Celebrating Science for Peace and Development
Museums play an essential role in learning and offer immersive, interactive experiences that go beyond traditional classrooms. “International Science Centre and Science Museum Day” is observed annually on November 10 and began in 2016. The observation focuses on the role of science centres and museums in advancing sustainable development and public engagement. Museums originated in private collections in ancient times and have evolved over the centuries into public institutions. International science centres are dynamic institutions that promote public engagement with science, foster global collaboration, and support sustainable development. Preserving the past and showcasing how scientific principles work goes a long way toward providing opportunities for members of society to understand concepts and situations. Knowing would lay the foundation to find inclusive solutions. Museums and science centres are crucial in realising the same.
Museums Are Not Just Buildings;
They Are Bridges Between Generations.
Dr Saroj Ghose, former Director General of NCSM
Museums play an essential role in learning and offer immersive, interactive experiences that go beyond traditional classrooms. “International Science Centre and Science Museum Day” is observed annually on November 10, which began in 2016. UNESCO partners with the “International Council of Museums” and global networks of science centres and museums. It aligns with “World Science Day for Peace and Development”. The observation focuses on the role of science centres and museums in advancing sustainable development and public engagement.
A Museum Is a Not-For-Profit, Permanent Institution in the Service Of Society…
Open To the Public, Which Researches, Collects, Conserves, Interprets
and Exhibits Tangible and Intangible Heritage.
International Council of Museums
Science centres and museums are uniquely positioned to bridge science and society, making complex issues accessible and engaging. There are thousands of science museums worldwide. These include the Deutsches Museum in Germany, Cité des Sciences in France, Technopolis in Belgium, the Birla Industrial & Technological Museum and the National Science Museum of Japan, the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and the California Science Centre in Los Angeles. India has one of the largest networks of science museums and centres in the world, coordinated by the National Council of Science Museums, which oversees 26 institutions across the country. India’s science museum movement began with the Birla Industrial & Technological Museum in Kolkata (1959), followed by the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum in Bengaluru (1965). India’s science museums and centres collectively attract nearly one crore visitors annually.
Museums Are Not Just About Preserving the Past
—They Are About Inspiring The Future.
Neil MacGregor, former Director of the British Museum
The word “museum” derived from the Greek word “mouseion”, meaning “a place dedicated to the Muses (ponderers)”. Museums originated in private collections in ancient times and have evolved over the centuries into public institutions. Tombs of Egypt and temples in various countries often housed curated objects meant to honour the heroes of the past and preserve cultural memory. Museums now range from art and history to science, technology, and social issues—each reflecting the evolving values of the societies they serve.
India’s Science Centres Are Not Just Museums
—They Are Living Laboratories of Curiosity, Equity, And Empowerment, Bridging Traditional Knowledge With Modern Science.
India’s ancient traditions of preserving, interpreting, and displaying cultural heritage laid the groundwork for modern museums. Ancient Indian scriptures mention the practice of collecting, preserving, and exhibiting objects. Temples often housed artefacts, sculptures, manuscripts, and relics for public viewing and veneration.
International science centres are dynamic institutions that promote public engagement with science, foster global collaboration, and support sustainable development. They also serve as platforms for citizen science, community dialogue, and policy engagement, helping bridge the gap between research and real-world impact.
In India, academic avenues to study museums include specialised degrees and diplomas in museology, heritage studies, and conservation. These programs blend theory, practice, and fieldwork to prepare students for careers in museum curation, education, and management.
Museums now embrace digital access, community engagement, and inclusive storytelling. They serve as platforms for dialogue, sustainability, and social justice. Virtual exhibits, AR/VR integration, citizen science projects and local problem-solving labs.
Science Museums Have Profoundly Shaped Lives
—Sparking Curiosity, Guiding Careers, And Transforming Perspectives.
Preserving the past and showcasing how scientific principles work go a long way toward providing opportunities for members of society to understand concepts and situations. Knowing would lay the foundation to find inclusive solutions. Museums and science centres are crucial in realising the same.
Toon: Reema
Logs: M Sai Baba
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