London's Science Museum has opened a new gallery which seeks to change young people's perceptions of technical careers – and inspire "tomorrow’s technicians" in the process.

Technicians: The David Sainsbury Gallery is a free interactive gallery aimed mainly at 11 to 16-year-olds.

The gallery will enable young people to go behind the scenes with technicians working in advanced manufacturing, creative industries, health science and renewable energy.

Visitors can explore where technicians work, hear their inspirational stories, and experience daily life as a technician – as well as handle essential items technicians use every day and try out.

Technicians is divided into five distinctive areas – creative industries, energy networks, health science, advanced manufacturing and "A Future Me".

As visitors move around the five areas, the world of technicians is brought to life through large-scale illustrations featuring technicians in a wide range of workplaces.

Interactive exhibits invite visitors to experience the work of technicians by using their skills to complete a variety of tasks that technicians perform, guided by a senior technician mentor.

Visitors can also touch objects made and used by technicians, from the safety harness worn by technicians high up on a wind turbine, to the prosthetic leg made for a ballet dancer by engineering manufacturing technicians at Imperial College London.

There are also one-of-a-kind interactive exhibits which replicate the important tasks technicians perform.

These allow visitors to control the film set lighting in a recreation of Shuri’s Lab from Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, make lifesaving drugs as an NHS pharmacy technician, practice precision welding techniques and diagnose problems as a wind turbine technician.

The galleries are the result of collaboration with Marvel Studios, the NHS, National Grid, the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and many other organisations.

Sir Ian Blatchford, director and CEO of the Science Museum, said: "Technicians are long overdue their time in the spotlight, as one of the country's most vital teams, driving economic growth in an amazing range of sectors. In generating excitement among 11 to 16-year-olds about technical roles, and challenging out-dated perceptions, this interactive gallery encapsulates our core mission of inspiring futures.

"We are hugely grateful to David Sainsbury and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation for enabling the Science Museum to shine much needed light on these important career choices, particularly at a time when young people are demanding better and earlier careers advice and the chance to shape a greener and more diverse economy."