The UK's first museum dedicated to the history of science will be celebrating its centenary this weekend.
The History of Science Museum in Oxford is celebrating 100 years on March 2 and 3.
Festivities will include an array of hands-on events and activities at the Broad Street museum and neighbouring Weston Library.
A new exhibition called 'About Time', created by Dr Sumner Braund, will shed light on how the museum's founder, Lewis Evans, created the institution.
The exhibition, unveiling on March 2, tells the story of Mr Evans who was gifted a sundial at the age of 17.
His fascination with timekeeping led him to amass a collection of scientific instruments from around the globe.
Meanwhile, his friend Robert Gunther championed the importance of studying the history of science, urging the need for a dedicated space to display Mr Evans’ collection.
Dr Braund, John Fell research fellow at the History of Science Museum, said: “By the time Lewis donated his collection to the university in 1924, that curious teenager had become not just a successful businessman, but one of the most sought-after independent scholars in his field.
"I hope this exciting new physical and digital display will enable visitors to see through his eyes, from that first spark of interest in a sundial, to a life-long commitment to compiling the collection that created this unique museum.”
Housed within the original site of the Ashmolean, the world's first purpose-built museum, the collection now stands testament to the role scientific innovation has played over centuries.
Some key exhibits include Einstein’s Blackboard, a 17th-century replica of John Dee’s Holy Table, Howard Florey’s original penicillin culture, and an array of timekeeping and travel devices that inspired Philip Pullman's creation of the alethiometer for his 'His Dark Materials' series.
Reflecting on the centenary, Dr Silke Ackermann, director of the History of Science Museum, said: "The History of Science Museum has, since 1924, been a wonderful place to explore how creative, curious people and their scientific achievements and ingenious solutions have, through the ages, addressed and answered the many questions we have about the world around us.
"At the heart of our collections lie powerful ideas which cross boundaries of faith, culture and time.
"In an increasingly divided world, these are histories that remind us what we all have ‘science’ in common.”
In addition to the 'About Time' exhibition, a 'Curious Collectors Event' will be held at the Weston Library on March 3, from 11am to 4pm.
Activities will include teaching Arabic writing, engraving objects, and learning more about Lewis Evans.
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