The Museum Of Science is set to transform the public’s relationship with science through a significant renovation and expansion, announced by museum President Tim Ritchie. The initiative includes the creation of the Public Science Common, a convening space designed to connect the community with Boston’s leading scientific minds and foster an enduring love of science.
This space will serve as a dynamic hub where the public, academia and government can come together to discuss and address pressing scientific issues.
“This will be the finest public science convening space in the world,” said Ritchie on Boston Public Radio on Thursday. “People can think out loud about what kind of world we want.”
Ritchie noted that while other institutions, such as the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, have similar convening centers, the museum’s Public Science Common will be unparalleled in scale and commitment.
“Picture the space itself,” said Ritchie. “This is a 10,000 square foot space, beautiful glass space looking out over the Charles.”
He asked the Boston Public Radio hosts, to then imagine, there’s a discussion about a hydrogen future, and that Boston residents have questions. Ritchie said this will be a beautiful space to bring academics, officials, scientists and the public together to then have these conversations.
The Museum of Science has also embarked on the “Year of the Earthshot,” a year-long initiative focused on climate action and sustainability. The initiative looks at how we can continue to sustainably live on Earth with how we eat, live, work and move.
As part of this initiative, the museum will introduce new exhibits and programs. This includes an IMAX film titled “The Cities of the Future” and an immersive exhibit called “Innovation Earth,” where museum-goers will be asked to think about how to live sustainably.
The museum itself is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2035.
The Museum’s YouTube channel will also feature a series called “Tomorrow’s Kitchen” and “America’s Test Kitchen,” focusing on sustainable cooking practices, many of which are plant-based and sourced from local Massachusetts industries.
“Digitally, we will reach about 240 million people online, and a lot of that content will be about climate change,” Ritchie emphasized.
“We’re an enduring institution, a beloved institution that’s all about science,” said Ritchie. “We want to make science awesome for people, because science is awesome. It’s a way to understand the world around us, to understand the world within us, to solve the problems we face.”
