Behind the scenes
The Natural History Museum is one of the UK's top visitor attractions and a world-leading science research centre.
Through its collections and scientific expertise, it is helping to conserve the richness and diversity of the natural world with "ground-breaking projects" in 68 countries. The Museum is committed to promoting public understanding of science, an aim which is typified by the establishment of the Darwin Centre, a new initiative, which is said to offer visitors unique access behind the scenes of the Museum. A real cleanroom environment exists in the Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, the Museum's centre for molecular biology and related disciplines, where work into the study and treatment of parasite-transmitted diseases is carried out. Approaching its tenth anniversary, the science-art agency presenting CleanRooms, The Arts Catalyst, has pioneered several new territories for art practice. Through a programme of events and exhibitions it promotes collaboration between artists and scientists, focusing on the role of contemporary art in examining issues that modern science presents.