Science museums and centres : Evolution and contemporary trends

Three broad questions guide this chapter: What knowledge do SMCs convey to their visitors? What interactions do they emphasise with their visitors? How do they represent the science they present to their visitors? The evolution of science museums and centres is presented in the context of science’s changing position in society, from nineteenth century displays of the history of technology, through enhancement and appropriation of knowledge, to articulations of science and society. Contemporary trends in exhibition modes are considered and the evidence for a possible new phase marked by the presentation of science-in-the-making, with science centres increasingly becoming places of dialogue, exchanges and forums.