Update from Julia Knights
Dear colleagues,
Last week we hosted the Scouts and the UK Space Agency in Exploring Space. Astronaut Tim Peake launched a new Space Activity badge live on BBC Breakfast, which also featured an interview with our Curator of Space Technology, Abbie MacKinnon.
Following an external recruitment process, Ian Blatchford and I have appointed Glyn Morgan as Head of Collections and Principal Curator at the Science Museum. Glyn officially starts in the role on 1 May and my thanks go to Katie Dabin, Keeper of Medicine, who is kindly covering the role in the interim.
It is important that all colleagues collect their new access pass. There will be one more drop-in session for colleagues to have a new ID photo taken on Wednesday, 26 March.
And finally, do join us on Tuesday 25 March from 09.00 for the first SMG Colleague Briefing of 2025.
Take care,
Julia
JULIA KNIGHTS
DEPUTY DIRECTOR - SCIENCE MUSEUM
British astronaut Tim Peake launches the new Scouts Space Activity badge in Exploring Space.
News
• Some changes to our Uniform Policy are going to come into effect on 2 April – find out what this means for you.
⏰ T1 will be offline and unavailable on Tuesday 1 April. Please review and process open items as per the Year End Timetable.
• We are currently changing our confidential waste management system - contact the Corporate Information team with any queries.
• New recycling regulations will come into force on Monday 31 March.
• The Global Engagement team reflects on soft power and the role the Group plays for the UK Government.
• It’s Sign Language Week: this commemorates when BSL was acknowledged as a language in its own right by the UK Government in 2003. Have you seen our Wonderlab+ films which share how to sign words like ‘moon’ and ‘rocket’?
• As part of SMG’s commitment to sustainability, solar panels were installed on the roof of New Hall at Locomotion.
• The SMG Library Service actively subscribes to new online resources, available to all SMG staff and volunteers to help support your work and professional development. Find out the team’s top e-journal picks for March.
• The Group Contact Centre has shared some of the great SMG visitor feedback received in February.
• Exploring Space will partially close on 15 May (rather than 22 April), allowing visitors more time to see our iconic objects before the gallery closes fully from 2 June. The new Space gallery will open this autumn in the West Hall.
• The curatorial team will be leading a tour for colleagues of Exploring Space on 1 April. Sign up for opportunities to discover more about our collection.
• The Science Museum has also announced T.rex 3D, a brand new documentary roaring into life in the IMAX from 5 April in time for Easter.
• Registration has opened for this year's Great Exhibition Road Festival on 7 - 8 June. Sign up for the latest updates and be the first to find out about free tickets.
Glyn Morgan will start as Head of Collections and Principal Curator at SM from May; The T.rex 3D, documentary roars into life in IMAX from 5 April
Get involved
⏰ Complete our anonymous survey about how you experience our value of being Open for All by today, Sunday 23 March, to be in with a chance to win an additional day of holiday.
⏰ It’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week – catch-up on free talks exploring neurodiversity, the workplace and more. Our Neurodiversity Network has a brand new intranet page and is open to all colleagues, including allies. The network is also recruiting for the steering group - email to find out more.
⏰ We have an unlimited institutional ticket to the MuseumNext Museum AI summit from 26 - 27 March. This is a virtual event and if you sign up, you will have a year to access the recordings.
⏰ There are a handful of spaces left on our upcoming workshop, Critical Thinking and Better Innovation, on 27 March.
• Top tip: Do you know your SMG Light from your SMG Black? Check out which of our fonts you should be using in emails and more. Take a look at our Brand pages for more useful content and guidance.
• Local offers and discounts for colleagues are available on the From Our Friends page including 20% off food at Byron South Kensington, available on all standard menus. Sign-up to the Discover South Kensington newsletter for events, breakfast views and discounts.
Celebrating #IWD2025 with some of the remarkable women, past and present, who will feature in new displays at SIM's Power Hall.
Stories from around SMG
Tim Boon, Head of Research and Public History at SMG, reflects on Congruence Engine, a major research project exploring how museum collections across the country can be linked via their digital records.
SMG honours Sir Demis Hassabis at UK Premiere of The Thinking Game, the documentary that chronicles his life.
SM explores fascinating objects and stories in our galleries in this trail inspired by the exhibition Versailles: Science and Splendour.
SIM celebrates IWD with the remarkable women featured in the Power Hall gallery opening this summer.
Please send submissions for the next issue of the SM newsletter to Lucy Preston by Monday 31 March.
To submit an item for the fortnightly Group-wide newsletter, please email Chloe Abley by Monday 24 March.