Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh
Scotland
Hunkered down under Salisbury Crags and Author’s seat, in the heart of Edinburgh, Our Dynamic Earth is a unique visitor attraction – telling the story of the processes that have shaped our planet.
Much of the story is told through a suite of interactive exhibits housed in underground halls, with visitors entering from the dramatic open-plan upper floor. The grounds of the centre include rock slabs that provide snap-shots of Scotland’s three billion year geological history.
As well as informing about earth and environmental science, the centre also places this knowledge in a historical context, especially celebrating the pioneering role of James Hutton and Edinburgh’s enlightenment in the 18th century.
Our Dynamic Earth opened in 1999, with Millennium Commission funding. Its radical design was an early project for the leading British firm, Hopkins Architects. The centre is fully wheelchair accessible.
Text courtesy of Prof Rob Butler