Impetus for the inquiry
5. There is widespread concern about the funding
of science centres. Of the 18 science centres that were given
large capital grants by the Millennium Commission (known as the
Millennium centres), two have already closed: The Earth Centre,
Doncaster, and Big Idea, Ayrshire. Another, At-Bristol, has had
to close two of its three attractions and it recently made 45
staff redundant.[7] In
October 2006, we raised the issue of science centres with Lord
Sainsbury who told us that the Millennium science centres:
were funded simply with capital by the Millennium
Commission, without any revenue streams being provided and on
some projections for future revenues which were extremely optimistic,
bordering on fantasy, I think, in many cases. As a result of that,
there have been a number which simply could not survive. There
are others which are on the borderline. Because we think that
it would be a huge waste of public money if these centres were
allowed to disappear, we have taken action to try and provide
them with funding on a transitional basis to get them to a properly
funded basis; but it is hard work, while they find other sources
of finance. [8]
We did not find this reassuring and we considered
that an inquiry into science centres might be helpful.
6. Another prompt for this inquiry was the Government's
stress on the importance of encouraging young people to study
and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM subjects)[9] and
of gaining public confidence and engagement in science and technology.[10]
We considered it important to ask whether science centres play
a role in any of these Government objectives and to explore the
implications of this for the funding of science centres.
Our inquiry
7. On 2 May 2007 we announced an inquiry into science
and discovery centres. We invited evidence on two broad issues:
a) the role of science centres in public engagement
and attracting young people to science subjects and scientific
careers; and
b) the funding available to such centres from
central Government, alternative sources of funding and ways of
supporting the long-term future of science and discovery centres.
8. We received 79 memoranda in response to this call
for evidence, and we thank all those who contributed to the inquiry
in this way.
9. To explore further some of the issues raised in
the written evidence, we held an oral evidence session on 11 July
2007. We heard from:
- directors of science centres:
Colin Brown, Chief Executive of The Deep, Hull; Alec Coles, Director
of the Tyne & Wear Museums; Linda Conlon, Chair of Ecsite-uk
and Director of the Centre for Life, Newcastle; and Phil Winfield,
Director of INTECH, Winchester;
- people involved in the funding and assessment
of science centres: Dr Peter Anderson, a museum consultant; Richard
Halkett, Executive Director of the Policy and Research Unit at
NESTA; and Clare Matterson, Director of Medicine, Society and
History at the Wellcome Trust; and
- Government ministers: The Rt Hon Margaret Hodge
MBE MP, Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport;
Jim Knight MP, Minister for Schools, Department for Children,
Schools and Families; and Ian Pearson MP, Minister for Science
and Innovation, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
10. The following chapters of this short Report will
cover the role and effectiveness of science centres, how science
centres are co-ordinated and organised, and how they are funded.
1 Q 1 Back
2
Ev 28-29, 37, 72-73, 78-79, 89, 102, 115, 120-121, 131, 144-146,
149, 164-166, 175, 178, 179, 182, 186-187, 195, 200-202, 213 Back
3
Ev 23, 25-26,38-39, 41-43, 53-54, 67-69, 75-81, 83, 87, 89, 96,
98, 101-105, 109-110, 115, 120-121, 131, 137, 143-145, 149, 154,
156, 159, 164-166, 168, 176, 179-180, 187, 192-195, 199, 200-203,
207-208, 212-213 Back
4
Ev 39, 41, 44, 53-54, 67, 73-75, 89-90, 96, 103, 105, 109-110,
115, 116-118, 120-121, 129, 131, 136-139, 143-144,154, 157, 161-162,
164-166, 178, 180, 182, 186, 187, 195-196, 198, 200-203, 206-207,
213 Back
5
Q 2 Back
6
www.ecsite-uk.net Back
7
Ev 172, 197 Back
8
Oral evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee
on 18 October 2006, HC (2006-07) 203,
Q 243 Back
9
Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-2014,
HM Treasury, July 2004, p 81 Back
10
Ibid, p 103 Back
