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The Science Museum: not Just a Tourist Hotspot

Sir William Bragg, the eminent physicist, once stated, "The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them." The profundity and truthfulness of this statement seems nowhere more relevant than in the National Science Museum in London - one of the country's most loved historical institutions. As part of the National Museum of Science and Industry, the Science Museum is more than a tourist attraction for London's many visitors: it preserves some of the world's most impressive scientific artefacts, while constantly showcasing new talent and the latest in scientific innovations from across the globe.

The Science Museum first opened in 1857 from the collection of the Royal Society of Arts, as well as surplus items from the Great Exhibition of 1851 to promote the achievements of science and technology. Initially created as part of the South Kensington Museum, the museum went through several incarnations before being officially titled the Science Museum in 1885.

Today, the Science Museum holds over 300,000 exhibits. Its most famous items include Stevenson's Rocket, an early steam locomotive built by George Stevenson in 1829, James Watson's model of DNA and Charles Babbage's Difference engine, a special-purpose mechanical digital calculator. The Museum itself is made up of a series of permanent and temporary galleries, including 'Space', a historical gallery that tells the story of human space exploration, 'Flight', which contains a number of aeroplanes and helicopters, and 'Making the Modern World', a new gallery which houses some of the museums' most iconic collections.

Since December 2001, the museum has been free to all visitors, and is therefore a popular attraction for families in Britain. In fact, the Science Museum also organises "Science Night" - described as an "all-night extravaganza with a scientific twist". On these evenings, up to 380 children aged between 8 and 11 are allowed to spend an evening in the museum performing enjoyable, science-based activities before being allowed to spend the night among the exhibits. In the morning, the participating children can awake to breakfast in the museum, more scientific-based fun and an IMAX film - an altogether unforgettable scientific experience!

But the Science Museum doesn't simply provide a place for children to learn and play amongst some of the world's most important scientific developments: it also opens up forums for controversial scientific debate. The Dana Centre, a groundbreaking urban bar and café, was opened in 2003 in an annex to the Museum, and is currently the UK's only dedicated scientific discussion venue for adults.

As an integral part of the National Museum of Science and Industry (which includes York's National Railway Museum and the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford), the Science Museum plays a crucial part in the scientific education of much of Britain's population.

If you're hoping to visit the Science Museum, you're sure to find a range of London hotels located in South Kensington through a variety of online travel sites. So choose to spend a day - or a night - in the Science Museum, not just because it provides fun for children and adults alike but because, as an institution of scientific progress and learning, it's virtually unparalleled.

About the Author

Andrew Regan is an online, freelance journalist.

Can I pursue a MS in computer science with a BA?

I have a degree in digital media and I would like to go back to school and learn computer programming like C and/or Java. I do not have a BS in computer science, do I need to take those requisite courses first? Is there a way I can study computer science within the realm of MFA?

BS and BSc are the same things. Different schools call a Bachelor of Science one or the other. My university gave all their science graduates BS's while my husband's gave them all BSc's. They're still both very good schools and their BS/BSc degrees are of comparable value.

You should take requisite computer science classes before applying to a comp sci degree program, unless you are looking at getting a second Bachelor's.

You will have to take basic programing classes to get into a Masters program in computer science. And, even then, you will have a hard time getting in at most schools because they want people with a Math or Engineering or full Computer Science background.

However, I don't mean to discourage you from trying! Please call around to different schools you are interested in, and ask them what courses you would need to take to have a strong application for a Masters in Comp Sci.

Your idea to do comp sci within an MFA is an interesting one, but my experience is in the sciences and not the fine arts, so I can't tell you exactly how fine arts would react. However again it would be a good idea to call up any schools to which you are applying, and ask. In general some graduate programs make interdisciplinary work pretty easy, while others make it difficult by giving you no room to schedule flexibly.

Typically, for grad programs in general, if you have a good reason that relates to the program (in your case, to fine arts), they will let you take classes in another discipline as long as they are generally flexible with letting people take electives. With a background in digital media it sounds like you could make a good case for computer programming electives, so long as the program tends to be flexible. This might be the best option for you, as for either a Bachelors or Masters in comp sci proper you will have to take a lot of math theory and other things that don't really relate to the artistic applications you seem to be interested in.

At any rate if you have trouble finding an MFA program that combines the two consider taking comp sci classes as a nondegree student before applying, that way you will have the background you want, and not need to push those course into their program.

Libraries invest in digital sources
Propelled by Hurricane Katrina and a growing national trend to change the methods students use to conduct research, Tulane’s libraries have dramatically increased its digital collection in recent years. Prior to 2005, the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library seldom purchased online databases. Tulane students and faculty have just begun using the databases — which may cost thousands of dollars [...]

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