The COVID-19 pandemic hit science and technology museums hard – with people unable to go view exhibits in-person, institutions were forced to pivot. This included several longtime Moore Foundation partners, who were forced to shut their doors in 2020. Despite the challenges, staff at the museums refused to sit idle. While they took on the challenge of delivering engaging education content and programming to audiences online, they also took advantage of the shuttered period to double down on strategic planning and development, working to set up new and refreshed exhibits and experiences. In the three years since, museums have successfully reopened, welcoming visitors back, both in-person and online, to showcase how these fresh visions have come to life. While the effects of COVID are still felt – visitor counts have not returned to pre-pandemic levels – visitor numbers are rising. With a new focus on providing virtual experiences to supplement traditional ones, these institutions are now better equipped for post-pandemic life, and the foundation’s San Francisco Bay Area program continues to provide support and partnership as they evolve.
UC Berkeley’s public science center closed for about 20 months during the pandemic before reopening in late 2021. During their period of closure, The Lawrence identified shifts in the education landscape and worked to keep science on people’s minds and in their homes. Through their website’s “Play” section, users could find apps to download, over 30 DIY activities, or videos to watch – all with a STEM focus (or just enjoy a time-lapse view of the bay from the center). For over a decade, the foundation has partnered with The Lawrence on strategic planning, exhibit refreshes and improving the visitor experience, including during the pandemic.
The Lawrence Hall of Science is open daily, and tickets can be purchased on their website.
The Exploratorium, one of San Francisco’s most well-known museums, is home to hundreds of exhibits and myriad educational resources. During the pandemic, it remained closed from March 2020 to July 2021. As museums pivoted to online learning platforms, the Exploratorium built a robust collection of activities, exhibits, videos and articles all accessible through their website. With hundreds of low-cost or free ways for virtual visitors to engage with museum content, the Exploratorium ensured that people could still scratch their itch for science from the comfort of their home. The Exploratorium also had several outdoor exhibits that remained available to access, including a Bay Bridge model and a pair of parabolic listening devices. The Moore Foundation supported the creation of the in-person The Art of Tinkering exhibition, which finally launched in the summer of 2022 as a way to welcome visitors back. This immersive, hands-on experience allowed visitors to get creative and build with a variety of materials and tools.
The Tech in San Jose showcases emerging technological solutions to pressing issues and inspires seeks to inspire students to pursue additional science and technology experiences and education. It temporarily closed its doors in March 2020 and responded with an emphasis on virtual content. The Tech Interactive at Home hosts a variety of fun, inexpensive activities plus virtual field trips that families can do from home. The Tech also partnered with Discovery Education on Tech for Tomorrow, which provides online access to exhibits, activities and resources.
The Tech’s Solve for Earth area, with its opening delayed, welcomed visitors back to its almost 5,000 square-foot exhibit space, with numerous stations to educate visitors about the impact our actions have on the planet. Through the exhibit gallery, the Tech aims teach visitors about understanding and advancing environmental sustainability while inspiring people to take action in their communities. For example, the “Balance of Power” station is an electrical grid simulator that challenges users to balance power generation and consumption.
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the Computer History Museum preserves computing history and connects visitors with artifacts and activities to help understand and explore the future impact of technology. Its doors were closed for two years during the pandemic. Current visitors can see exhibits such as “Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing”, a 25,000 square-foot experience chronicling the history of computing. CHM offers a deep virtual experience for those that cannot attend in person, allowing users to click through to see pictures and read about the various items on display – or even take a 31-step, 3D virtual tour of the exhibit. During the pandemic, the museum was busy digitizing their collections so that they can soon make them more accessible and searchable for anybody online.
Oakland’s Chabot Space and Science Center, which can trace its roots back nearly 140 years spent 18 months closed to the public during the pandemic. As the only space-focused science center in the region, Chabot worked to modernize and maintain its position as a premier education resource. When traditional in person field trips were impossible, staff adjusted to provide free virtual field trips instead, which also improved accessibility. These virtual field trips are still available. A major highlight of the reopening was a partnership with NASA that moved the NASA Ames Bay Area Visitor Experience from NASA Ames Research Center to Chabot. It was the start of a long-term collaboration and provides an immersive, hands-on experience that allows visitors to engage with NASA’s work. Additionally, other Chabot offerings include telescope viewings, a planetarium, and an emphasis on STEAM career pathways.
When faced with unavoidable closure during the pandemic, these museums used the time as an opportunity to reach their communities online to find out how people can best interact with exhibits and collections during a time when traditional experiences were put on hold. The forced changes to education systems and infrastructure were a chance for science institutions to create a new normal, one where access to resources is more equitable and sustainable through a shared focus on in-person and virtual experiences.
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