Tag: events

Scotland’s Science Centres unite to create National Climate Campaign

The National Climate Campaign empowers underserved communities across Scotland with climate change knowledge

Building on their success during COP26, where they first united under the banner ‘Scottish Science Centres Together for Climate’, Science Centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Dundee have once again joined forces to form the National Climate Campaign (NCC). 

Together, the centres aim to continue the legacy of COP26 by informing, inspiring and empowering a diverse audience to tackle the climate crisis and ensure the discussion on climate change remains open.  

Working together to further climate science education in their communities, the National Climate Campaign saw each science centre deliver a coordinated and interactive campaign of over 89 events, reaching over 13,000 members of underserved and underrepresented audiences by the end of March 2022.

The programme strived to make science more relatable and helped learners develop their science skills to understand the world around them. 

The four science centres offered a programme of events tailored to different groups local to them, from both within the walls of their centres and outside in the community.

Glasgow Science Centre reached over 3,000 school pupils in remote, rural and deprived areas by providing access to their online and interactive ‘Learning Labs’, while also facilitating transport and visits to the centre from a variety of community groups, including Glasgow Disability Alliance, Yorkhill Green Space and African Challenge Scotland. 

The centre has brought together partners in science education to deliver the learning and engagement programme– including providing film screenings of The Ants and the Grasshopper in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful. 

In addition, Glasgow Science Centre organised litter pickings and climate café sessions, shining a light on the importance of science in the community and engaging with groups who are often the most affected by changes in our climate. 

Stephen Breslin, CEO of the Glasgow Science Centre said: “We set up the National Climate Campaign to ensure that there is a legacy of climate engagement left behind after COP26.

“We hope that by providing communities across Scotland with our knowledge and resources, we can act as a magnet for climate engagement and help empower young people to make considered decisions and learn what climate change means for them.”

A spokesperson for the NSPCC, who took part in visits to Glasgow Science Centre as part of the National Climate Campaign said: “Having the opportunity to go to the Science Centre inclusive of travel and lunch was invaluable to the families, as travel and access to food are barriers that are often forgotten about when providing activities free of charge to the public.’

“The visit to the centre allowed the children to broaden their horizons around science, a topic which has so many elements, but isn’t always understood.  Some of the children linked their school eco projects to the work at the science centre and shared this with the community team.

“The families expressed how much they enjoyed the experience, pointing out that they wouldn’t be able to afford the trip on their income and that both children and adults alike, learned so much and had a great day out.”

A highlight from Aberdeen Science Centre’s 20-event programme was last month’s Supper and Science Evening, where families came together to cook an evening meal at Northfield Academy.

While the meal was cooking, Science Centre staff ran a series of climate-themed workshop activities, including one where they recreated an oil spill with feathers and soap, to give the children some hands-on climate science experience.

In Edinburgh, Dynamic Earth delivered a packed programme of events including the delivery of STEM kits to a local children’s hospital. The boxes contain a variety of activities and experiments for young people on earth and environmental sciences with connections to climate change and marine environments.

Alongside their 10 in-person events and digital programme, the centre have also been running climate change workshops with community audiences, including the Edinburgh Young Carers Project Care for Carers, the Citadel Youth Centre and family learning activities with local primary schools.



Over 1,000 primary school pupils took part in Dundee Science Centre’s experiments and challenges during COP26 Schools Week, while the centre has created 150-climate themed community kids for young people, containing a mini solar-powered windmill as well as other items to show how environmental sciences connect to climate change. 

Environment Minister Mairi McAllan said: “Young people have been among the strongest voices calling for urgent global action to address climate change.

“This campaign will make sure that young people in communities across Scotland continue to play a key role in our journey to becoming a net zero nation, delivering a lasting legacy for COP26, and making their voices heard loud and clear.”

Kostas Minas, Head of Education and Learning at Aberdeen Science Centre said: “We are excited to be part of the National Campaign, which we hope will engage our local communities on what we can all do to help the environment and how our actions impact the planet, whilst demonstrating how science can help us understand our world and feel empowered by knowledge.

“We’re grateful to be able to work so closely with Scotland’s three other science and discovery centres and I’m sure this campaign will leave a legacy of collaboration between the organisations.”

Eilidh Massie, Marketing Director at Dynamic Earth said: “It is so important for people to not only learn about our amazing planet, but also to understand that the Earth’s climate system is something we have taken for granted for too long.

“At Dynamic Earth we’re committed to reminding people, young and old, that we need to act now before the damage is irreversible. 

“It has been a fantastic opportunity to work collectively with Scotland’s Science Centres as part of the National Climate Campaign to further these messages.”

Carlene Cura, Development and Fundraising Advisor, Dundee Science Centre said: “As COP26 approached, the climate emergency dominated the news and will, quite rightly, remain high on the news agenda.

“Now and in the future, Scotland’s Science Centres have a responsibility and an opportunity to bring these important global topics down to a grassroots level, into our local classrooms, community centres and homes, from city centre flats to rural communities. 

“We see it as a privilege to take these important messages, make them accessible and relevant to all and shape fun and engaging activities around them, creating impactful, memorable activities for our audiences and helping them understand and explore the role they can play in our futures.  

“It’s particularly important that these messages reach underserved communities who may not typically visit a science centre or have the digital resources to access our activities online, but whose potential to make a difference is exactly the same. That’s where our community outreach box has been extremely valuable, giving individuals and families the chance to get involved wherever they live, and whatever barriers they might face.” 

For more information on the National Climate Campaign and Scottish Science Centre’s climate change education programming visit:

 https://www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/discover/our-world-our-impact

Creative fun at Collective: Easter Holiday Family Events

Collective is now open from Tuesday – Sunday, 10am—5pm

Visit Collective this Easter break to experience a range of creative workshops suitable for children of all ages – from workshops celebrating rainwater in partnership with Edinburgh Science Festival, to drop-in creative sessions exploring our PLAY programme, and a final weekend of activities inspired by our current exhibition H-E-L-L-O by artist Cauleen Smith.

Edinburgh Science Festival: Rain Harvest

9–10 April
11am—12.30pm & 2—3.30pm
£5 | Book in advance

Join in with the 2022 Edinburgh Science Festival and explore the beauty and vitality of rainwater in this hands-on, sensory workshop that blends art, science and play.

> Book Here

Collective PLAY: Drop-in Sessions

11–22 April
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am—4pm
Free | No booking needed

Throughout the Easter holidays, families are warmly invited to drop in to Collective and join us at our Play Shelter and Hillside spaces to take part in a range of art activities related to our year-round Collective Play programme.

Collective PLAY Weekend: Vibrations

23–24 April, 11am—4pm
Free | No booking needed

Join us for a final Easter holiday weekend of free outdoor play and creative activities for children and families, inspired by our current exhibition H-E-L-L-O by Cauleen Smith.

A limited number of quiet slots are available on 23 April for families and children with autism or sensory learning disabilities.

> Find out more

Dynamic Earth helps power the future as Scotland’s Science Centres unite for National Climate Campaign

The National Climate Campaign empowers underserved communities across Scotland with climate change knowledge

Dynamic Earth have delivered a packed programme of events and experiences exploring climate change including the delivery of STEM kits to a local children’s hospital, as part of a National Climate Campaign uniting Scotland’s Science Centres.

The kits, designed for young people, contain a variety of activities and experiments focusing on earth and environmental sciences, with connections to climate change and marine environments.

These boxes give young people the chance to explore connections between ocean depth and pressure, experience augmented reality colouring-in, build their own rope and more, bringing science directly to them wherever they are.

Alongside their STEM kit distribution, Dynamic Earth delivered a series of in-person events and digital programmes reaching over seven thousand people as part of a campaign, building on the legacy of COP26 alongside Scotland’s other science centres.

The centre has been running climate change workshops with community audiences and family learning activities with local primary schools, reaching groups including the Edinburgh Young Carers Project Care for Carers and the Citadel Youth Centre.

Brought together by Glasgow Science Centre, the centres have joined forces to inform, inspire and empower a diverse audience to tackle the climate crisis and ensure the discussion on climate change remains open.

Working together to further climate science education in their communities, the National Climate Campaign saw each centre deliver a coordinated and interactive campaign of over 89 events, reaching over 13,000 members of underserved and underrepresented audiences by the end of March 2022.

The programme strived to make science more relatable and helps learners build up their science skills to understand the world around them.

Elsewhere in Scotland, Glasgow Science Centre have been hosting weekly community visits and film screenings, shining a light on the importance of science in the community and engaging with groups who are unlikely to visit Glasgow Science Centre regularly and can be most affected by climate change and its effect on lifestyle.

In total Glasgow Science Centre have facilitated 16 community group visits this year to the Science Centre, including visitors from Glasgow Disability Alliance, Yorkhill Green Space and African Challenge Scotland.

They have engaged 374 people who may have not visited the centre before, while also offering 3,000 primary school pupils in remote, rural and deprived areas access to their online interactive ‘Learning Labs’.

A highlight from Aberdeen Science Centre’s 20-event programme was last month’s Supper and Science Evening, where families came together to cook an evening meal at Northfield Academy.

While the meal was cooking, Science Centre staff ran a series of climate-themed workshop activities, including one where they recreated an oil spill with feathers and soap, to give the children some hands-on climate science experience.

In Dundee, the team created 150 climate-themed community kits for young people, containing a mini solar-powered windmill as well as other items to show how earth and environmental sciences connect to climate change and marine environments, while also engaging over 1,000 primary school pupils in activities during COP26 Schools Week.

Eilidh Massie, Marketing Director at Dynamic Earth said: “It is so important for people to not only learn about our amazing planet, but also to understand that the Earth’s climate system is something we have taken for granted for too long.

“At Dynamic Earth we’re committed to reminding people, young and old, that we need to act now before the damage is irreversible.

“It has been a fantastic opportunity to work collectively with Scotland’s Science Centres as part of the National Climate Campaign to further these messages.”

Stephen Breslin, CEO of the Glasgow Science Centre said: “We set up the National Climate Campaign to ensure that there is a legacy of climate engagement left behind after COP26.

“We hope that by providing communities across Scotland with our knowledge and resources, we can act as a magnet for climate engagement and help empower young people to make considered decisions and learn what climate change means for them.”

Environment Minister, Mairi McAllan said: “Young people have been among the strongest voices calling for urgent global action to address climate change.

“This campaign will make sure that young people in communities across Scotland continue to play a key role in our journey to becoming a net zero nation, delivering a lasting legacy for COP26, and making their voices heard loud and clear.”

For more information on the National Climate Campaign and Scottish Science Centre’s climate change education programming visit:

https://www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/discover/our-world-our-impact

National Museums of Scotland: What’s On in April

Exhibitions & Displays 

National Museum of Scotland   
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF  
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

Audubon’s Birds of America 
Until 8 May 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed, £0-£10 


This exhibition examines the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and largest books.

Published as a series between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a landmark work which achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized ornithological illustrations.    

Audubon’s Birds of America showcases 46 unbound prints from National Museums Scotland’s collection, most of which have never been on display before, as well as a rare bound volume of the book, on loan from the Mitchell Library. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see so much of Audubon’s work in one place.   

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 
 
Book now nms.ac.uk/BirdsofAmerica 

 
The Typewriter Revolution 
Until 11 Sep 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this exhibition examining its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons. 

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters 
 

Inspiring Walter Scott 

Until 8 Jan 2023 
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1 
Free entry 
 
Following the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him. 

In this small exhibition discover how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.  
 
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller and supporting Year of Stories 2022. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition 
 

Book of Hours 

31 Mar – 3 Aug 2022 
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1) 
Free  

Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display.  

Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen. 

The book will be exhibited in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery, in a display alongside other objects associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Six different pages within the book will be revealed, with a new page displayed every three weeks. A QR code will allow you to scroll through the vividly illustrated pages in detail. 
 
The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life 
1 Jul – 13 Nov 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed 

Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders.

This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century. 

Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy 

 
Events 


National Museum of Scotland  
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

Edinburgh Science Festival 2022 

9 Apr – 24 Apr 2022 
10:00 – 17:00 

The Edinburgh Science Festival brings two weeks of science-fuelled exploration to the National Museum of Scotland, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult talks.  

The Grand Gallery will be home to DataSphere, a multi-media exploration of the information driving our world. Elsewhere in the museum get-hands on with amazing drop-in experiments from the University of Edinburgh, and children’s workshops exploring everything from Creative Coding to Disease.  

Adults can enjoy a series of fascinating talks and debates on topics from climatology and the philosophy of science to death, folklore and the cities of the future. Speakers include A.C. Grayling, Jim Al-Khalili, Alice Bell and Mary Roach.

The DataSphere will also be transformed after dark with bars, a DJ and exclusive activities just for grown-ups. Take the chance to have as much fun as the kids as you send, swipe and scroll through the data that drives our world. 

To book or find out more, visit the Edinburgh Science Festival website. 

*NEW* Centre for Open Learning: Victorian Scotland 

21 Apr – 23 Jun 2022 
11:00-13:00 
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4 
£175 for 10 sessions (concessions available) 

National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses – a great way to explore the national collections and their wider history with experts.   

This 10-week course uses selected items from the museum’s collections as the basis for studying Victorian Scotland. Using a different historical object each week, students will consider the political, economic, industrial, imperial, cultural and social history of Scotland in this period of enormous change and creativity.  

The course will be led by Helen Rapport PGCE, M.A., PhD. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/VictorianScotland 

*NEW* Centre for Open Learning: Georgian Scotland 

21 Apr – 23 Jun 2022 
14:00-16:00 
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4 
£175 for 10 sessions (concessions available) 
 
National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses – a great way to explore the national collections and their wider history with experts.   

This 10-week course explores Scotland’s great changes and developments from 1714–1815. Making extensive use of National Museums Scotland’s collections, the course covers the Enlightenment and the growth of universities, trade, transportation and industry, as well as the impact of Jacobite rebellions and events overseas, from France and Spain to the American colonies. 

The course will be led by Helen Rapport PGCE, M.A., PhD. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/GeorgianScotland 

*NEW* Centre for Open Learning: Discovering the National Collections:  
Jewellery from Antiquity to Present Day 

22 Apr – 20 May 2022 
11:00-13:00 
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4 
£75 for 5 sessions (concessions available) 

National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses – a great way to explore the national collections and their wider history with experts.   

This course will use the museum collections to introduce the extraordinarily diverse world of jewellery. From antiquity to the present day, we will explore our fascination with adornment to discover how trade, culture and craftsmanship pushed the boundaries of jewellery making around the world.  

This course is led by Karen A Clulow BA MA FSA Scot, and will be taught within a range of galleries in the National Museum of Scotland. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

*NEW* Festival Family Encounters Day 
7 May 2022 
10:00-16:30 
Grand Gallery 

Free, drop-in. Some events may have timed slots and require sign-up on the day. 

The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival opens on Saturday 7 May with Family Encounters at the National Museum of Scotland. Come along to get curious, creative and enjoy specially commissioned performances from Scottish based artists. 

All events at Family Encounters on 7 May are free. Some may have timed slots and require sign-up on the day. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

National Museum of Rural Life  
Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily

*NEW* Bird Bingo 
1 Apr – 30 Apr 2022 
10:00-17:00 
A trail around the museum 
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass  

Come and play Bird Bingo at the National Museum of Rural Life, can you find all the birds hiding around the museum? 

Using the clues on our family trail sheet, see if you can spot different birds in our museum galleries and learn fun facts about them on your journey. 

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/birdbingo 

*NEW* Spring Explorers 

11 Apr – 14 Apr 2022 
10:30-15:30 
Learning Centre and Theatre 
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass 

Become a Spring Explorer this school holiday with family storytelling and lots of sustainable crafts.  

Hear a story about farm animals, and make a bird feeder, paper pot for planting or a beautiful egg box flower to take home.

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Find out more about the activities and their dates nms.ac.uk/springexplorers 

*NEW* Woolly Weekend 
28 May – 29 May 2022 
11:00-16:00 
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass 
 
Visit the National Museum of Rural life to celebrate our woolly wonders. See our shearer at work with the Scottish Blackface sheep and enjoy wool-themed family crafts and activities.  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/woollyweekend 

National Museum of Flight   
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF   
From 1 Apr, Open daily 10:00 – 16:00 

*NEW* Make Do and Mend 

19 Apr – 22 Apr 2022 
11:00-16:00 
Concorde Hangar 
Free with museum admission 

Find out about the sustainability skills that people used during and after the Second World War with hands-on, family-friendly activities.  

Discover original Second World War RAF items and find out how people reused these objects creatively in the times of austerity after the war. 

Visitors can also try “French” knitting or book tickets for the “Bundle and Steam” fabric printing workshops. 

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 

Find out more and book nms.ac.uk/makedoandmend 

*NEW* Dig for Victory 

8 May 2022 
11:00-16:00 
Free with museum admission 

Find out how people grew and cooked their own food during the Second World War with cooking demonstrations, talks, tours and hands-on family activities. 

Discover the challenges of wartime cooking with food historian Nichola Fletcher and find out about the fruit and vegetables that were grown on the airfield. Families can also join drop-in workshops to create a wildflower seed bomb or make a paper pot to take home. 

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Find out more nms.ac.uk/digforvictory 

Online

The Joy of Birds 

31 Mar 2022 
19:30-20:30 
Online 
Free, with optional donation 

Join David Lindo and Duncan Orr-Ewing to celebrate the joy that birds bring us, the urgent threats they face, and the science and conservation work protecting them. 

David Lindo, also known as The Urban Birder, is a wildlife broadcaster, nature writer and urban wildlife educationalist. He is Vice-President of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Honorary President of the Colombia Bird Fair, and was voted 7th most influential person in Wildlife by BBC Wildlife Magazine.

Duncan Orr-Ewing is Head of Species and Land Management for RSPB Scotland.

This event includes live Q&A.

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Book Now nms.ac.uk/JoyofBirds 

 
Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789 

Dinosaurs on the loose this summer!

Jurassic Encounter follows sell-out tour with visit to Musselburgh in July

NEWHAILES House has stood firm through four centuries by the Musselburgh Coast, but this July its Gardens will experience something completely new: An invasion of DINOSAURS, as the UK’s most roarsome family event thunders into town. 

Jurassic Encounter will see 50+ animatronic creatures from the Jurassic, Triassic and Cretaceous periods resurface in parks in London, Buxton, Edinburgh and Bristol, as well as making their way across the sea for a stint in Rotterdam. 

Roaring into Musselburgh on July 2nd, the event will feature TWO, life-sized T-Rex beasts, which roar and snarl at passers by. Other family favourites include Pterosaurs that shriek from the trees and a 15m tall Brachiosaurus guarding her eggs. 

The event will be open every day from July 2 – 17 and makes for the perfect family day out, just a few miles along from the ever popular Portobello Beach.

Naz Kabir, spokesperson for Jurassic Encounter, says: “Last year, thousands of visitors all over the UK enjoyed a day out with our prehistoric beasts, and we’re delighted to return for another tour in 2022. 

“This year we’ll have new dinosaurs, even more interactive exhibits including a VR experience and an education cinema where families will be able to learn more about these incredible creatures.” 

The animatronic installations will feature information panels, containing interesting facts about each dinosaur, ensuring a visit to Jurassic Encounter will be as educational as it is exciting. And guests will be invited to watch documentaries about the period in the Education Cinema Marquee along the route, bringing the beasts to life and showing how they roamed the earth. 

An excavation sand pit will allow children to dig for their dinosaur skeletons and fossils, and learn how archaeologists discovered the extinct species of past eras. And a VR experience will offer the chance to escape into a different world. 

Food and refreshments will be available along the route and a merchandise trailer at the end of the route for children to purchase a souvenir. Guests are free to roam the park as they wish, and discover the animals lurking behind bushes and creeping through the undergrowth. 

Tickets start at £9.50 and earlybird tickets are available now for the Newhailes event. For a 20% discount, visit www.jurassicencounters.uk and use the code EARLYBIRD20.

National Museums Scotland listings

Exhibitions & Displays 

National Museum of Scotland   
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF  
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

Audubon’s Birds of America 
Until 8 May 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed, £0-£10 
 
This exhibition examines the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and largest books.   

Published as a series between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a landmark work that achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized ornithological illustrations.    

Audubon’s Birds of America showcases 46 unbound prints from National Museums Scotland’s collection, most of which have never been on display before, as well as a rare bound volume of the book, on loan from the Mitchell Library. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see so much of Audubon’s work in one place. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 
 
Book now nms.ac.uk/BirdsofAmerica 

*LAST CHANCE TO SEE* Scotland’s Climate Challenge 

Until 27 Mar 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1 
Free 

This small exhibition highlights the exciting work being carried out in Scotland to fight against climate change. It brings together just some of the technological responses that have been developed in Scotland or that are being used here in the effort to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

On show are a range of leading-edge equipment, much of it newly collected, alongside samples of natural material. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/ClimateChallenge  
 

The Typewriter Revolution 
Until 11 Sep 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons. 

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters 
 

Inspiring Walter Scott 

Until 8 Jan 2023 
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1 
Free entry 
 
Following the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him. In this small exhibition we show how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.  
 
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller and supporting Year of Stories 2022. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition 
 

Book of Hours 

31 Mar – 3 Aug 2022 
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1) 
Free  

Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display.  

Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen. 

The book will be exhibited in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery in a display alongside other objects associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Six different pages within the book will be revealed, with a new page displayed every three weeks. A QR code will allow you to scroll through the vividly illustrated pages in detail. 
 
The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life 
1 Jul – 13 Nov 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed 

Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders.  

This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century. 

Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy 

 
Events 


National Museum of Scotland  
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

 
Relaxed Opening Hour  
27 Mar 2022  
10:00-11:00  
Free entry   

The monthly Relaxed Opening Hour at the National Museum of Scotland is for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum.  
 
This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with autistic children; autistic young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.   

Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore some areas of the museum without noisy interactives and videos to give a more relaxed environment. The Relaxed Opening Hour includes access to the entirety of the museum currently open to the public. At 11:00 sound will be switched back on, but visitors to this session are welcome to remain in the museum for as long as they like.   

Find out more at nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Edinburgh Science Festival 2022 

9 Apr – 24 Apr 2022 
10:00 – 17:00 

The Edinburgh Science Festival brings two weeks of science-fuelled exploration to the National Museum of Scotland, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult talks.  

The Grand Gallery will be home to DataSphere, a multi-media exploration of the information driving our world. Elsewhere in the museum get-hands on with amazing drop-in experiments from the University of Edinburgh, and children’s workshops exploring everything from Creative Coding to Disease.  

Adults can enjoy a series of fascinating talks and debates on topics from climatology and the philosophy of science to death, folklore and the cities of the future. Speakers include A.C. Grayling, Jim Al-Khalili, Alice Bell and Mary Roach. And join DataSphere After Dark, with bars, a DJ and exclusive activities just for grown-ups. Take the chance to have as much fun as the kids as you send, swipe and scroll through the data that drives our world. 

To book or find out more, visit the Edinburgh Science Festival website. 

 
National Museum of Flight  
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF  
Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 – 16:00 
 
National Lottery Open Week 

26 Mar – 27 Mar 2022 
10:00 – 16:00 
Free entry on presentation of National Lottery ticket (T&Cs apply) 
 
On 26 and 27 March, the National Museum of Flight is taking part in the National Lottery Open Week.  

As a recipient of National Lottery funding, we are inviting players to the museum for free for the weekend, to say thank you for their support. Please book a timed entry ticket online for every member of your group in advance of your visit. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Online 


Museum Socials: Audubon’s Birds of America 

18 Mar 2022 
11:00–12:00 
Online 
Free 
 
Museum Socials are created for anyone affected by Dementia and their relatives, friends and supporters. The monthly events create a friendly environment where everyone is welcome and all contributions are valued.

They are suitable for first-time visitors and for those who might not regularly come to the museum, as well as people who have always loved visiting.  

In March, join exhibition curator Mark Glancy to learn about the making of Birds of America, one of the world’s rarest and most coveted books. 

Museum Socials are inspired by Meet Me at MoMA. They are programmed in partnership with National Galleries of Scotland and the National Library of Scotland. 

Book nms.ac.uk/MuseumSocials  

The Joy of Birds 

31 Mar 2022 
19:30-20:30 
Online 

Free, with optional donation 

Join an online discussion celebrating the joy that birds bring us, the urgent threats they face, and the science and conservation work protecting them.  

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Book Now nms.ac.uk/JoyofBirds 

 
Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789 

What’s On at National Museums of Scotland: Exhibitions and Events

EXHIBITIONS & DISPLAYS 

National Museum of Scotland   
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF  
Open 10:00–17:00 daily

Audubon’s Birds of America 
Until 8 May 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed, £0-£10 
 
This exhibition examines the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and biggest books.   

Published as a series between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a landmark work that achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized ornithological illustrations.   

Audubon’s Birds of America showcases 46 unbound prints from National Museums Scotland’s collection, most of which have never been on display before, as well as a rare bound volume of the book, on loan from the Mitchell Library. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see so much of Audubon’s work in one place.

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 
 
Book now nms.ac.uk/BirdsofAmerica 

LAST CHANCE TO SEE Scotland’s Climate Challenge 

Until 27 Mar 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1 
Free  

This small exhibition highlights the exciting work being carried out in Scotland to fight against climate change. It brings together just some of the technological responses that have been developed in Scotland or that are being used here in the effort to cut carbon dioxide emissions. On show are a range of leading-edge equipment, much of it newly collected, alongside samples of natural material. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/ClimateChallenge
 

The Typewriter Revolution 
Until 11 Sep 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons. 

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters 
 

Inspiring Walter Scott 

Until 8 Jan 2023 
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1 
Free entry 
 
On the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him. In this small exhibition we show how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.  
 
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller and supporting Year of Stories 2022. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition 
 

*NEW* Book of Hours 

31 Mar – 3 Aug 2022 
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1) 
Free  

Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display.  

Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen.

The book will be exhibited in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery in a display alongside other objects associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Six different pages within the book will be revealed, with a new page displayed every three weeks. A QR code will allow you to scroll through the vividly illustrated pages in detail. 
 
The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life 
1 Jul – 13 Nov 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed 

Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders.  

This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century. 

Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy 

 
EVENTS

National Museum of Scotland  
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily  

Spotlight On: Audubon’s Birds of America 
8 Mar 2022 
14:00-15:00 
Auditorium, Level 1, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Free, advance booking required.  
Suitable for those aged 12 and over. 

Join exhibition Curator Mark Glancy and Paper Conservator Lisa Cumming as they discuss how our upcoming exhibition Audubon’s Birds of America took flight.   
Discover how Birds of America, one of the world’s rarest and most coveted books, was made, and learn about the ongoing conservation work to preserve these life-size, hand-coloured prints for future generations.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Relaxed Opening Hour  
27 Mar 2022  
10:00-11:00  
Free entry  
 
These monthly Relaxed Opening Hours are for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum.  
  
This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with autistic children; autistic young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.    

Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore some areas of the museum without noisy interactives and videos to give a more relaxed environment. The Relaxed Opening Hour includes access to the entirety of the museum currently open to the public. At 11:00 sound will be switched back on, but visitors to this session are welcome to remain in the museum for as long as they like.   
 
Find out more at nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

*NEW*  Edinburgh Science Festival 2022 

9 Apr – 24 Apr 2022 
10:00 – 17:00 

Two weeks of science-fuelled exploration at the National Museum of Scotland, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult talks.  

The Grand Gallery will be home to DataSphere, a multi-media exploration of the information driving our world. Elsewhere in the museum gets hands-on with amazing drop-in experiments from the University of Edinburgh, and children’s workshops exploring everything from Creative Coding to Disease Detectives.

Adults can enjoy a series of fascinating talks and debates on topics from climatology and the philosophy of science to death, folklore and the cities of the future. Speakers include A.C. Grayling, Jim Al-Khalili, Alice Bell and Mary Roach. And join DataSphere After Dark, with bars, a DJ and exclusive activities just for grown-ups. 

Take the chance to have as much fun as the kids as you send, swipe and scroll through the data that drives our world. 

To book or find out more, visit the Edinburgh Science Festival website. 

 
National Museum of Flight  
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF  
Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 – 16:00 
 
*NEW* National Lottery Open Week 

26 Mar – 27 Mar 2022 
10:00 – 16:00 
Free entry on presentation of National Lottery ticket (T&Cs apply) 
 
On 26 and 27 March, the National Museum of Flight is taking part in the National Lottery Open Week.   

As a recipient of National Lottery funding, we are inviting players to the museum for free for the weekend, to say thank you for their support. Please book a timed entry ticket online for every member of your group in advance of your visit. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 


ONLINE 

*NEW* Museum Socials: Audubon’s Birds of America 

18 Mar 2022 
11:00–12:00 
Online 
Free 
 
Museum Socials are created for anyone affected by Dementia and their relatives, friends and supporters. The monthly events create a friendly environment where everyone is welcome and all contributions are valued. They are suitable for first-time visitors and for those who might not regularly come to the museum, as well as people who have always loved visiting.  

In March, join exhibition curator Mark Glancy to learn about the making of Birds of America, one of the world’s rarest and most coveted books. 

Book nms.ac.uk/MuseumSocials 

The Joy of Birds 

31 Mar 2022 
19:30-20:30 
Online 
Free, with optional donation 

Join David Lindo and Paul Walton for an online discussion celebrating the joy that birds bring us, the urgent threats they face, and the science and conservation work protecting them.  

David Lindo, also known as The Urban Birder, is a wildlife broadcaster, nature writer and urban wildlife educationalist. He is Vice-President of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Honorary President of the Colombia Bird Fair, and was voted 7th most influential person in wildlife by BBC Wildlife Magazine. 

Paul Walton is Head of Habitats and Species for RSPB Scotland. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Book Now nms.ac.uk/JoyofBirds 

 
Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789 

Survey reveals Edinburgh residents favour reliving holiday memories over their marriage proposal

To find out how sentimental the country is, Ryman decided to find out which moments top the list for which Brits would relive, given the chance. And it turns out, Edinburgh residents are not always as sentimental as the rest of the nation.

The moment Edinburgh dwellers would most like to relive is the birth of their child. 35.29% of respondents said this is the moment they’d most like to experience again – slightly higher than the national average.

Second on the list was in fact their wedding day, with 29.41% of respondents, more than 10% higher than the national average!

Coming in third place is a less sentimental answer – highlighting the love Edinburgh dwellers have for getting away – with 25% voting to relive the holiday of a lifetime.

Despite being more sentimental to some key moments such as the birth of their child, fewer residents of Edinburgh would opt to relive the day they got their pet; less than 9% of respondents agreed this would be the day they’d hurry back given the chance. This compares to almost 15% nationally.

In fact, more people would relive their holiday of a lifetime (25%) over the day they got their beloved pet!

In other shocking news, Edinburgh residents were less interested in reminiscing about the day of their proposal, with only 2.94% of respondents selecting this moment, making this nearly 5% less than the national average – the second lowest score out of all of those quizzed! 

See the full table of results below, while the national results can be found here.

What moment(s) or day(s), if any, would you most like to relive?

The birth of my child/children35.29%
The holiday of a lifetime25.00%
The time I first met my partner19.12%
A family holiday from childhood17.65%
My wedding day29.41%
The day I got a pet (dog, cat, etc.)8.82%
The day I found out I was having a baby11.76%
There is no moment or day that I would like to relive10.29%
The day I bought my first house11.76%
Achieving a lifelong ambition or skill (winning an award, graduating, etc.)11.76%
Eating the best meal I’ve ever had4.41%
The day I left a job I didn’t like5.88%
The day I was proposed to/proposed2.94%
Ticking an activity off my bucket list (skydiving, charity work, etc.)5.88%
The day my team won a coveted trophy7.35%
The moment I got my dream job1.47%
My divorce day2.94%
Other – please specify5.88%

Call for Capital’s sustainable food projects to sign up to new directory

Edinburgh’s sustainable food producers and suppliers are being called upon to apply to have their details registered in a new directory.  

The Sustainable Food Directory is designed to help people find out where they can source sustainable food locally and to support the promotion of the capital as a leading food destination in Scotland. 

Managed by Edible Edinburgh, and supported by the City of Edinburgh Council, the directory will aim to showcase the best places to find local, sustainable food in Edinburgh, for residents and visitors.

Local food growing projects, community food organisations, shops, markets, cafes and restaurants are all being asked to apply to become part of the directory – with the aim of gaining recognition as  the most sustainable food places in the city.

Applicants are being asked to complete a short form, detailing why they should be included in the directory, along with a sustainability statement outlining how they’re actively working towards sustainability in their services; supply chain, packaging and recycling.

Councillor George Gordon, Chair of Edible Edinburgh, said: As a food partnership, we want to promote the breadth of sustainable, healthy, local food choices on offer to residents and visitors to Scotland’s capital city. Food that’s grown locally has less distance to travel to get to our plate, meaning less carbon emissions from things like transportation and storage. 

“We know that Edinburgh’s amazing local food and drink producers work hard to bring high quality, sustainably produced food to people’s plates. So, we’re calling on sustainable food businesses, growers, suppliers and producers in the city to apply to be listed on our new directory, highlighting their business action and ambition, to make it easier for people to support local food producers, shops and communities in Edinburgh.”

The project to create a Sustainable Food Directory was announced as part of Edible Edinburgh’s Inspiring Food event at Edinburgh College Granton Campus on Friday.

The college event promoted some of Edinburgh’s leading food businesses, charities, growing projects and pantries.

Business can find out more about the directory and how to register by emailing Edible Edinburgh on hello@edible-edinburgh.org.

The directory is scheduled to go live to the public in early summer.

North Edinburgh Community Festival: Call for contributors

Registration Form for our community festival is now available!

We are looking for local community groups, organisations, businesses, creators, makers or traders to join the festival family and host events, activities or a stall.

See below for registration form:

https://bit.ly/3svysWm