The History of Science Museum houses the world's finest collection of early scientific instruments from Europe and the Islamic World, including sundials and astrolabes of extraordinary beauty.
More modern objects include microscopes, scientific models, photographic and wireless equipment – and a blackboard still bearing calculations by Albert Einstein.
Multaka-Oxford: Museums + Heritage Volunteer Team of the Year 2019
“The genuine mutual benefit to both organisation and volunteer is clear to see.”
- Diane Lees (Chair of the 2019 judging panel)
From the Museum
Multaka-Oxford
Discover how Multaka-Oxford is creating opportunities and changing lives at the Museum.
My fortnight at the Museum
In April we welcomed Kelly Lau, a second year student from the University of Reading, to the Museum for a two week placement. In this guest blog post Kelly talks about her experience at the Museum.
Consider making a donation
The History of Science Museum is a charity and free to enter. We rely on supporters and donors to maintain the historic building, conserve collections and maintain a lively raft of programmes for the public.
Object of the month
Time in your hand
In a world before mechanical clocks, people told the time using water clocks and sundials.
Many sundials remain from classical Greek and Roman antiquity, but almost all were fixed in one place: carved in stone and meant to serve as public or private monuments. This tiny sundial is one of just a handful of ancient portable dials to survive. Though only 6cm across, it mirrors the whole Roman world.
How it works
These short films bring to life a selection of working scientific instruments from the Museum's collection. All are on permanent display, but for conservation reasons would not normally be handled or demonstrated in public.
