{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}} {{Use British English|date=August 2015}} {{Infobox museum | name = Centre for Life | native_name = | native_name_lang = | logo = Centre for Life.png | image = Centre for Life 2019-09-02 (1).jpg | caption = The northern entrance to the Centre for Life and Times Square | map_type = | map_relief = | map_size = | map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|54.967500|-1.620556|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | established = {{Start date|2000|df=y}} | dissolved = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} --> | location = Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, NE1 4EP | type = Science museum | accreditation = | key_holdings = | collections = | collection_size = | visitors = 225,000 visitors per year (as of 2010)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/2010/Features/WTX062457.htm |title=Centres of Attention: Centre for Life |publisher=Wellcome Trust |date=2010-08-12 |accessdate=2011-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203003413/http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/2010/Features/WTX062457.htm |archive-date=3 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | director = | president = | curator = | owner = | public_transit = Railway, Bus, Metro | parking = Times Square Car Park | network = | website = {{url|www.life.org.uk}} }}
'''The Centre for Life''' is a science village in Newcastle upon Tyne where scientists, clinicians, educationalists and business people work to promote the advancement of the life sciences. The centre is a registered charity, governed by a board of trustees, which receives no public funding.
==History== The centre was opened by the Queen in May 2000.<ref name=opening>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A-ggCwAAQBAJ&q=centre+for+life+opened+by+the+queen+newcastle+2000&pg=PT163|title=2000:centre for life|publisher=Evening Chronicle|date=23 May 2000|isbn=9781445647791|accessdate=9 March 2018}}</ref> In March 2009 the centre was the main venue for the UK's first Maker Faire,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://makerfaire.com/newcastle/2009/ |title=2009 Maker Faire UK |publisher=O'Reilly Media |year=2009 |accessdate=2009-03-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301004444/http://makerfaire.com/newcastle/2009/ |archivedate=1 March 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> run as part of the Newcastle ScienceFest. The 2010 Newcastle Maker Faire was held at the Centre for Life and the nearby Discovery Museum. Maker Faire UK returned to the Centre for Life in 2013, at which over 300 hackers, crafters, coders, DIYers and inventors presented their projects alongside installations and drop-in workshops,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://makerfaireuk.com|title=Maker Faire UK|accessdate=9 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511102329/https://makerfaireuk.com/|archive-date=11 May 2018|url-status=usurped}}</ref> and also in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/04/maker-faire-uk-2016-review/|title = Maker Faire UK 2016: Low-tech high-tech futuristic fun for all the family|date = 30 April 2016}}</ref>
==Life Science Centre== The Life Science Centre is a visitor attraction at the International Centre for Life. It has a changing programme of events made up of temporary and permanent exhibitions, a Science Theatre, a planetarium.<ref name=opening/>
==Exhibitions and activities== The centre provides employment for some 600 people.<ref name=opening/> Partners in the Centre for Life include the NHS and Newcastle University.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/centre-finds-life-is-great-1681595 |title=Centre Finds Life Is Great |publisher=The Evening Chronicle |date=23 May 2001 |accessdate=1 May 2017}}</ref> The Experiment Zone allows visitors to try out laboratory-style experiments such as DNA extraction<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.life.org.uk/whats-on/experiment-zone |title=Experiment Zone |publisher=Centre for Life |accessdate=24 January 2016}}</ref> and the Brain Zone explores how the human brain works.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.life.org.uk/events/brain-zone |title=Brain Zone |publisher=Centre for Life |accessdate=24 January 2016}}</ref> The Wow Zone features several hands on activities, including a 'Big Machine' where guests can catapult plastic pellets up to a height of 6 metres, and a set of seats connected to pulley systems: requiring guests to pull on a wire to send them up a height.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.life.org.uk/whats-on/event/wow-zone/ |title=Wow Zone |publisher =Centre for Life |accessdate=22 July 2023}}</ref>
Life Science Centre has hosted major touring exhibitions such as Body Worlds Vital in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|author=Mercedes Broadbent |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/body-worlds-centre-life-newcastle-6833133 |title=Body Worlds at the Centre for Life in Newcastle: Your guide to the Body Worlds event in May |publisher=Chronicle Live |date=2014-03-23 |accessdate=2018-03-09}}</ref> In the winter months, Times Square is host to an open-air ice rink.<ref name="newgate">{{cite web |url=http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/things-to-do/life-science-centre-p24831 |title=Life Science Centre |publisher=Newcastle Gateshead |accessdate=24 January 2016}}</ref>
===Temporary exhibitions=== * ''Body Worlds: Animal Inside Out'' - Part of Gunther von Hagens's ''Body Worlds'' series of exhibitions that includes a gorilla, an elephant, a giraffe, a camel, a caribou, a cheetah, a goat, a sheep standing on a sheepskin, a goat doe standing upright whilst being pregnant with twins, a bear standing upright on hind legs, a horse, a cow, a bull, a yak, a shark, a great white shark holding a seal in his mouth, and a lion pouncing on an oryx from behind, among others.<ref>https://bodyworlds.com/about/animals/</ref>
== Medical research == Newcastle Fertility Centre was established in 1991 at the RVI, later moving to the Centre for Life and officially opened by Professor Lord Robert Winston on 22 February 2000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Overview - The Newcastle Fertility Centre - NHS |url=https://www.nhs.uk/Services/clinics/overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=2168 |website=NHS |access-date=31 October 2021 |date=11 December 2013}}</ref> As well as treating infertile couples, it carries out research and development into new fertility treatments.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfc-life.com/index1.html |title=Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life |accessdate=2009-03-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211194416/http://www.nfc-life.com/index1.html |archivedate=11 February 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
Scientists based at The Centre for Life were the first people in Europe - and only the second in the world - to get a license for stem cell research on human embryos. The license will allow work on new treatments for conditions including diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/content.phtml?ref=1092310385 |title=Green light for stem cell research |publisher=Newcastle University |date=2004-08-12 |accessdate=2008-12-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041211125621/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/content.phtml?ref=1092310385 |archivedate=11 December 2004 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In 2005 scientists based at the centre were the first to successfully clone a human embryo.<ref>{{cite web|author=Rachael Oakden |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/feb/11/life-science-centre-newcastle-family-day-trips-out |title=Take the kids to … Life Science Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne | Travel |work=The Guardian |date= 11 February 2016|accessdate=2018-03-09}}</ref>
The NHS Northern Genetics Service is part of the Institute of Genetic Medicine. The main purpose of the Northern Genetics Service is to provide comprehensive and fully integrated clinical and laboratory services to the highest of standards that can help reduce the incidence of illnesses associated with genetic disease.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newcastle-hospitals.org.uk/services/northern-genetics.aspx |title=Newcastle Hospitals - Northern Genetics Service |accessdate=2016-04-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414220731/http://www.newcastle-hospitals.org.uk/services/northern-genetics.aspx |archivedate=14 April 2016 |df=dmy }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{University of Newcastle upon Tyne}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Newcastle upon Tyne Category:Science and technology in the United Kingdom Category:Planetaria in the United Kingdom Category:Science museums in England Category:Museums established in 2000 Category:Newcastle University Category:Buildings and structures completed in 2000 Category:Museums in Newcastle upon Tyne Category:2000 establishments in England