Member Article

Centre for Life picks up international award

Staff at Newcastle’s Centre for Life are celebrating after picking up the an award at the science centre industry’s equivalent of the Oscars.

Life were presented with the Leading Edge Award for Business Practice by global body, the Association of Science and Technology Centres (ASTC).

They were the only European centre to receive an award, and were praised by judges for their business model, which it said had incorporated key ASTC values, including collaboration, forward-looking leadership and creativity.

Chief Executive of the International Centre for Life, Linda Conlon accepted the award at the ASTC annual conference in Baltimore USA, which was attended by over 1500 people from science centres globally.

She said: “We’re absolutely delighted with this award.

“It’s the very best to receive because it is awarded by our peers worldwide. It’s recognition that our business model and our unique partnership with Newcastle University and the NHS stands out on an international stage.”

ASTC promotes collaboration between museums and science centres through partnerships and international networks to enable new ways of public engagement in science activities, and further understanding of important scientific issues.

A spokesperson for the judging panel, said: “It is remarkable that the Centre has operated for a decade without public subsidy and has never lost sight of its mission to open up minds to science.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .