The Dublin-based organisation Science Gallery has announced the German university, TU Berlin to be their newest leading university partner.

Executive Director of Science Gallery International, Andrea Bandelli said: ‘Berlin is at the vanguard of unique cultural experiences and is a leading light across the worlds of technology, art, and design’

What is the Science Gallery?

The Science Gallery initiative was formed in 2008, in Dublin and encourages art, technology, and design to collide creating an educational, and cultural experience for young people.

‘From its goal of actively contributing to shaping the future, to its highly international flavour and its recognition of the need for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to teaching, research, and science communication, TU Berlin is a perfect fit for Science Gallery’ added Bandelli

The initiative oversees a global network of universities and TU Berlin has now joined a community of universities from Atlanta, Dublin, London, Detroit, Melbourne, Venice, Bengaluru, and Rotterdam.

President of TU Berlin, Christian Thomsen referenced it as an exciting opportunity as it provides a space to connect the university and the city of Berlin.

‘Berlin comes alive through stimulating conversations, exhibition programs and events that capture and explore those most urgent challenges facing contemporary society.”

Dr Patrick Prendergast of Trinity College Dublin added: ‘Berlin is the perfect city for Science Gallery: its rich cultural past and the present will create endless opportunities to engage the local community.’

The Future of the Science Gallery Network

Since its launch in 2008 more than 6 million people have visited Science Gallery worldwide and its network of universities have invested €180 million in total towards the galleries.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has economically impacted the initiative and slowed down revenue due to the closer of the cultural venues, Science Gallery looks to the future.

Dr. Bandelli said ‘We have enjoyed a warm global reception and remarkable growth trajectory in a relatively short period of time, since its beginnings in Dublin in 2008.’

With this, the gallery aims to expand and increase the number of partnered universities to 12.

‘With a view to adding three further university locations to the network, filling some gaps in our worldwide presence – exploring opportunities in Japan, Mexico, and the Global South’ said Bandelli.

‘In the last five years, we’ve worked with artists, designers, and researchers from 90 countries who are thought-leaders in their practice or field, so our focus will be on translating that engagement into opportunities for the wider public to enjoy.’

The Science Gallery Network is preparing for the new decade with upcoming programs reflecting current issues.
Themes include:

• Melbourne: MENTAL, an exhibition, and events program exploring the full spectrum of mental health, and confronting societal bias and stigma.

• Dublin: IN THESE STRANGE TIMES, an evolving series that aims to discuss, showcase and explore the various ways in which humanity has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Bengaluru: CONTAGION, exploring the phenomenon of the transmission of emotions, behaviors, and diseases.

• Detroit: TRACKED AND TRACED, exploring privacy, data, surveillance, artificial intelligence – and their impact on human behavior, mental health, justice, ethics, science, democracy, and the environment.

‘Science Gallery is excited to face into this new and unknown context with TU Berlin by its side.’ ended Bandelli.