Museum awarded royal society ‘places of science’ grant to host historic ice-cream workshops
The Museum has been chosen as one of thirty-six small museums across the UK to be awarded funding of £3,500 by the Royal Society in the latest round of its Places of Science scheme to engage communities with their local science stories.
Places of Science aims to celebrate projects that will evoke curiosity, interest and enthusiasm by exploring science in a creative way, while also contributing to the museum sector’s recovery. From family days at the museum, through community-led creation and curation, to workshops for schools and documentary filmmaking, projects offer an exciting way for people to engage with science in the local area and beyond.
The Museum will use this funding to host hands-on summer workshops exploring the science of historic ice-cream. Participants will be able to churn and mould the much-loved dessert and learn about the science behind its preservation. Dating back in the UK to a 1671 Windsor Castle feast, ice-cream throughout the centuries reflects changing tastes, fashion and manners, availability and affordability of food, as well as the history of sugar. We are really looking forward to bringing Worcester’s porcelain to life through this interesting history.
Dr Neil Buttery, project food historian, said: “This project 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.”
Professor Carlos Frenk CBE FRS, cosmologist and Chair of the Royal Society Public Engagement Committee, said: “The Royal Society Places of Science scheme is now in its fifth round, and once again, the sheer diversity of projects and the creativity of this year’s awardees is astounding. 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.”