Did you know Boston’s Museum of Science is opening a Public Science Common? Here are some questions to consider

Did you know that the Museum of Science in Boston is launching a brand-new venue where visitors can have an immersive experience exploring the stories behind scientific discoveries? It’s called the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Public Science Common.

This 10,000-square-foot venue overlooks the Charles River and the Boston skyline. Surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows and composed of multiple rooms, the immersive space will host talks, performances, and interactive programs.

So why are they doing this?

Well, in a recent Bloomberg Philanthropies press release, Museum President Tim Ritchie said, “We believe the future of science is participatory. Science should belong to everyone.” He goes on to describe the venue as a place where scientists, creators, artists, and the public will create experiences that inspire everyone with hope for a better future.

As the Museum of Science puts it on its website, the space is designed to “flex, transform, and inspire.” This is not just a venue; it’s a canvas for the unforgettable.

So, I know what you’re thinking: What about people who aren’t local to Boston? Will they be able to experience this as well?

Well, they’re in luck, because the space has livestreaming technology that will allow anyone around the world to watch in real time and on demand.

The Museum of Science has also announced its first set of events for fall 2026, which include livestreamed podcasts and experiments with esteemed scientists.

So, we at the Civic Science Media Lab are excited to hear about this launch. But, as usual, we have questions—and lots of them.

Here are some of the things we’re thinking about, and I hope they inspire some of you to think about them as well.

The museum website says it is trying to bring people closer to discovery. What does that actually look like in practice? What will the Museum of Science be tracking to know whether it is achieving its goals? What types of outcomes will it document?

And then, how participatory will these activities actually be? Will community members be able to co-design and engage with the scientific stories alongside the scientists, creators, and artists we mentioned earlier? And how will that collaboration be structured?

The Bloomberg Public Science Common is set to launch on October 10. Stay tuned for the intel as we hopefully begin answering some of these questions in the coming months.

Did you know about the Public Science Common?

Well, now you know.

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Jacinda Taggett

Jacinda is a neuroscience-trained science writer and journalist, editor-in-chief of a science publication and founder of a neuroscience platform with 1,000+ monthly readers. She is currently working toward a Master of Science in science communication at Stony Brook University.