Boston’s Museum of Science launches “Being Human” spotlight to explore “what’s inside everything that connects us”

BOSTON—The Museum of Science in Boston has launched Being Human, a yearlong spotlight designed to explore the complexities of human interconnectedness through science, art, and community dialogue. Spearheaded by Insoo Hyun, director of the Museum’s Center for Life Sciences, the program will feature new exhibits, symposia, and public events throughout 2025.

Key highlights include imPRINTING: The Artist’s Brain, an immersive sonic self-portrait by artist Beatie Wolfe, which launched on February 1. The installation invites visitors to “step inside” the artist’s mind via a data-encoded “thinking cap,” offering a novel exploration of personal identity. Later this spring, the Perception Playground exhibit will challenge how we perceive reality through interactive illusions and cognitive experiments.

The spotlight also features high-profile collaborations. Dr. Anthony Fauci and Arianna Huffington will join discussions on health and resilience, while a partnership with Emerson College will present Being Human: An Evening of Storytelling and Readings on February 27. Emerson President Jay Bernhardt underscored the importance of such collaborations, stating, “Public understanding and support for science are essential for an informed and healthy society” (Museum of Science Press Release).

Being Human builds on the Museum’s recent public engagement initiatives, such as the Year of the Earthshot, which featured more than 1,000 programs addressing climate action and sustainability, and the 2025 symposium Science & Democracy: What They Are and Why They Need Each Other among others, examining the role of science in civic life.

Read more about the Being Human initiative here.