Google fires up Dublin City of Science 2012. From left at Science Gallery Dublin are David Martin, director, Geo Operations, EMEA, Google; and Dr Michael Gorman, founding director, Science Gallery Dublin
Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin has been awarded a sweet €1m from Google to develop a Global Science Gallery Network (GSGN). It’s a timely and welcome move from Google, seeing as Dublin will be playing host to City of Science 2012. Science Gallery has a goal to create eight global science gallery hubs and to infuse learning about science, maths and art with fun!
The gift is part of more than US$100m in total charitable giving from Google in 2011.
Since opening in Dublin in February 2008, Science Gallery has welcomed more than 800,000 visitors to 18 diverse exhibitions, ranging in theme from contagion to the future of fashion.
Science Gallery Dublin aims to make a global impact
GSGN will be modelled on a fun approach to engaging young people in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM subjects) and potentially help them carve out future careers in these areas.
Welcoming the news this morning, Dr Michael Gorman, founding director of Trinity’s Science Gallery, said that by offering this “transformational support”, Google will help to take Science Gallery to the next level and allow it to scale its impact internationally.
“Our vision is to share Science Gallery’s unique approach to public engagement at the interface of science and art. We’re planning eight Science Gallery hubs around the world by 2020, developed in partnership with leading universities in key cities such as London and Moscow. In each city, we tap into a vibrant local creative community of researchers, designers, artists and entrepreneurs to engage and inspire the next generation of innovators,” said Gorman today.
Gorman said Google had been a dynamic supporter of Science Gallery Dublin from the outset.
“This very generous gift is further testament to their commitment to supporting initiatives which will help us to inspire and engage more people across the globe with science and technology,” he said.
GSGN will be officially launched in July 2012, during Dublin’s tenure as European City of Science.
Innovative spirit and Ireland’s future
David Martin, director, Geo Operations, EMEA, Google, this morning added how it was “fantastic” to be able to point to Science Gallery as a very “vivid and engaging example of the innovative spirit that we often talk of as critical to Ireland’s future”.
“Having seen the success of Science Gallery in Dublin, we recognise the potential for other cities and we are very pleased to support the work of the gallery with this gift,” said Martin.
Check out the exhibition ‘Surface Tension: The Future of Water’ that’s running at Science Gallery Dublin until 20 January 2012.
