MHS Events programme, October – December 2010.

Exhibitions:

Al-Mizan: Sciences and Arts in the Islamic World

Special Exhibition Gallery from 26 October

‘Al-Mizan’ is the Arabic word for balance; both the literal measuring instrument and the metaphorical balancing achieved by justice and harmonious debate.

For hundreds of years Arabic was the common language of science and mathematics, pursued from modern-day Afghanistan and Iran to Spain and North Africa. The same societies also developed a highly distinctive visual and artistic culture.

This exhibition reconnects the Islamic sciences and arts. It presents highlights from the Museum’s collection of Islamic scientific instruments alongside books and designed objects on loan from other important collections. This juxtaposition reveals the links between intellectual ingenuity and creative skills, between the realm of mathematical accomplishment and the practical world of the craftsman.

ANVILLED STARS

The Meteoric Mirrors of Matthew Luck Galpin

Top Gallery from 20 November

Matthew Galpin has taken fragments of the heavens, shooting stars, into his studio and exposed their secret reflections in the heat of his forge. With tense skill, a keen eye and strength he has hammered out their form and polished their meaning into objects of gleaming artistic magnitude.

Fallen meteorites have been reheated in the artist’s forge and lovingly hammered into a tense form that is agreed between the man and the material. Their enigmatic surfaces then hand polished into a mirrored depth that reflects all of our sight and speculations. These hand made mirrors have travelled millions of miles to the blacksmith’s forge, where their dark mysterious reflections are unlocked with fire, strength and the artist’s eye.

Early Science In Broad Street

Basement Gallery

to 23 December

A display illustrating the early scientific work in the building now occupied by the Museum of the History of Science.

Conservation: Securing the past

Entrance Gallery

from 19 November

A display ofconservation work atthe Museum, showingthe variety of objectsand materials thatreceive attention andintervention in ourstudio.

The Secret Life of the Museum

Entrance Gallery

to 14 November

A selection of the finds made beneaththe floorboards of the top gallery duringredevelopment in 1999.

Special events:

Between the Lines

Tuesday 12 October, 7pm

In the latest in our occasional series oflectures by authors on the history of science,Celina Fox will talk about her outstandingnew book The Arts of Industry in the Age ofEnlightenment.

“Celina Fox’s brilliantand beautifullyillustrated opusrestores theconnection betweendrawing andtechnology originallyembedded in the veryword “art”, before theRomantics turned itinto a mystical effusion of genius.”

(Simon Schama)

The Camera Obscura

Monday 25 October

In the Bodleian Library and MHS,

1-2.30pm

Talk, demonstration and tourby Roger SmithAn introduction to this popular opticalinstrument by Roger Smith, a maker aswell as authority on the camera obscura.A collaboration between the Museumand the Bodleian Library: meet at 1pm inthe Convocation House, entered via theDivinitySchool, Old Bodleian Library.

The Oxford PhilosophicalSociety and the Royal Society:a meeting of minds?

Tuesday 26 October, 7pm

Public lecture by Dr Anna Marie RoosIn the last of the threepublic lectures in ourprogramme ‘Oxfordand the Early RoyalSociety’, Dr Rooswill describe theformation of theOxford Society, thework done under thedirection of Robert Plot, andits relationship with the Royal Society:sometimes one of collaboration,sometimes one of rivalry.

Stars and Starlight

Friday 26 November, 7 to 11 pm

The Museum’s contribution toOxford’s ‘Christmas Light Night’.This year is the 150th anniversaryof the beginnings of a revolutionin astronomy, when spectroscopymade it possible to discover whatstars are made of.

Learn about spectroscopy and itshistory, and create your personal‘spectrum’.Suitable for all thefamily.

The Natural History ofOxfordshire

Saturday 13 November, 2-5pm

A special event in our programmemarking the 350th anniversary ofthe foundation of the Royal Society.Robert Plot’s Oxfordshire, of 1677 is afascinating collection of factsand anecdotes about the county, which,with the help of local historians andother residents, we compare with ourknowledge of Oxfordshire today.

Meteorites in Scienceand Culture

Tuesday 7 December, 7 pm

Public lecture by Professor MonicaGradylinked to ‘Anvilled Stars’Monica Grady is Professor of Planetaryand Space Science at the OpenUniversity and a world authority onmeteorites. She gave the televisedRoyal Institution Christmas Lectures in2003 and has had an asteroidnamed in her honour.

Admission free.

admission to all events is free.

Family Friendly

Workshop:

Meet the Royals

Saturday 9 October

Basement Gallery, 2-4pm

Find out about the strange goings on in the firstprofessional scientific society: peculiar pumpsand a double-bottomed ship!

Suitable for ages 9-13.

Finding Mecca

Saturday 6 November

Basement Gallery, 2-4pm

The city of Mecca is the centre of theIslamic faith and the most important placeof pilgrimage for Muslims, so the word‘mecca’ has come to mean a centre ofactivity or interest. Find out what earlyIslamic scholars knew about geography,discover the qibla indicator, and make apersonal place finder.

Suitable for ages 9-13.

Voluntary materials donation £5.

Armillary Spheres

Saturday 4 December

Basement Gallery,

2-4pm

Find out how anarmillary sphere worksand make your ownworking model. Helpwith cutting card may berequired.

Suitable for childrenaged 9 upwards.

Voluntary materials donation £5.

Drop-in:

The Big Draw: Dancing with Atoms

Saturday 23 October

Basement Gallery, 12-4pm

Drawing and collage inspired by the motionof atoms and X-ray patterns.

For all ages.

Discover Islamic Tile Patterns

Thursday 28 October

Friday 29 October

Basement Gallery, 1-4pm

Discover symmetry, geometry and colour and create your own patterns inspired by Islamictile designs.

Suitable for ages 7-13.

Lightning Strikes

Saturday 20 November

Basement Gallery, 12-4pm

Discover the power of electricity and the story of Benjamin Franklin’s invention of thelightning conductor.

Suitable for children aged 7 upwards.

My Favourite Star

Saturday 18 December

Saturday 22 December

Basement Gallery, 1-4pm

Make magical stars and discover theZodiac amongst the Museum’s collection ofastronomical instruments.

Suitable for children aged 5 upwards.

Gallery Tours:

Al-Mizan

A guide to the special exhibition led bycurator, Stephen Johnston.

Saturday 27 November, 2pm

Saturday 11 December, 2pm

Museum Secrets

Jim Bennett reveals some of theunexpected discoveries made duringthe redevelopment of c.1999 – somebeneath the ground, others beneath the

floorboards.

Saturday 16 October, 2pm

Table Talks:

How Does the Astrolabe Work?

Sunday 28 November, 2.30pm

Jim Bennett

Qibla

Finding the direction of Mecca, with Stephen Johnston

Sunday 5 December, 2.30pm