MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London
Science for Health
Crick Institute time capsule
17 October 2011
A time capsule has been buried at the site of The Francis Crick Institute in London witnessed by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, the science minister David Willetts MP, and the Director and Chief Executive of the new Institute Sir Paul Nurse. Francis Crick’s daughter Gabrielle, accompanied by several members of the Crick family, buried the time capsule.
The brass capsule, placed 12 metres under the foundations of the Institute, is not expected to be unearthed for decades to come. It contains letters from world-leading scientists and local children’s artwork as well as photographs and memorabilia from each of the Crick partners.
Time capsule burial
Gabrielle Crick signals the lowering of the time capsule, buried on 11 October 2011 © Wellcome Images
The capsule included a number of items from NIMR, including:
- Details of all NIMR publications from 1970 to date
- A copy of NIMR's recent quinquennial review report
- A copy of the 2010-11 Annual Report
- A copy of the 2010 Mill Hill Essays booklet
- A Biacore strip with 4 proteins on it
- Photographs of the official opening on 5 May 1950
- A short film of the opening in 1950
- Photographs of Princess Diana’s visit in Nov 1988, to open The Norman and Sadie Lee Research Centre
- A floor plan of the current ground floor of the main NIMR building
- Photographs of NIMR from when construction began in the 1930s though to the present day, including views of the Reception area and Fletcher Hall
- A copy of the Horizon programme about NIMR from 1964
- A copy of the film Batman Begins, in which the NIMR building features as Gotham Asylum
- Copies of posters with details of NIMR social activities
Time capsule plaque
The plaque on the brass time capsule © Wellcome Images
This is a symbolic moment. In this time capsule, we are making clear our aspirations for the Institute to future generations who will be the final judges on whether we have succeeded in this extraordinary endeavour.
Sir Paul Nurse, Director and Chief Executive of The Francis Crick Institute
After the time capsule was buried on the site, Imperial College London and King's College London formally joined the partnership at a ceremony at the Wellcome Trust's offices in London.
King's College London and Imperial College London have extraordinary clinical and scientific skills which will help to foster new ideas and will bring enormous value to the partnership.
Sir David Cooksey, chairman of The Francis Crick Institute
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