Goggles on, hold tight… you're going to see world of wonder

Published on Tuesday 6 April 2010 22:42

WARNINGS about the severe weather outside flash on screen between images of the polar station beamed in from CCTV cameras outside in the snowy wastes of the Arctic Circle.

Flash messages warn everyone not to leave the base without safety gear and a checklist of kit is displayed … protective goggles, flares, snowproof coat.

But this is not really a departure terminal at the North Pole. Rather, it is a location deep within Edinburgh's science centre targeted at youngsters, Our Dynamic Earth.

As they line up in the "departure lounge" to enter the shuttle ride to the rainforest, they are warned to keep their safety goggles (or rather 3D specs) on at all times. Without them, they could not see the shuttle pass an eagle, which flies close, then soars away.

The new Dynamic Earth installation feels more like a fairground ride than an educational outing.

4DVenture is intended to be a journey of contrasts, taking children of all ages on a shuttle trip from an Arctic research station to a tropical base.

A kindly professorial "scientist", redolent of a Blue Peter presenter, talks passengers through the journey they are to take across variety of "biomes", or environments. She reveals the pilot is a novice taking his first real flight.

This builds to a thrilling ride, swooping over mountains and even underwater, before a crash-landing provides an interesting encounter with a rhinoceros.

Before entering the shuttle, the anteroom is kitted out like a research base, with screens flashing safety warnings between educational points in the form of a question and answer quiz. Adults seem as entranced as the children.

Inside, 4DVenture takes the form of a small cinema, but with rumble seats that vibrate to simulate a craft taking off, and air vents blasting out mock winds, creating the feel of swooping down over icebergs and snow-tipped peaks.

At one point, a pine smell is pumped in and fake snow released. Creatures crawl out of the screen, with a hammerhead shark appearing to swim over the heads of those in the front seats.

The aim of this hi-tech performance is to engage children in science. International studies have shown Scotland performs poorly in science, compared with other countries, despite a distinguished heritage.

To help remedy this, 700,000 has been invested in 4DVenture – Scotland's first permanent four-dimensional theatre.

The eight-minute journey across the globe is meant to show youngsters Earth's different habitats, from the tundra to the boreal rainforest. Catriona Cardie, marketing director of Our Dynamic Earth, said: "3D film is very topical right now, but we have taken that a stage further by producing a completely immersive experience, which is even more lifelike and has some startling moments.

"We hope people will leave feeling they have had a real-life adventure, as well as having had a taste of Earth's diversity along the way."

The technology and storyline was commissioned from Global Immersion and NSC Creative, which specialise in large-format immersive cinematic experiences, and the education elements have been linked to the new school curriculum for ages 9-14.

Finding innovative ways to enthuse younger children about science is a key preoccupation for all of Scotland's science centres.

At Glasgow Science Centre, a new travelling exhibition has just opened, using animated characters Wallace and Gromit to showcase innovation in everyday life and build interest in design and invention.

A World of Cracking Ideas is presented by Aardman Animations and sponsored by the Intellectual Property Office.

Kirk Ramsay, chief executive of the centre, said: "Scotland has a rich heritage of inventors whose discoveries have changed the way we live today. We hope that the exhibition will inspire our visitors to be creative and become the inventors of the future."

The exhibition takes the form of a tour of 62 West Wallaby Street, the home of Wallace and Gromit. Youngsters can sing in Wallace's Karaoke Disco Shower, or take a seat on the sofa and discover how Wallace changes channels on his TV using mechanical arms. Visitors can also create their own wallpaper.

The Intellectual Property Office and Aardman have worked together for the past four years on the nationwide Cracking Ideas competition ( www.crackingideas.com), which will remain in Glasgow until November.

Nick Park, creator of Wallace and Gromit, said: "Inventiveness has always been central to Wallace's character, and it is fantastic that Wallace and Gromit can excite young people about innovation in this way."

In July 2008, the Scottish Government announced a 250,000 boost to science centres to help inspire children to choose key subjects of benefit to the economy, such as physics and engineering.

The move followed the government's Scottish Survey of Achievement in Science, published earlier that year, which revealed too few P4-7 pupils achieved expected levels in science.

Centres which benefited included Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, Glasgow Science Centre, Sensation in Dundee and Satrosphere in Aberdeen.

A science baccalaureate is also being introduced to encourage more teenagers to study science in S5 and S6. And science teaching has been redrawn to be more relevant and engaging as part of the new school curriculum due in all schools this August.

All very commendable, but none is quite as thrilling as a crash-landing in the savannah with a rhino emerging from the grasslands ready to attack.