News
Changes in the Region
The new regional MLA structure is now in place, headed up by Sam Bestwick, Director of Engagement for the Eastern region, which includes the South East, East of England and East Midlands. For more information on the new MLA Council structure visit the MLA website.
As part of the transition towards a new regional structure, the management of the Museum Development Service transferred to the Renaissance South East Hub on 1st November 2008. In practical terms, this means that Helen Gibbons, Museum Development Service Manager and Jenny Mitchell, Renaissance Administrator are now based at Chilcomb House in Winchester, the home of Hampshire County Museum Service and Renaissance South East Hub Lead. In terms of your local MDO, there is no change, they haven’t moved and continue to work and support you in the same way.
The Strategic Commissioning programme in the South East which you may be aware of transferred to MLA Council on 31st December 2008. Trish Popkin is still heading up the programme in the South East and can be contacted via email at trish.popkin@mla.gov.uk
Science Links in Museum Education
SLIME stands for Science Links in Museum Education, a network of museums in the South East who want to promote and support science in museums for schools, families and other audiences. Currently there are 85 museums in SLIME. Any museum in the South East can join, there is no membership fee and all activities and resources are free to SLIME museums.
Since SLIME began in autumn 2006 there have been 4 training days, a partnership day, and resources such as Museum Detectives and the SLIME Roadshow have been developed, all responding to the needs identified by its members. The annual Ruth Borthwick Award has also been launched to promote excellence in science education in museums and has been won in the first year by the Mary Rose Museum.
The SLIME Roadshow was set in motion in February 2009. The Roadshow is available FREE to SLIME museums for a minimum period of one week and a maximum period of three weeks throughout the year.
The first Roadshow, a box about Minibeasts is packed full off goodies such as minibeast specimens, microscopes, magnifying glasses, books and activities such as "Wonderful Woodlice", "Its Good To Talk" and "What's for Dinner" and much more. To find out more about SLIME and the Roadshow contact Sharon Bristow, Learning Manager, Renaissance South East. Sharon.bristow@hants.gov.uk.
