Dynamic Earth (Edinburgh) facts for kids
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| Former name | Our Dynamic Earth |
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| Established | 1999 |
| Location | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Type | Science Centre |
| Architect | Hopkins Architects |
| Owner | The Dynamic Earth Charitable Trust |
Dynamic Earth is a super cool science center and visitor attraction in Edinburgh, Scotland. It's one of Scotland's biggest places where you can learn and interact with exhibits! You can find it in an area called Holyrood, right next to the Scottish Parliament building and near the amazing Salisbury Crags.
Dynamic Earth is a special kind of organization called a charity. This means it's run by The Dynamic Earth Charitable Trust and doesn't aim to make a profit. Its main goal is to teach people about our planet. The center first opened its doors in 1999, and Queen Elizabeth II herself was there for the opening!
This awesome attraction is located close to where a famous Scottish geologist named James Hutton lived and worked many years ago. He was a pioneer in understanding how Earth works. Dynamic Earth wants to be the most fun place to learn about our planet. It shows how Earth was made, how it's still changing, what the future might hold for us, and how natural events and human actions affect our world.
How Dynamic Earth Started
Dynamic Earth was built with money from a special fund called the Millennium Commission. This fund worked with The Heritage Lottery Fund and the Scottish Government. They wanted to make the Holyrood area better, as it used to be an industrial site with old gas works and a brewery.
The land where Dynamic Earth now stands was given for public use in 1988 by a brewing company called Scottish & Newcastle. The brewery moved out in the mid-1990s, making way for the new center.
Building Dynamic Earth cost about £34 million. It was one of the first big attractions funded by the Millennium Commission to open in the United Kingdom. Other cool places built with this funding include the Glasgow Science Centre and the Falkirk Wheel.
Building Design
The building itself is really interesting! It has a strong steel frame covered by a special fabric roof. It was designed by architects from Michael Hopkins and Partners. The design even includes part of an old wall from the brewery that used to be there.
The architects wanted the building to show how nature and human design can work together. It has three main parts:
- A fabric roof that covers a two-story exhibition area and the main entrance.
- A big entrance space that feels like you're outside, even though you're completely inside.
- An amphitheatre at the front, which is used for outdoor events and as a meeting spot for tours.
What You Can Experience
Dynamic Earth is designed to be a super interactive and exciting experience. You'll feel like you're really part of the journey! Some of the cool things you can see and do include:
- Walking through an iceberg!
- Feeling what an earthquake is like.
- Stepping into the Deep Time Machine, which takes you on a journey through Earth's creation using amazing videos and special 4D effects.
The center also has a fantastic 360° Planetarium. This means you can watch incredible shows about Earth and space all around you! John Simpson, a former leader of Dynamic Earth, said that the new equipment in their ShowDome gives visitors an amazing experience. He also mentioned that it helps inspire more kids and families to learn about Earth and space science. They even have a mobile planetarium that travels to families all over Scotland!
Other Science Centers
- Glasgow Science Centre - Another science center in Glasgow, Scotland.
- Aberdeen Science Centre - A science center located in Aberdeen, Scotland.
- Dundee Science Centre - You can find this science center in Dundee, Scotland.
- Millennium Dome - A large exhibition center in London, England.
