CENTRE FOR LIFE SCOOPS SCIENCE CENTRE ‘OSCAR’ AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE GIVEN KEY APPOINTMENT.
Staff at the International Centre for Life, Newcastle are celebrating after picking up a top industry award, the Leading Edge Award for Business Practice, from the Association of Science and Technology Centres, (ASTC)*, the global body representing science centres worldwide.
The Roy L. Shafer** Leading Edge Awards (or Edgies as they are more commonly known), are the Oscar equivalents for the science centre industry and presented annually in recognition of extraordinary accomplishments that not only enhance the performance of their own institutions but also significantly advance the mission of science-technology centres and museums worldwide.
Life was the only European science centre to win an award. It was handed the Leading Edge Award for Business Practice after demonstrating its commitment to applying best practice and achieving business efficiency as well as embodying the ASTC values of collaboration, forward-looking leadership and creativity. The international judging panel praised Life’s business model which, it said, had been thought through strategically from the outset. “It was remarkable that the Centre had operated for a decade without public subsidy”, said the judges, “and had never lost sight of its mission to open up minds to science.”
Chief Executive of the International Centre for Life, Linda Conlon accepted the award at the ASTC annual conference which took place in Baltimore, USA and was attended by over 1500 people from science centres globally.
In a further boost for the Centre, Linda Conlon, has become the first person from the UK to be appointed Vice-President of ASTC. Her role will be to look at the global issues affecting science centres and their relevance on a local level. She will take an active role in promoting the body’s global initiatives including its Youth Inspired Challenge programme, backed by President Obama, which aims to expand the impact of science centres and museums to help young people excel in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Speaking about her new role Linda commented: "It’s an honour to have been elected Vice President. I’m very keen to help ASTC reinforce what it does, both here in the UK and on a global stage, on the valuable role that science centres play in their community. Science centres are not only places for lifelong learning, they also provide opportunities for the research community to meet with the public; they support schools, and they contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of their local areas.”
This summer, Newcastle’s Life Science Centre presents ‘Wallace and Gromit Present…A World of Cracking Ideas’.
Using the much loved Oscar®winning characters and their famous 62 West Wallaby Street home, the exhibition showcases how innovation contributes to everyday life. Each room in the house is full of hands-on activities, fun and games: pop into the living room to experience the Oscar® winning duo’s very own creation -the Tellyscope II; step back in time in the 1960s kitchen to experience familiar brands and adverts and belt out your favourite songs in the bathroom’s karaoke shower.
See the life-changing creations that grew out of the simplest of ideas- and the half-baked ideas that never got off the ground (“chocolate tea pot Gromit?”), unleash your inner inventor, get top tips on how to protect your big deas and watch out for Wallace and Gromit who could make an appearance at any time!
Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm
Sunday 11am to 6pm
Last admission is currently 4pm but is subject to seasonal variations. If you’re planning to come after 3pm, please ring the Science Centre reception for the most up to date information, (0191) 2438268.
Admission Prices:
Tickets can be bought online (booking fee applies) at www.life.org.uk. Ticket prices on the door are: Adult: £9.95 Child (4-17) £6.95 Concession £7.95 Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children) £27.80