Museum of Science and Industry

Connected Earth is a unique partnership venture, initiated by BT (British Telecom) in 2000.  Having closed its museum, the Telecom Technology Showcase in London, in 1997, BT decided to disperse its national object collection among a number of partner museums.  The national identity of the collection was to be preserved through the Connected Earth website.

In addition to the two BT partners, BT Archives and Goonhilly Earth Satellite Station, there are eight partner museums.  MOSI became a Connected Earth partner in 2001 and received material from the national collection that relates to telecommunications in the Manchester area.

Through Connected Earth, BT is also the sponsor of the Connecting Manchester Gallery, which was opened by James Purnell, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on 19 October 2007.  The Gallery displays key objects from the Connected Earth collection, together with objects relating to other aspects of communication.  BT also continues to support telecommunications events at the Museum, the most recent being the 'Ring, Ring' event held on 20 and 21 October 2007 as part of the Manchester Science Festival.