Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 11
THE IMAGE OF CHEMISTRY PRESENTED BY THE SCIENCE
MUSEUM, LONDON IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY:
AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Peter J. T. Morris
The Science Museum, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2DD, U.K.;
peter.morris@nmsi.ac.uk
How has chemistry been presented at the Science Museum, London,
during the twentieth century? After an overview of the history of the
Science Museum and its chemistry galleries, four galleries are con-
sidered in depth (1906, 1926, 1977, and 1999). The importance of the
curators' external constituency of chemists and chemical educators is
emphasized. The image of chemistry at the Science Museum has con-
centrated on the general utility of chemistry and chemistry as a skilful
craft. The presentation has been low-key rather than boosterist. A com-
parison is made with the chemistry galleries at the Deutsches Museum.
Chemistry in the Deutsches Museum has put more emphasis on hands-
on exhibits and the chemical industry. Science and technology muse-
ums have promoted chemistry in a quiet but successful way for many
years, but their influence may have waned along with chemistry kits.
1. Introduction
Before we examine the image of chemistry that has been presented by
the Science Museum during the twentieth century, it is worth asking if
science and technology museums have any influence on the public's
perception of chemistry. While the impact of museums is inevitably less
than, say, the mass media, they do attract large audiences: the Science
Museum had 1.2 million visitors in the 1930s, a peak of 4.2 million
visitors in 1980 and 2.6 million visitors in 2004. It is also clear that such
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