This Easter holiday find out what’s happening at Thinktank, Birmingham science museum, and see some extraordinary goings-on at another museum over at the IMAX Cinema!
Thinktank has over 200 interactive displays on science and discovery, and offers a fascinating, fun-packed day out for the whole family. Over the Easter break, Thinktank will be running a series of events to support the opening of Recycle! a new exhibition exploring the surprising science behind domestic recycling. This includes recycling-based workshops, science shows and activities for families and young visitors.
And if you’ve ever wondered what happens in a museum after dark, find out as ‘Night at the Museum: The IMAX Experience’ opens at the IMAX Cinema, Millennium Point from Friday 30 March 2007. Combining IMAX projection technology with state-of-the-art surround sound, cinema-goers will be virtually transported into the film as good-hearted Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) takes on what appears to be a menial job as a night-shift security guard at a natural history museum. However, during Larry's watch, extraordinary things begin to occur: Roman gladiators and cowboys emerge to wage epic battles; Attila the Hun pillages his neighbouring exhibits, and a T-Rex reminds everyone why he's history's fiercest predator! Other films on offer at the IMAX Cinema this Easter include Open Season 3D, Deep Sea 3D and the new film from Disney Pictures- Roving Mars.
COMING IN MAY…
A groundbreaking exhibition uncovering the lost history of Muslim contributions to science and invention comes to Thinktank in May 2007.
1001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World is a unique travelling exhibition revealing 1,000 years of the rich scientific and technological heritage of the Muslim community. The exhibition comes to Thinktank as part of a UK-wide tour, having already received great critical acclaim at The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester and National Museum of Wales in Cardiff.
The 1001 Inventions exhibition brings to life an often overlooked golden age of discovery and innovation from the 7th to the 17th centuries. Outstanding scholars from the Islamic world are believed to have discovered and developed many everyday items that are taken for granted in the modern world, such as coffee, soap, clocks and surgical instruments.
The exhibition will be supported by many themed events and activities. For younger visitors, this includes; Art, Science and Islam, a hands-on workshop exploring the scientific techniques used to create Islamic artwork; Islamic Astronomy Planetarium Shows; Storytelling with popular tales from Islamic culture; and an interactive family science show. And for adults there will be a programme of Islamic Astronomy Evening Talks and Topical Science Evening Events involving Islamic contributions to science and technology.
Special Family Events & Activities
What a Load of Rubbish Show
Ever fancied being on a game show? This interactive family science show invites you to become contestants in a game all about Reducing, Reusing and Recycling. Rubbish has never been this much fun!
Thinktank Theatre
Weekends
12.30pm and 2.30pm
Free to Thinktank ticket holders
Regular Family Events & Activities
All events are FREE to Thinktank ticket holders unless stated otherwise.
Live Silversmith Demonstrations
Our resident silversmith uses traditional Birmingham craftsmanship to create decorative items out of silver bullion. Join him every Saturday for a lively chat and demonstration.
Most Saturdays
10.00am – 4.00pm
Full Steam Ahead
Every day our heritage team powers up a steam-driven engine. Watch these magnificent machines rumble into life, snorting steam and pounding with power.
Daily
11.00am – 3.00pm
Sensational Sea Life Tour
In this multi-sensory experience, sight, sound, smell and touch used to explore a range of creatures that live and have lived beneath the waves.
Suitable for young people with sensory impairments.
Advance booking essential. Call 0121 202 2244.
Discovery Packs
Discovery Packs are bright orange backpacks crammed full of activities to help families with young children explore the historical collections together. Please ask a member of staff who will provide the most suitable discovery pack for you.
Daily
Under 7s
Activities for Adults
Swapping Stories
If you would like to bring a group to Thinktank to take part in our bespoke handling and reminiscence sessions, please contact us on 0121 202 2244 to arrange a date and time.
Five Favourites Tour
Take a tour of the exhibitions with one of our lively team of Gallery Enablers and examine five of their favourite exhibits. Tours last approx 30 minutes. Book at the ticket desk on arrival.
Available throughout the day
Evening Events for Adults
Unless otherwise stated, evening events are FREE
Seating is limited so booking is essential
Tel: 0121-202 2222 or tickets@thinktank.ac
Zipping Up Flies
Dr Tom Millard (University of Bristol)
Thursday 12 April, 6.00pm
The wound healing process is an important and natural part of our development. Find out how live imaging and genetic studies of the humble fruit fly are starting to unlock the secrets of the wound healing process, and could have fundamental implications on conditions such as Spina Bifida and cleft palate.
Thinktank Theatre, Level G0
Bacterial Drug Companies
Dr Julie MacPherson (University of Warwick)
Thursday 17 May, 6.00pm
Even with the advances of modern science, some chemicals are just too complex to make in the lab. A new solution is to get bacteria to make them instead! Dr Julie Macpherson will be talking about her new work which involves getting bacteria to naturally modify and create old and new drugs.
Thinktank Theatre, Level G0
Planetarium
Immerse yourself in the stars- without placing a foot outside! Sit back and enjoy a tour of the night sky, and be spellbound as we fly you through the galaxy in our state-of-the-art digital Planetarium.
Stars and Stories
(20 minutes, all ages)
Explore the ever-changing night sky as seen from the West Midlands, through our fun and interactive presenter-led show accessible to under 7s.
Selected weekends only
Wonders of the Universe
(20min, all ages)
Peer deep into Space through the eyes of the Hubble Space Telescope and travel back billions of
years to witness the birth of the Universe.
Daily
IMAX
*Night at the Museum: The IMAX Experience
(108 minutes, PG)
Combining IMAX projection technology and state-of-the-art digital surround sound, cinema-goers will be virtually transported inside 'Night at the Museum' this Easter. Good-hearted dreamer Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) takes on what appears to be a menial job as a night-shift security guard at a natural history museum. However, during Larry's watch, extraordinary things begin to occur!
Roving Mars
(40 minutes, U)
Is there life on Mars? Experience the incredible journey to the red planet as the Mars Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity help scientists look for answers, in the new giant-screen film Roving Mars, which premiers in the UK at IMAX Cinema, Millennium Point.
*Open Season 3D
(99 minutes, PG)
Showing in eye-popping 3D, Open Season tells the story of Boog (Martin Lawrence), a grizzly bear with no survival skills, as his perfect world turned upside-down when he meets Elliot (Ashton Kutcher), a scrawny, fast-talking wild mule deer. The spectacular IMAX 3D effects will provide you with a completely immersive cinematic experience, ducking as acorns fly overhead and feeling the roller-coaster-like thrill of going over waterfalls.
Deep Sea 3D
(40 minutes, PG)
Through the magic of IMAX 3D technology, audiences will be transported below the ocean surface to swim with some of the planet’s most unique, dangerous and colourful creatures, from the unusual Wolf Eel to the Giant Pacific Octopus.
T- Rex: Back to the Cretaceous 3D
(40 minutes, U)
16 year old Ally Hayden is about to go on a remarkable pre-historic adventure! When Ally, the daughter of Paleontologist Dr. Donald Hayden accidentally disturbs a very special fossil egg, she is magically transported back 65 million years to the Cretaceous Period.
Bugs! 3D
(40 minutes, U)
Narrated by Dame Judi Dench, Bugs! is a live-action nature drama filmed in awe inspiring, totally immersive 3D. Combining incredible footage with cutting edge IMAX technology Bugs! brings you an exciting, entertaining and enlightening show about the creatures that share our planet.
Wild Safari 3D
(45 minutes, U)
Wild Safari 3D places you in an open-air vehicle for a journey through the diverse South African game reserves, and brings you face-to-face with charging elephants, elusive leopards and hungry lions. Never before has wildlife been seen with such realism on the giant screen.
Key information
Thinktank, Birmingham’s science museum, and the IMAX® Cinema are housed at Millennium Point, Curzon Street, just a seven minute walk from Bullring shopping centre and Moor Street Station and 15 minutes walk from New Street Station. The car park is accessed from Jennens Road – follow the brown tourist information signs to ‘Thinktank at Millennium Point’.
Thinktank is open seven days a week 10.00am- 5.00pm.
IMAX is open seven days a week.
All Inclusive Easter Ticket Offer
From Saturday 31 March until Sunday 15 April, a visit Thinktank, a show at the digital Planetarium PLUS one of the exciting films at the IMAX Cinema, including Night at the Museum (PG) and Open Season 3D (PG) costs just £14.55 for adults and £10.85 for children, or £45.00 for a family of 4.
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