Science Gallery facts for kids
The Science Gallery is a cool group of places around the world where science and art meet! Imagine a museum that doesn't have old, dusty things on display forever. Instead, Science Galleries have exciting new exhibitions that change three or four times a year. These places are all about helping young people, especially those aged 15-25, get interested in science and technology in fun and unexpected ways. They work with big universities to bring these amazing experiences to life.
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Where are the Science Galleries?
Science Galleries are located in different cities across the globe, each partnering with a major university. Here's where you can find them:
| Location | Partner University | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin, Ireland | Trinity College Dublin | 2008 - 2022 |
| Detroit, United States | Michigan State University | 2018 |
| London, United Kingdom | King's College London | 2018 |
| Melbourne, Australia | University of Melbourne | 2020 |
| Venice, Italy | Ca' Foscari University of Venice | 2020 |
| Bengaluru, India | Government of Karnataka | planned for 2022 |
| Atlanta, United States | Emory University | planned for 2022 |
| Rotterdam, Netherlands | Erasmus MC | planned for 2023 |
| Berlin, Germany | TU Berlin | planned for 2024 |
Science Gallery Dublin
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Science Gallery at night
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| Established | 1 February 2008 |
|---|---|
| Location | Naughton Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland |
| Type | Science centre |
| Visitors | >3.8 million visitors (2008-2020) |
| Public transit access | Dublin Pearse railway station |
The very first Science Gallery opened in Dublin, Ireland, in 2008. It was part of Trinity College Dublin, a famous university.
What was its goal?
The main goal of Science Gallery Dublin was to put on "innovative and interactive exhibitions, workshops, events and debates." It wanted to explore where science and art meet, and get people, especially those aged 15 to 25, excited about science and technology.
Where was it located?
Science Gallery Dublin was inside the Naughton Institute building at Trinity College Dublin. You could enter from Pearse Street, and it had big windows facing the street, close to Westland Row.
How it started
The idea for a public science place came about in 2005. A professor named Mike Coey helped champion the idea. The gallery space was planned to be a large area with glass windows facing Pearse Street. It would have spaces for exhibitions and a theatre for talks about how science affects our lives. The gallery officially opened on February 2, 2012. The plan was for it to be free to enter, so as many young people as possible could visit.
How it worked
The exhibitions at Science Gallery Dublin were staffed by friendly people called mediators. They were there to explain the displays and help visitors interact with them. The gallery also had its own café and a shop. It received funding from Trinity College, money from the shop and café, and sponsorships for special exhibitions. It also got support from Google early on.
Cool Exhibitions
Science Gallery Dublin hosted many different exhibitions each year. The very first show in 2008 was called Lightwave. It was a festival with cool installations by engineers, scientists, and artists. It featured things like "interactive clothing" and games. Over the years, it hosted 48 other shows, including ones about fashion and science, how we see things (called Seeing), and the future of work (called Humans Need Not Apply). Sometimes, visitors could even help with ongoing research by sharing information, like their showering habits for the WashLab exhibition.
Why it closed
On October 28, 2021, the staff were told that the gallery would close in February 2022. This news came as a surprise to many. Trinity College later explained that the gallery had been losing money since 2017. Even though the government offered some help, the gallery closed as planned at the end of February 2022.
Plans for the future
In November 2022, there were announcements about plans to reopen the gallery in 2023. Trinity College is working with a company called Curiosity Studio to create a new way for the gallery to operate. Reopening is still planned for the future.
Science Gallery International
Science Gallery International (SGI) was created in 2012. Its main goal was to build a network of Science Galleries around the world, based on how successful the first one in Dublin was. It got support from Google and the Wellcome Trust. SGI helps all the Science Galleries by creating tools, resources, and sharing ideas. This helps each gallery run smoothly and benefits the universities they partner with.
The first new gallery in this network opened in London in September 2018. Other galleries have opened in Melbourne and Venice, with more planned for cities like Bengaluru (India), Atlanta (USA), Rotterdam (Netherlands), and Berlin (Germany).
Science Gallery London
Plans for a permanent Science Gallery in London were first announced in 2013. Before it opened, some temporary Science Gallery exhibitions were held at King's College London.
Opening and location
Science Gallery London officially opened in September 2018. It is located in Boland House, which is part of King's College London's Guy's Campus. This building was part of a big project to redevelop the old entrance to Guy's Hospital.
Exhibitions
The first exhibition at Science Gallery London was called Hooked: When Want Becomes Need. It explored topics like addiction and recovery. It ran from September 2018 to January 2019 and featured works by many artists.
Images for kids
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Science Gallery at night
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Science Gallery logo
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Science Gallery London
