Brunel Museum awarded Places of Science grant by Royal Society
Today, the Brunel Museum has become one of 26 small museums to be awarded funding of £3, 500 by the Royal Society in its Places of science scheme to engage communities with their local science stories.
Uniting art and science at Brunel’s Engine House
The Brunel Museum will pilot a range of family 
activities focussing on the Thames Tunnel built in 1843 by Sir Marc Isambard Brunel. It was the first of its kind to be constructed under a navigable river. Working alongside the STEM Ambassadors Hub London and Bizzie Bodies, this programme will explore the science behind the tunnel, including how it was built underground and its architectural features as well as Brunel’s wider engineering legacy. The activities in the programme will include a tour of the Museum, a drama workshop and exploration of the Thames Tunnel Archive, a set of illustrations, drawings and images prepared by Sir Marc.
Places of Science
Places of science aims to celebrate projects that will evoke curiosity, interest and enthusiasm by exploring science in a creative way, while also contributing to the museum sector’s recovery. The projects awarded span topics like mental health, infectious diseases, engineering and palaeontology, and provide a hands on way to explore and engage with science.
Professor Jonathan Ashmore FMedSci FRS, Chair of the Places of science panel, and Professor of Biophysics at UCL said: “The projects funded use a diverse range of creative activities and content to inspire their local communities.
“From using embroidery to teach us about the Quaker scientist John Dalton’s work on meteorology, foraging walks to understand how the wool trade shaped the rich cultural history of Dartmoor, and using recycled tiles and crockery to celebrate a community’s local palaeontology heritage, these museums all welcome and embrace their science stories, past and present.
“Many of this year’s awardees are also actively trying to make sure that their projects are accessible to everyone in their local communities. If your local museum has been given a Places of science award, I would like to encourage you to look out for the displays, festivals, and exhibitions, that celebrate the science on your doorstep and that will inspire local generations to come.”