The newly opened Thinktank Science Garden in Birmingham offers visitors of all ages the chance to get ‘bodies on’ with science through exciting and inventive features such as a 26 foot high clanging “Terminus” machine and a human-sized hamster wheel.
The first of its type and scale in the UK, Thinktank is a place to explore themes of energy, mechanics and transportation through three zones and more than 40 exhibits, including a first ever logic-defying square wheeled people wagon and a “pulley me up” machine. Here you can try your luck with an “elastic squirt” (a unique, specially commissioned water piston that uses elastic potential energy) and crank up two fast-moving propellers to power a merry-go-round, which links with Hurricane and Spitfire fighter planes already on display in the main museum.
All of these fantastic hands-on activities have been delivered by a team of designers, engineers, building contractors, education experts, science communications specialists and local school children, who have spent more than 10,000 hours on the project since the idea behind Thinktank Science Garden was hatched. The garden comes at an exciting time for Thinktank. The museum joined forces with Birmingham's Museums and Art Gallery last year to create the new Birmingham Museums Limited.
It forms part of Birmingham's larger Eastside City Park. This is the first major new city centre park for Birmingham for over a century and thus plays an important role in the regeneration and repositioning of the city centre as a great destination. Says Thinktank’s Director of Learning and Operations, Janine Eason, of the garden:
As a major addition to the existing museum, the new ThinktankScience Garden offers a fresh and exciting way of experiencing firsthand how science and engineering have shaped Birmingham and the world. After three years in development, we are eager to see the fun zones and exhibits in action and look forward to welcoming visitors of all ages on site.
In addition, the Science Garden will host an engaging programme of events and activities throughout the summer, including storytelling for young children, arts and crafts sessions and big outdoor demonstrations.
Thinktank is located at Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG. Visit thinktank.ac for more visitor information.
Photo: Ell Brown
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