A MUSEUM founded by a notable and historic Malvern dignitary has been granted funding to evoke a curiosity for science in the community.
The Museum of Royal Worcester, founded by Charles Dyson Perrins in 1946, has received £3,500 from the Royal Society in its latest round of its Places of Science scheme.
Charles Dyson Perrins’ extensive private collection of Worcester Porcelain is now housed and exhibited in the museum.
Aims for the scheme include celebrating projects which promote curiosity, interest and enthusiasm by exploring science in creative ways, while also contributing to the museum sector’s recovery.
The funding will support family days at the museum, community-led creation and curation events, as well as workshops for schools and documentary filmmaking.
A focus for the museum will be creating hands-on workshops exploring the science of historic ice-cream making.
Sophie Heath, museum director, said: “Participants will be able to churn and mould the much-loved dessert and learn about the science behind its preservation.”
Ice-cream has a rich history in the UK, dating back to a Windsor Castle feast in 1671. The dessert reflects changing taste, availability and affordability of food as well as the history of sugar.
The project’s food historian, Dr Neil Buttery, said the scheme will connect people with scientific processes via social history and practical cookery.
“Receiving the Places of Science Award enables unique learning experiences – something I am very excited about delivering,” he added.
The Royal Society Places of Science scheme is now in its fifth round. The creativity of this round’s awardees has been ‘astounding’ according to the Royal Society’s public engagement committee chair, Professor Carlos Frenk CBE.
Professor Frenk, a cosmologist and fellow of the Royal Society said: “Science plays a daily part in all our lives, and I’m delighted to think that new audiences from across the UK will be able to learn about the fascinating ways in which science has shaped their local communities throughout history and the vital role that it continues to play today.”
