessions and networking.
It struck me how quickly we’ve adapted to communicating in this way. The sessions, as usual, have been enlightening and lively – and no prizes for guessing what is the overriding theme. As good as it is to connect and share ideas, something is missing, of course. As humans, we crave interaction and real-life experience. Fingers crossed we can meet up in 2021!
The desire for the real is evident in the reaction to our forthcoming October half-term offer. Tickets have been in demand as families look to experience an entertaining and safe day out. The emphasis is on fun, but we are also offering support to parents who are trying to explain the pandemic to their children – see below on how we’re approaching this.
Like many organisations, we’ve faced a turbulent year, and have had to make some difficult decisions, including saying goodbye to some valued colleagues. We’re hoping that we’re entering a period of stability in terms of staffing – but, of course, who knows what’s round the corner.
As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or experiences to share, please get in touch by emailing info@life.org.uk.
Stay safe.
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Making sense of the pandemic
October half-term is traditionally one of our busiest periods. The team has continued to work hard to adapt more of the centre so we can deliver the best and safest experience possible. Some of the highlights for families include a new live show exploring things that go bump in the night, plus the chance to create your own monster shadow puppet or GIF.
As a science centre, our purpose is to help everyone explore and enjoy science and to discover its relevance to their own lives. This has never been more important. Families are our core audience and they’ve shared with us their concerns about how they explain the pandemic to their children. So, during their visit, our brilliant science explainers will be on hand to share some facts and answer questions, in an accessible – even fun – way. Visitors can explore the ingredients in hand sanitiser, see how sneezes spread diseases and why soapy water is the enemy of the virus. They can also discover what’s happening here in the North East to help fight the pandemic and delve into what we can all do to make a difference.
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Continuing to serve our schools
We’ve missed welcoming school groups since the March lockdown! During the summer, we undertook research with North East teachers to understand better the challenges they face. One of the messages that came back loud and clear is there is an appetite for online science content to engage and inspire students. So, our team has delivered and we’re now trialling some new approaches with schools.
Recognising the power of Life’s science explainers as positive STEM role models, I’m a Scientist online workshops launched today for the Autumn Term. These sessions give pupils the opportunity to chat with the team, share their enthusiasm for science and hear about their favourite exhibits. Future sessions include explainers Hayley and Lauren talking about the Mars Rover and the digital globe The Sphere, respectively – both star exhibits in the Space Zone in Life Science Centre.
Reflecting the popularity of space as a curriculum topic, Life partnered with Northumbria University for the STEMFest in Space online festival on 8 October. The session, for KS2 students, explored the effects of spaceflight on the human body and can be watched again here.
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Skating at Life cancelled for 2020/21 season
Life Science Centre will not be running its outdoor ice rink for the first time in nearly 20 years due to ongoing uncertainty caused by the pandemic.
The team explored every option to bring the ice rink to Times Square, but with increasingly tight restrictions around COVID-19, ongoing uncertainty and the threat of a national lockdown before Christmas, opening the rink is just too risky.
Life Science Centre remains open.
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Global recognition for Life’s community work
Life’s work with the autistic community continues to attract international recognition. Over the past couple of years, Life has worked in partnership with the North East Autism Society (NEAS) and the result is a rich and rewarding relationship rooted in mutual respect, an openness to learn from each other, and a desire to create the best experience possible for autistic visitors.
David Jones (pictured above), Community Liaison Manager at Life, is in increasing demand to share his experience with other organisations, peers and the media. Yesterday, he led a session at the global ASTC conference: Inspiring Practice to Improve an Autistic Visitors Experience. He was joined by Zoe, an 11-year-old autism advocate, and her mum, Nicola.
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Funding to make a difference
Life has received funding from the Reece foundation to establish a Maker Club programme, co-produced with young people and delivered primarily online. The aim is to identify, support and develop interest and aspiration in engineering and technology in young people in the North East. Life has long been a trailblazer in the making movement; for nearly 10 years we were home to the flagship Maker Faire UK, and last year opened the Making Studios in the centre.
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Highlights from #LifeGoesONline
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Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for our latest content, and visit the online content hub to find all of our activities in one place.
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Local COVID-19 research
Plans for a multi-million-pound regional COVID hub – the first of its kind in the country – have been unveiled by the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust and Newcastle City Council.
Serving the North East, north Cumbria, Yorkshire and Humber, the laboratory will deliver high-volume, rapid turnaround of COVID-19 tests, with the capacity to process up to 80,000 tests a day if needed. The integrated COVID hub will link testing and results into clinical data systems used by hospitals and will support NHS Test and Trace, as well as increasing local resilience for rapid outbreak response.
It will also include a specialist innovation lab at Newcastle Helix, tailored to develop new approaches for the next stage of COVID science.
The hub is due to open in December 2020, and has created about 1,000 jobs, from lab support workers to scientific and professional roles.
Read the full press release >
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Life recommends
Teaching has restarted at universities. For the new term, why not take part in some free virtual lectures hosted by Newcastle University:
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Support us
The International Centre for Life (Life) is a science village that is part of the fabric of Newcastle upon Tyne and a valued resource to the region. The groundbreaking research and patient therapies that take place here have led to international recognition.
From the thousands of babies born with the help of fertility treatment received onsite, to the patients with debilitating diseases who have benefitted from research and clinical treatments, Life has made a difference to so many. There is nowhere quite like it in the world – a place where researchers, clinicians, science communicators and educators work side-by-side on one site, sharing expertise and ideas and creating a unique circle of science.
The charity Life Science Centre is at the heart of this circle. Welcoming about 300,000 visitors a year, its mission is to help people of all ages, from all communities, explore science and to discover its relevance to their own lives and to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals. This mission has never been more crucial than it is today.
COVID-19 has had a massive impact on us. Please support us so that we can continue to make a difference. Click the button below to make a donation.
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