The Newcastle-based Life Science Centre is to begin work on a £4.5m redevelopment project later this year following a £1.2m grant from science centre renewal fund, ReDiscover.

The grant will part-finance the creation of a new exhibition called Human Life: Past, Present and Future, which is designed to tell the story of how modern humans evolved and adapted to different environments.

“The new exhibition will be presented in a different style to the current one and consist of three zones,” said Linda Conlon, director of the Life Science Centre.

“Our aim is to build upon the success of our original exhibition to produce a new experience for future visitors.”

The work will be carried out in two phases with the first – involving building work to increase floor space and create the Present zone – beginning in the autumn. Phase one will open in spring 2006 and phase two – the Past and Future zones – will open in 2007.

The Centre will remain open to the public throughout the work,

Additional funding has been provided by The Garfield West Foundation, Life Knowledge Park and English Partnerships.

This summer, the centre will open an interactive theatre following a £1.1m ReDiscover grant last year. The theatre will take visitors on a trip into outer space to search for new life forms. Guests can make choices through interactive panels located in the arms of their seats.

Only recently chancellor Gordon Brown revealed plans to give Newcastle Science City status in recognition of its developments in keys areas, such as life sciences.