Science Museum to open modern communications gallery

THE SCIENCE MUSEUM in London is paying homage to the humble art of communication with the planned new gallery 'The Making of Modern Communications'.

The announcement was made at an event held at the museum yesterday to mark the 25th anniversary of cellular communication in the UK, while the museum itself is celebrating its 100th birthday.

"The Making of Modern Communications gallery is a major part of the Science Museum's development plan for the next decade," said Professor Chris Rapley, director of the Science Museum.

"Cellular telecommunications have revolutionised the way everyone handles both their business and personal lives and, although the industry history is short, it is essential that a record of its rapid development is available to educate and inspire future generations of scientists and engineers. It is fantastic that the communications industry has decided to initiate the fundraising for this gallery by holding its Cellular 25 celebration in the Flight Gallery today and the Science Museum appreciates the support."

The new gallery will follow the history of digital communication dating back to the development of the electric telegraph in the 1830's and highlight the important role played by the technology behind the mobile explosion in the development of the modern world.

The gallery will feature artefacts such as the original Cooke and Wheatstone five-needle telegraph, the first BBC radio transmitter 2LO, the first Internet switch used by an exchange to route emails around the UK and a collection of phones through the ages.

"The computing and communications industries have developed enormous benefits to the economy, society and environment, and that's the story this gallery will tell."

It will take over from where the shipping gallery currently stands, which will be downsized to a smaller exhibition.

"In the 1960's having a shipping gallery made sense in maritime Britain," explained Rapley.

"We still depend very much on maritime technology and maritime operations, but it doesn't have the resonance, glamour or focus that makes sense for it to occupy a massive part of the museum."

The new gallery will be joined by another new addition called 'The Making of Modern Science'. Together the two galleries are expected to cost £25 million, and so far the museum has raised around £9 million towards the project. µ