Monday 15 July 2013

Stephen Metcalfe MP talks climate change at the Science Museum



Last Wednesday Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, joined his fellow members of the Science and Technology Committee at the Science Museum to hear from the public about their understandings of climate change.

The MPs convened in the Atmosphere Gallery of the museum which has seen more than 1.7 million visitors learn about climate change since its opening in 2010. The information they gathered will form part of the evidence for their inquiry into ‘Climate: Public understanding and policy implications.’

The meeting consisted of two sessions; the first was to explore trust and public engagement in climate change research whilst the second concerned public policy and communicating science. The MPs were joined by distinguished contributors including Dr Alex Burch, the museum’s Director of Learning and Professor Tim Palmer, Vice President of the Royal Meteorological Society.

Mr Metcalfe commented: “It was fantastic to hold this session in the Science Museum. It is extremely important that we engage with the public and there is no better place to do it.”

“Museums play a vital role in communicating climate science to the general population. The Science Museum alone has over three million visitors each year making it a trusted source of information for people’s scientific curiosities. We gathered some really useful evidence and I look forward to seeing how we can use what we have learned to make better policy.”

For further information about the work of the Science and Technology Committee and to learn more about their inquiry, please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/science/