Discovery Museum's Steam to Green Exhibition Reckons with Industrial Heritage

In 2024, the Discovery Museum in Newcastle kicked off an exhibition called 'Steam to Green: A North East Energy Revolution' to help families and kids learn about the climate crisis. During the Green Museums Summit in 2026, Assistant Keepers Alexandra Longrigg and Daniel Stoker shared more details about this project. The exhibition revamped well-known industrial items like the lightbulb and steam turbine, linking the North East's industrial history to today's green technologies. Featuring over 18 companies, such as Vattenfall and Nissan, it included five interactive displays like a wind simulator. The collaboration with Newcastle University's Centre for Energy aimed to strike a balance between hope and honesty to motivate climate action. Public outreach gathered stories from those adopting green tech, and events for 18–30-year-olds included music and comedy. Stoker noted that while museums can't solve the climate crisis alone, they can inspire change and hope.