Michael John Gorman, CEO, Science Gallery International
The Global Science Gallery Network is expanding, as an agreement between the Indian government and Science Gallery International lays the foundation for Science Gallery Bengaluru.
The Science Gallery in India will be based on the model pioneered at Trinity College Dublin and is the third institution to join the Global Science Gallery Network, the second being Science Gallery London, which is due to open in 2016.
A Memorandum of Agreement was signed by the Indian government and Science Gallery International yesterday (13 November) during the Education in Ireland mission to India, which was organised by Enterprise Ireland and led by Ireland’s Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation Damien English, TD.
English welcomed the opportunity to create a progressive, innovative and creative partnership between Ireland and India, while Dr Chris Horn, chair of Science Gallery International, said, “Bengaluru is a science and technology hub both for India and the world. By taking the first steps towards making Science Gallery Bengaluru a reality, the Karnataka State Government is highlighting the value that a creative approach to public engagement and innovation with science, technology, engineering, art and maths (STEAM) can offer.”
Science Gallery Bengaluru is expected to open in 2018 and welcome 400,000 visitor a year.
“By establishing Science Gallery we are adding another jewel to the city of Bengaluru, which is already dotted with premier science and technology organisations and R&D institutions,” said Srivatsa Krishna, secretary of the Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science and Technology in the Karnataka State Government.
The Global Science Gallery Network is a project Irish charity Science Gallery International launched in 2012. At the time, the organisation’s goal was to establish eight global Science Gallery hubs.
To date, agreements have also been signed with the University of Melbourne in Australia and City College New York in the US, with a view to bringing the Science Gallery mix of STEAM education and fun to these campuses.
