Science Gallery ignites creativity and discovery where science and art collide

Bringing science, art, technology and design together, each Science Gallery delivers unique, transdisciplinary exhibitions, events and educational programmes that engage millions of inquiring minds every year in connective, participative, and surprising ways

These experiences enable young people to develop the skills they need for the 21st century, equipping them to thrive in the knowledge economy through the skills of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) and the essential skills of creativity, problem solving, adaptability, resilience and communication. 

It is also increasingly important that the public understand and are actively engaged in university work and research. Science Gallery is at the forefront of interfacing cutting-edge research from the university with the wider public. It provides access to research participants in numbers and via methods not possible in a traditional university setting. Science Gallery inspires – and is inspired by – our global communities. By actively engaging with and involving students, faculty, researchers and the wider university and city in its activities, Science Gallery creates a porous membrane between the university and its locality. Read more about the benefits of Science Gallery to the university here.

What makes Science Gallery different? 

While there are many organisations, science centres and science museums worldwide aiming to engage young people with science, there are many factors that set Science Gallery apart:

1 — UNIVERSITY LINKED

Located on the campuses of leading universities and research institutions in major urban centres, Science Gallery brings research groups, staff and students into dialogue with the arts, creative community and the public. Exhibitions are staffed by student mediators and regular educational programmes offer young people the opportunity to pursue projects that explore the boundaries of art and science.

2 — FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE

Science Gallery is a place for questioning what will and might be, rather than a place for sharing what is already known. Our programme of exhibitions, events and educational programmes interrogates the many possibilities of the future.

3 — AN EVER-CHANGING PROGRAMME

Science Gallery does not have a permanent collection but presents an ever-changing programme of exhibitions and events. Events keep the programme fresh by delving deeper into exhibition themes, bringing in big names and up-and-coming artists for intimate discussions, performances and workshops that explore current and future trends in science and art. This means that every visit is a completely different experience, keeping people coming back to see what's new.

4 — CREATED FOR YOUNG ADULTS

While other attractions focus on kids or adults, the primary Science Gallery audience is aged between 15 and 30 years old — young adults who are in high school, university and in the early stages of their career. Science Gallery understands this audience and presents them with the opportunity to engage with new ideas when they are making key decisions about future course choices and careers. 

5 — OPEN CALL PROCESS

Our Open Call process allows anyone, artists, scientists, engineers, technologists from all over the world — and anyone else with an interest — to submit their ideas, effectively crowdsourcing its programme. This makes each exhibition a truly unique, multidisciplinary and diverse collection of ideas. Leading the development of the programme, the Leonardo Group includes fifty inspiring individuals drawn from the local creative community of scientists, artists, engineers, technologists, media and entrepreneurs who form a brain trust for Science Gallery. The Leonardos lead the development of ideas for Science Gallery exhibitions and events.

6 — MEDIATOR MODEL

Science Gallery Mediators are the superheroes of Science Gallery, a multi-talented team of young STEAM educators who discuss and debate the themes explored in our exhibitions with visitors to Science Gallery. Their primary role is to engage people in conversations catalysed by our exhibitions, events and education programmes. Focusing on storytelling and conversation around science and art, the Mediator model enables critical thought, creativity, confidence, adaptability and interpersonal approaches. The experience of working as a Mediator at Science Gallery helps young people to explore new ideas and opportunities, to think about the future they want to shape and equips them with the with 21st-century skills they need to succeed in their future careers – something our MSC research confirms.

7 — TRANSDISCIPLINARY 

Science Gallery is a place where the usual rules don’t apply, where radical experimentation can take place and where the collision of different ideas and perspectives can produce truly ground-breaking innovations. At their core, the people we work with are researchers — whether artists, scientists or otherwise — seeking answers in their chosen area of interest. Using universal themes, our model brings diverse people together through their common interests, creating a kind of ‘skunkworks’ for the university, drawing together academics, professionals, the surrounding creative and technology communities and the public into new conversations and collaborations.

8 — SOCIAL AND CONVERSATIONAL

For many people, Science Gallery acts as a meeting place, where people and ideas collide. Rather than watching over you, our staff chat with you and seek to discover your interests so that they can help you find elements of the programme that are most interesting to you. At the same time, we work to forge new social connections for this key group — between mediator staff, visitors, peers, scientists or artists.

9 — FOCUSED ON IDEAS

We’re not a museum. We’re a marketplace for ideas and exchange rather than ‘show and tell’.  We invest in the spread of ideas, not podiums on which to place them.  

10 — FREE ENTRY

Thanks to the tremendous support of our partners, our exhibitions are free to visit, and we open beyond normal gallery hours on weekday evenings to make Science Gallery accessible to everyone who wants to visit.