The Science Museum Group today released the first episode of a new six-part series of engaging videos for children exploring technologies that are helping to tackle climate change. In this child-led series, two young presenters examine renewable energy and technologies needed for a low carbon future. Scarlett introduces each episode from a virtual space station, while Jeriah reports back from Earth. Viewers will discover how important technologies work, the stories behind them and their potential in reducing carbon emissions. 

The films will be published on Wonderlab+, the Science Museum Group’s free website for families which brings science to life through interactive content, and they form part of the Science Museum Group’s activities to engage the public with the science of climate change. The new series joins existing Wonderlab+ content that explores climate change, from a healthy planet quiz to a series of animations exploring common questions about climate change.
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The first episode, available from today, examines how we can harness wind and tidal energy to produce renewable energy. Exploring the story of power generation with a visit to the Science Museum, Jeriah looks into the impact of the industrial revolution and fossil fuels on the planet and visits a wind turbine farm to discuss ways of producing greener energies. Back on the virtual space station, Scarlett reveals how wind turbines make electricity.

The second episode explores the impact of climate change from space, delving into the use of satellites to collect data and measure changes to the planet. This film features an interview at the Science Museum with former ESA astronaut Tim Peake, who shares his experience of seeing Earth from the International Space Station.
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L: The new Wonderlab+ video series explores climate change; R: Tim Peake speaking in the new Wonderlab+ video series exploring climate change.
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Upcoming episodes will uncover how to make our houses more energy-efficient, with a visit to full sized houses built inside a vast climate-controlled warehouse at Salford University; and how to make travel greener, exploring the history of electric vehicles and the future of aviation. In another episode, Jeriah and Scarlett ask what food will be like in the future and get first-hand experience, taste testing alternative meat and insects. The final episode will explore what net zero means and how carbon capture technologies could help us limit the worst impacts of climate change.

Laura Southall, Head of Learning at the Science Museum, said: ‘Our museums make for an inspiring day out for families and the essence of a great visit – igniting our young visitor’s curiosity and interest in science – can be found in these six new films exploring climate change, presented by young people for young people.

The films aim to deepen young people’s understanding of the technologies which are already having an impact on their lives and our planet, while being accessible to a wide audience. I believe they can also help inspire the next generation of scientists, inventors and engineers needed to address the impacts of climate change.’

Joining the climate films on Wonderlab+ is Explore it, Make it!, a playful, creative new way for children to discover objects from the Science Museum Group Collection. The interactive game invites users to go on an imaginary adventure through around 100 objects from the collection, many of which are cared for at the Science and Innovation Park in Wiltshire.

Through this game, children can explore museum objects by theme, from space to fashion and transport, learn more about the stories behind the objects, download images of the objects and create virtual postcards. The objects whose stories can be discovered include a rubber duck which helped engineers plan a comet landing, steam locomotives and even a trumpet-playing robot. The postcards can be downloaded or shared with friends and are displayed in an online gallery for other users to enjoy. 
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Content on Wonderlab+ is frequently updated, with new videos and quizzes uploaded regularly. Recently added quizzes include Under the Microscope, exploring the hidden worlds revealed by microscopes, or the super-cyborg quiz to sort fact from fiction. Upcoming new content will enable children to playfully discover the science of fireworks and video games.