Catalyst (museum)

Catalyst is a science centre and museum devoted to the chemical industry. Its full title is Catalyst Science and Discovery Centre.cite web |url=http://www.catalyst.org.uk/ |title=Catalyst Science and Discovery Centre |accessdate=2008-03-23 |publisher=Catalyst ] It is located in Widnes, Cheshire, in the north west of England, and situated on the north bank of the River Mersey (gbmapping|SJ513842).

The museum is the world's first museum dedicated to the chemical industry,cite web | url=http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12316784.700-the-wonderful-world-of-widnes-catalyst-the-museum-of-thechemicals-industry-widnes-cheshire-.html | title=The wonderful world of Widnes: Catalyst, the museum of the chemicals industry, Widnes, Cheshire | last=Emsley | first=John | date=1989-08-19 | accessdate=2008-03-23 | work=New Scientist | publisher=Reed Business Information ] although museums devoted to chemistry (rather than to the chemical industry) such as Kazan chemical museum, [ [http://www.ksu.ru/chmku/eng/index.htm Kazan chemical museum] ] Farsman Mineralogy Museum, [ [http://www.fmm.ru/ Farsman Mineralogy Museum] ] and Zelinsky Chemistry Museumfact|date=March 2008, Museum "Chemical Industry of the USSR" in the formr VDNKh USSR [ [http://bse.sci-lib.com/particle003882.html "Chemical Industry of the USSR" museum] ] and Kiev Museum of Chemical Industry did exist earlier. It opened in 1989 and its original title was "The Museum of the Chemical Industry".cite web | url=http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg13518345.400-review-catalyst-loses-its-modesty-and-comes-of-age-.html | title=Review: Catalyst loses its modesty and comes of age | last=James | first=Tony | date=1992-08-15 | accessdate=2008-03-23 | work=New Scientist | publisher=Reed Business Information ] The museum is housed in an old four storey building with modern extensions. The building was originally known as Tower Building and was constructed around 1860 by John Hutchinson as the administrative centre for his alkali business. It later became the head office of the Gossage soap company. [cite book | last =Hardie | first =D.W.P. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =A History of the Chemical Industry of Widnes |edition= | publisher =Imperial Chemical Industries | date =1950 | location =London | pages =56 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = ] In 1989 a glass lift and an enclosed glazed roof-top observation deck were added, designed by Brock Carmichael Associates, in order to develop it into a museum. In 1994–95 an extension was added to the north to contain further exhibits. [cite book | last =Pollard| first =Richard | authorlink = | coauthors =Nikolaus Pevsner | title =The Buildings of England: Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West |edition= | publisher =Yale University Press | date =2006 | location =New Haven & London | pages =650 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn =0 300 10910 5 ]

The centre gives information to visitors, including school parties, about science, particularly chemistry.cite web |url=http://www.catalyst.org.uk/about/about.htm |title=About us |accessdate=2008-03-23 |publisher=Catalyst ] In addition to static exhibitions and hands-on experiments, it contains the Alchemy Theatre which gives three-dimensional presentations and allows interactive voting. [cite web |url=http://www.catalyst.org.uk/education/education.htm |title=Education |accessdate=2008-03-24 |publisher= Catalyst ] Family workshops are arranged during school and bank holidays. [cite web |url=http://www.catalyst.org.uk/visit/workshops.htm |title=Workshops |accessdate=2008-03-24 |publisher=Catalyst ] The centre organises a Science Club for 11 to 14 year-olds which meets monthly. [cite web |url=http://www.catalyst.org.uk/visit/sciclub.htm |title=Science Club |accessdate=2008-03-24 |publisher=Catalyst ] The museum holds a collection of archives relating to the chemical industry. These include documents, photographs and the entire research archive of the ICI General Chemical Division. [cite web |url=http://www.catalyst.org.uk/collection/collection.htm |title=Collections and Historical Documentation |accessdate=2008-03-23 |publisher=Catalyst ]

Catalyst is a charitable trust with a Board of Trustees. The development of the museum was initially funded by chemical industry companies, UK and local government, and funding has also come from the European Union, and a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. It is now supported by a number of partners [cite web |url=http://www.catalyst.org.uk/partners/partners.htm |title=Partners |accessdate=2008-03-24 |publisher=Catalyst ] and further helped by a group of volunteers, the Friends of Catalyst. [cite web |url=http://www.catalyst.org.uk/friends/friends.htm |title=Friends of Catalyst |accessdate=2008-03-24 |publisher=Catalyst ]

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