Discovering42

About Us

Discovering42 is using art and traditional hands-on interactivity as a catalyst for engaging adults and children with physics, engineering and environmental issues. The current exhibition was created by local artist and is made almost entirely from upcycled materials and objects from the exhibits to the the walls, floors and ceilings.

There is no dedicated science museum in Cornwall and a lack of child-friendly art venues, meaning many families miss out. Informal learning is a key way to become engaged with subjects you might not normally find interesting. Our society needs critical thinkers if we are going to solve our climate crisis and we feel it all starts with making science relevant and approachable, creating a space to experiment and inspiring people to feel they can contribute. There is a need to get more girls interested in studying science and engineering and we think our visitor journey and design choices will appeal to everyone.

THE VISION

We want to create a pioneering, interactive and informal learning space that blurs the boundaries between art, science and sustainability. A tinkerlab and mini- scrapstore for groups to be involved in the creation of new exhibits, working alongside local artists to develop new skills. There will be a toy library aimed at older children to access educational toys that are expensive or bulky. Through raising science capital in Cornwall, we aim to achieve lasting positive impact on attitudes, skills, mental health and to contribute towards climate solutions and the growing STEM industries.