Research project • Science museums in a time of crisis
Four case studies, one shared question:
How do science museums navigate crises?
A cross-country look at how teams in Brazil, Canada, Finland and Portugal responded to the COVID-19 pandemic – what changed, what lasted, and what we can learn for future resilience.
Public museum in Rio’s port zone with strong social responsibility to nearby low-income communities. During COVID-19, teams partnered with research institutes and media; Community Relations delivered printed learning packs to schools lacking devices.
- Partnered with Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz & TV networks
- Launched “Coronacene” exhibit & livestreams
- Vaccination site; countered anti-vaccine narratives
Care • Civic role • Community
Large provincial museum that pivoted rapidly to online programs and community storytelling. Some digital initiatives waned later amid leadership changes.
- RBCM@Home & digital field trips
- Online Community Gallery
- “Tell Us Your COVID-19 Story” public archive
Digital • Care • Community
Finland’s largest interactive science centre. Focused on maintaining hands-on exhibits and preparing for visitors’ return; did not emphasise COVID-specific programming given strong national science communication.
- Maintained hands-on exhibits
- Focused on visitor wellbeing
- Collaborative research on museum experience value
Wellbeing • Hands-on • Care
University of Lisbon museum that repositioned itself as a civic & scientific resource with COVID-19 collaborations and a stronger digital presence, expanding access for underserved communities.
- Hosted “Collecting COVID-19 ULisboa” exhibit
- Vaccination hub in national campaign (>90% coverage)
- Family-oriented online programs
Civic role • Inclusion • Digital
What ties the cases together?
Across different contexts, three threads emerge: caring relationships, reflective attentiveness, and a strengthened civic & scientific role.
Acts of care supported access and belonging – from delivering print materials to connecting isolated seniors and supporting coworkers’ wellbeing.
Teams focused attention where it mattered: inviting public stories, prioritising families at home, or avoiding duplication of COVID messaging.
Museums became vaccination hubs, conveners, and trusted science platforms – showing cultural institutions’ role in public resilience.
Voices from the field
“People will come back and we’re going to have this place spick-and-span.”
“A senior’s home wrote us to say how important we were to their day.”
“I ended up knowing if they had conditions to keep working or not … people established strong relationships with one another.”
Side-by-side overview
| Museum | Location | Crisis response snapshot | Primary themes |
|---|---|---|---|
| [BR] Museum of Tomorrow | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Partnered with Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz & TV networks; “Coronacene” exhibit | Care, Civic role, Community |
| [CA] Royal BC Museum | Victoria, Canada | RBCM@Home; digital field trips; Community storytelling | Digital, Care, Community |
| [FI] Heureka – The Finnish Science Centre | Vantaa, Finland | Maintained hands-on exhibits; Focused on wellbeing | Wellbeing, Hands-on, Care |
| [PT] National Museum of Natural History & Science | Lisbon, Portugal | COVID-19 exhibit; Vaccination hub; Online family programs | Civic role, Inclusion, Digital |
Data source: 2023-2024 qualitative interviews (26 professionals) and materials shared by museum teams.
