Catalyst (museum)

Catalyst, full name Catalyst Science Discovery Centre, is an English Science Center and Museum on the chemical industry. It is located in the town of Widnes in the North West of England in the county of Cheshire, on the north bank of the River Mersey.

It is the world's first museum, which has made it its mission to inform its visitors not only about chemistry in general, but especially on the chemical industry and thus differs from previously opened museums such as the Kazan Chemical Museum, the Farsman Mineralogy Museum and Zelinsky science museum. 1989, there was opened under the name "The Museum of the Chemical Industry ". The old four-story building in which the museum is located today, was built around 1860 by the industrialist John Hutchinson. At that time it was known as the Tower Building and served as the administrative headquarters for Hutchinson Sodaunternehmen. Later it became the corporate headquarters of the soap manufacturer Gossage. In the course of remaking into a museum in 1989 a glass elevator and a viewing gallery on the roof were grown to the building, designed by Austin -Smith: Lord. In 1994 the building was extended with an annex on the north side to create more space for exhibitions.

The museum offers its visitors the opportunity to learn more about science, especially chemistry. There are in addition to the traditional exhibition also many interactive exhibits and a movie theater where the audience can influence the film event itself. During school holidays and on public holidays, special workshops for children and families are offered. In addition, Catalyst organized once a month the Saturday Science Club, an event for children aged 11 to 14 years old, experienced in children more interested in science and can solve problems themselves. The museum also has an extensive collection on the chemical industry. Here, various documents, photos and the complete research archive of the chemicals division of Imperial Chemical Industries, please.

Catalyst is a nonprofit foundation that is under the supervision of a Board of Trustees. The creation and establishment of the museum was financed at the beginning of working in the field of chemical industry companies, national and regional government. In addition, Catalyst received funding from the European Union and a grant from the Heritage Lottery Foundation of the British National Lottery. Today it is supported by a number of Partnernund the association " Friends of Catalyst ."

Currently, visitors are reached by about 30,000 per year. Of that, approximately 60 % to school classes, for a comprehensive, curriculum -time program is offered. The museum was the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme as a visitor attraction that meets a high standard accredited and can boast 14 major awards - including the prestigious Gulbenkian Prize.

Galleries

• Scientrific: Hands- on exhibits
• Birth of an Industry: Historical overview of the development of the chemical industry - objects, documents, images, footage from the archives, computer quiz
• World of Opportunities: multimedia station with information about occupations and careers in the chemical industry
• Observatory: Exhibition on the subject of recycling and landscape of the area; also serves as a viewing platform

History

Although the museum is relatively young, it has, especially at the beginning, experienced some major restructuring and extensions. The impetus for the establishment of a museum in 1982 gave the celebrations of the centenary of the Society of Chemical Industry, SCI. For this reason, a study was done to find out if there is enough material and adequate facilities were available to establish a museum that should be devoted to the history and development of the chemical industry. After a positive evaluation of a temporary exhibition in the old town of Widnes finally been established. These dealt with equal parts of the region's history and the history of the local chemical industry. This first exhibition was followed by yet a traditional exhibition concept.

In 1986, when the premises were used in the old town hall for other purposes, the museum moved into the recently vacated Gossage Building in the West Bank area of ​​Widnes. 1987 Board of Trustees has been appointed, should have the oversight of the Museum Foundation. The Director, appointed in September of the same year director Dr Gordon Rintoul defined the orientation of the museum again. Historical stepped over the area in the background and the new exhibition focused on chemistry in everyday life. A new exhibition concept was developed along the lines of the Exploratorium in San Francisco and the At- Bristol science center in Bristol, where visitors should be able to find out something about chemistry and natural science through independent experiments. The gallery scientrific in which this concept was implemented, was opened in October 1991.