Science museum marks 25th birthday with special event

We The Curious, a popular science museum located in Bristol’s Millennium Square, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with a unique event that invites visitors to share their personal memories of the attraction. The museum’s leaders are hoping to create an interactive timeline that tells the story of the museum through the eyes of the people who have visited over the years. This timeline will be built with the help of local artists, organizations, and members of the public, who are encouraged to contribute photographs, souvenirs, or any other memorabilia from their visits. Donna Speed, the CEO of We The Curious, explained that the exhibition will be shaped by the experiences and memories of the community. She said, 'It is literally going to be built by people's experiences, memories and moments in life that we're trying to trigger so that we can demonstrate the connection we have with our community and really celebrate that.

According to Ms. Speed, We The Curious is more than just a building; it is a space that reflects the curiosity and creativity of the people who use it. She emphasized that the timeline should be as much about Bristol and its people as it is about the museum itself. Some visitors have already shared touching stories, such as having their first date at the museum and later getting married under the stars in the Planetarium. The exhibition is open to all kinds of contributions, and there are no strict guidelines for what people can submit. The final display will be created from the memories and items that people choose to share.

We The Curious, which was previously known as At-Bristol or @Bristol, first opened its doors in 2000 as a successor to the Exploratory. It was home to the UK’s first 3D Planetarium and has offered a wide range of interactive exhibits over the years. Some exhibits are permanent, while others change regularly to keep things fresh and exciting. Visitors have had the chance to see a real human brain, make their own animated films, explore a mock television studio, and even try out dissections in the Live Lab. Children especially enjoy experimenting with levers, pulleys, cams, and gears, and building and firing model catapults. The museum had to close temporarily after a seagull damaged a solar panel, but it continued to bring science activities to schools and communities across Bristol. Ms. Speed described reopening the museum as one of the most complex and demanding challenges they have faced, but she was grateful for the incredible support from the community. She said, 'Every day we're open feels like something to celebrate. ' The museum is also working with the charity Creative Youth Network to help create the new exhibition, which will be displayed later this year. People who want to contribute to the timeline can submit their memories online or in person until the end of August. The museum hopes that many people will take part in this special celebration of its 25th birthday.