MLSC Grant to Museum of Science

Boston – With a $5 million grant that was awarded recently by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), the Museum of Science, Boston can begin construction of a timely new exhibit, the Hall of Human Life , starting this summer. Envisioned as one of the Museum’s largest and most far-reaching exhibits, the Hall of Human Life, opening in July 2013, aims to revolutionize how people understand their own biology and manage their health. Designed to evolve with the accelerating breakthroughs in biology and biotechnology, this 10,000sf exhibit will spark visitors’ curiosity about innovations in the life sciences, address their concerns about health care, and help them develop the thinking skills needed to make informed choices.
The Life Sciences Center funding, financial support awarded through the organization’s Capital Project Matching Grant Program, provides the resources necessary for the project to move forward. The Center is the agency charged with implementing the state’s 10-year, $1 billion Life Sciences Initiative, proposed by Governor Deval Patrick in 2007, and passed by the Legislature in 2008. The Museum of Science more than matched the grant by raising more than $11 million in supplemental funding. The Hall of Human Life will result in strong operating revenue, as well as growth in the Museum’s audience, membership, and donor base, and is expected to create up to 20 new jobs at the Museum.
One of the oldest and largest science museums in the United States, the Museum of Science, Boston, is uniquely positioned in an epicenter of biomedical research, clinical care, and biotechnology to serve as a public forum for learning about health and human biology. With approximately 1.5 million annual visitors, the Museum’s Hall of Human Life will touch the lives of its diverse audiences, including underrepresented communities, teachers and school groups, families, and life science professionals.