Access

We want Centre of the Cell to be an accessible, diverse and enjoyable environment for all visitors, where everyone can learn and feel included in science, especially those who have not felt included before.

Sunflower lanyard scheme

We are part of the Sunflower Lanyard scheme. Not all disabilities are visible, and our staff are trained to recognise the pins, badges, cards and lanyards of the scheme. This allows us to discreetly identify that somebody may require additional support.

During your visit

We are located on the first floor of the Blizard Institute, with step-free access available throughout. There is a lift that connects our ground and first floors, and the accompanying staircase also has a handrail.

There is a disabled toilet on both the ground and first floors. The nearest Changing Places toilet is located at the Tower of London.

Our waiting area is seated. There is also seating in both our STEM Pod and Neuron Pod. These seats do not have armrests, and the seats in STEM Pod do not have backrests.

We have brand new sensory backpacks available for use during your visit containing the following items:

• Magnetic whiteboard and timetable magnets
• Whiteboard pen and eraser
• Ear defenders
• A selection of fidget toys
• Wobble cushion for under the feet (on request)
• Flashcards for Neuron Pod shows (on request, limited availability)

If you would like to borrow one of these backpacks, please ask a member of staff at any point during your visit. If you have any feedback on these backpacks or suggestions for other items to include, please do let us know at info@centreofthecell.org.

After your visit

Was there anything that we could have done to improve your visit? If so, please let us know at info@centreofthecell.org.

STEM Pod

Our STEM Pod is a very exciting experience, but it can sometimes be overwhelming, especially for those who are not sure what to expect. Please see below for a step-by-step rundown of what happens in a STEM Pod show. If you would like more detail about any section of the show, please contact us on info@centreofthecell.org.

• On entering the STEM Pod, there will be soft music playing and an orange-lighting in the room. Please see the image for to the right for the view from the doorway. You will be asked to take a seat on one of the chairs around the edge of the room.
• When the staff member present begins the show, they will speak on a microphone and then the lights will dim, the music will stop, and a video will play on the ceiling projectors.
• When the film finishes, the lights will come back up again, some of the lights will flash, and a warning siren and voice will announce that the Nucleus (the pod in the centre of the room) is about to open. The doors will open, and then the siren/voice will stop and the lights will stop flashing. The staff member will give a brief introduction over the microphone, and then you will be invited to play the games.
• The games themselves have their own sound effects/voice tracks that differ depending on the game. Lab Bench Chaos has a siren and flashing lights if the game is lost (by the cells in the game becoming contaminated). The games use touch foils to work, which involve touching the surface of the table in front of the game to give commands.
• After usually around 20 minutes, a voiceover will announce a countdown (usually five minutes or one minute remaining depending on what the staff member selects) and you will be asked to sit back down again. When everyone is ready, the staff member will begin the next section. The warnign siren and voiceover will announce that the doors of the Nucleus are closing while they close, the lights will dim again, and another video will play above you.
• Following this film, the same opening process will occur (flashing lights, warning voice, nucleus doors opening) and the staff member will give another brief introduction over the microphone. You will then be invited to play the games again.
• There will be another countdown after a further roughly 20 minutes, you will be asked to sit down again, and following the same process as before, the doors will close, the lights will dim, and a final film will play.
• After this film, the lights will come back up again and the soft music from the beginning will begin again. You will then be brought back out of the STEM Pod through the door that you entered through.

Shows and workshops

General show guidance:

• Audience participation (demos, questions, shouting out) – this can be changed with pre-warning, so if you don’t want this, tell us and we will be happy to adapt this
• Neuron Pod is dark when lights are off during shows
• Neuron Pod lighting can be quite bright when all the lights are on during entrance and exit
• There is some coloured lighting
• Most shows contain music
• It can get loud in Neuron Pod when lots of people are talking at the same time

General workshop guidance:

• High audience participation (demos, questions, shouting out)
• Main lights stay on throughout the workshop so it may be too bright for some individuals (but the lighting can be changed on request)
• Some activities are tactile (touching and using objects)
• There may be moving around to get from table to table
• Most workshops have a buzzer to signify movement to the next table (this is not too loud)
• Most workshops contain reading comprehension activities

If you have any concerns, or you want to find out more information in preparation to your visit, please get in touch, we will be happy to help.