Advertisement Feature - A journey back to our industrial past

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Sept 23, 2003

To celebrate Britain's industrial heritage, BBC Learning will be co-ordinating events across the country to enable viewers to find out more about the Industrial Revolution and vote for their favourite industrial wonder.

They link to the BBC TV programme What The Industrial Revolution Did For Us, presented by architectural historian Dan Cruickshank, which uncovers the scientific, technological and political changes of the 19th century.

From boiling a kettle to working in an office, this Open University series for BBC Two looks at how much of the modern world has been shaped by the achievements of the Industrial Revolution, which transformed the lives of every man and woman in Britain today.

One event, hosted by Adam Hart-Davis, takes place at Ironbridge Gorge, birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, where viewers will be involved in competitions, building and restoring Industrial Revolution devices and taking part in experiments.

Another is The Open University in the North's free event at The Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle, on Saturday from 11am to 3pm. A special attraction will be Ask the Experts, where the public will be able to take along items of memorabilia to talk about them with a mix of OU and Discovery museum experts.

"This area has such a strong industrial heritage," says Bernadette Shaw of The Open University in the North. "We are sure people must have all kinds of things, tools, papers, commemorative items, that they would love to know more about."

At the open event, prospective students will be able to meet tutors from different subject areas as well as general advisers and look at course materials, taster packs and study skills packs.

There's free internet access to access the OU website and register online and the Discovery Museum cafe will be open for refreshments. Further information on 0191 284 1611.