2019 SCIENCE GALLERY DUBLIN ANNUAL REVIEW SCIENCE GALLERY DUBLIN ANNUAL REVIEW 01.01.19– 31.12.19 1 2019 SCIENCE GALLERY DUBLIN ANNUAL REVIEW Introduction 01 01 / INTRODUCTION 04 02 / BACKGROUND 06 CONTENTS 03 / EXHIBITIONS 08 03 / OPEN LABS 10 03 / PERFECTION 14 03 / PLASTIC 18 04 / EVENTS 22 05 / RESEARCH AND LEARNING 26 06 / VISITOR SURVEYS 30 07 / THE SCIENCE GALLERY NETWORK 32 08 / SCIENCE GALLERY INTERNATIONAL 34 09 / TOURING 36 10 / COMMUNICATIONS 38 11 / COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY 40 12 / SUPPORTERS AND COLLABORATORS 42 13 / FINANCIAL REPORT 44 14 / GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP 48 15 / GOVERNANCE BOARD 50 16 / LEONARDO GROUP 54 17 / PLANS FOR 2020 56 2 3 2019 SCIENCE GALLERY DUBLIN ANNUAL REVIEW Introduction 01 At the time of writing this introduction we are living in a Its deep integration within Trinity College Dublin brings University of Melbourne, the exhibition was re-curated In a similar way, every single one of our partners very different world to the one we are used to. Schools, scholars, researchers, students, and visitors together in Dublin, and was complemented by a series of events and sponsors contributes in a fundamental way to universities, and almost all businesses are closed. Citizens in ways that are mutually beneficial—leading to new drawing on research done at Trinity College Dublin. our activities—but when when taken into account can freely move only within a 2km radius from their home. research publications, award-winning educational collectively they make Science Gallery possible, PLASTIC was designed with sustainability at its core. It is The havoc brought by the COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping modules, and front-page mentions in the national news. and for this we are incredibly grateful to: the first exhibition produced by Science Gallery to go on a how we live, work, study, and engage with one another. And while almost four million people have visited the national tour after its run in Dublin, and over the coming years Right now it may feel almost surreal to look back at when Our founding partner, Trinity College Dublin; the Wellcome exhibitions in Dublin, over two million have been to one of the it will have reached thousands of people throughout Ireland. things were “normal”; when the exhibition space was open, Trust; our Science Circle members—ICON, Accenture The many Science Gallery exhibitions and sites abroad—making Dock, NTR Foundation, and the Department of Culture, visitors were flocking in, and thousands of students were Alongside these exhibitions, our events and educational Science Gallery Dublin one of the largest non-profit cultural Heritage and the Gaeltacht; Science Foundation Ireland; taking part in educational programs. But reflecting on 2019 programmes engaged thousands of participants on-site exports of Ireland. It is through unbounded creativity and European Commission funding instruments (Horizon shows us how crucial the work of Science Gallery is in and online. Through these varied programmes, Science fearless imagination that Science Gallery has achieved 2020), the Erasmus+ Programme; the Creative Europe preparing ourselves for times of unprecedented disruption. Gallery connected new audiences with thought-provoking such a remarkable success, and the programme in 2019 Programme; our media partner The Irish Times; our The insights sparked by the collision of science and art themes, and we connected with many local and national is a testimony of the skills and capacity of all the staff to programme partners: Intel, The Ireland Funds, The Marker have never been more essential than they are now—when organisations—which helped us broaden our impact. produce exhibitions, events, and projects that once again creativity is in all regards the survival tool which allows Hotel, and Walls to Workstations; our Board and Leonardo take Science Gallery to the national and international stage. us to overcome the uncertainties of the pandemic. Funded by a record eight concurrent grants in 2019, our Group; our mediators; the 2019 Ask Donors; the Science research on learning and informal education shows that for Gallery Dublin team; and the artists, designers, scientists, In 2019 our three exhibitions explored new ways to work with many young adults their encounter with Science Gallery has a researchers, and dreamers whose curiosity, creativity, For over 10 years Science local communities, and national and international partners: transformative effect that boosts their imagination, creativity, and vision continually inform and inspire our work. Gallery Dublin has enabled OPEN LABS literally opened up to the public the empathy, critical thinking, and problem solving. This is concepts of citizen science, open scholarship, particularly evident in our mediators, for whom working at its communities to discover, participatory research, and science activism. Profoundly Science Gallery offers an extraordinary experience like no contemporary, this exhibition functioned as a platform other—to the extent that this model is now implemented Andrea Bandelli learn, and engage with to trigger and showcase new intersections between by all other universities in the Science Gallery Network. Acting Director technology and society in a playful and mindful way. cutting edge science and This annual review is dotted with testimonies of so many PERFECTION came to Dublin from Science Gallery people for whom an encounter with Science Gallery has been contemporary issues; making Melbourne, and showed the value of being part of an a memorable moment. Taken individually they are important, international network of leading universities. The exhibition and they show how significant even one visit to Science Kathryn O’Donoghue complex topics accessible to investigated our complex relationship with the idea of Gallery is. But, when looked at together, they are a powerful Chairperson perfection; an unattainable ambition for some, something manifestation of the community impact of Science Gallery. wide and diverse audiences. to shy away for others. Originally developed at The 4 5 2019 SCIENCE GALLERY DUBLIN ANNUAL REVIEW Background 02 Our mission is to ignite The cutting-edge programme at Science Gallery Dublin encourages young people to learn through their interests. creativity and discovery where Since opening in 2008, over 3.8 million visitors to the gallery have experienced 48 unique exhibitions ranging from “At Science Gallery, science and art collide. design and violence to light and love, and from contagion and intimacy to the futures of the human species and life Our vision is to catalyse the at the extremes. Our programme is fuelled by the expertise of scientists, researchers, students, artists, designers, creation of the world’s leading inventors, creative thinkers and entrepreneurs. The focus is on providing experiences that allow visitors to participate many of the exhibits network for involving, inspiring and facilitate social connections, always providing an and transforming curious element of surprise. In 2012, the Science Gallery Network was launched with the support of Google.org. This initiative minds through science. oversees the development of Science Gallery projects in locations all around the world, with the first new gallery function like mental We achieve this by opened in London in 2018 and activity in Atlanta, Bengaluru, encouraging our audience to Detroit, Melbourne, Rotterdam and Venice also underway. discover, express and pursue their passion for science coat hangers: through an ever-changing programme of exhibitions, events and experiences, all things to hang new vividly brought together at the dynamic intersection where science and art collide. thoughts on.” — Gemma Tipton, Irish Times 6 7 2019 SCIENCE GALLERY DUBLIN ANNUAL REVIEW Exhibitions 03 How can science In 2019, Science Gallery Dublin continued to experiment with new exhibition formats, and new approaches to exploring themes that are be more open? Why important to our audiences. We invited visitors to become part of the do humans strive research process in OPEN LABS — where we explored the expanding potential of citizen science. Part exhibition, part experiment, OPEN for perfection? What LABS showcased DIY culture across design, research, technology, and activism. It invited visitors to take part in, and help shape, the does the future hold scientific process. OPEN LABS also explored the potential for a for plastic? In 2019, scientific practice that is more open, democratic, and collaborative. Science Gallery Dublin PERFECTION was a creative collision of scientific experimentation and artistic expression. It held up the mirror of self-reflection, and invited asked questions visitors to see the benefits, and the problematic aspects, of the imperfect/ perfect dichotomy. The aim of the exhibition was to leave visitors that explored our questioning their own interpretations of ‘perfect’. PERFECTION was initially relationship with the developed and exhibited at Science Gallery Melbourne, and this was our first Science Gallery Network exhibition to be adapted for Dublin. scientific process, with With PLASTIC, our goal was to spark a conversation about an Earth- ourselves, and with damaging material that we cannot live without. We developed an exhibition and events programme to explore how we can responsibly our environment. use this versatile material — while fundamentally changing our approach to living with, and using, plastic. This was our first exhibition to tour nationally; bringing Science Gallery Dublin to new audiences in Wexford, Drogheda,