Introduction

The Science Museum Group aims to support and develop world-class research activity that enables the Group to care for, meaningfully interpret, and creatively display our collections.

Research helps SMG face outwards, extending relationships and expertise to better identify, interrogate, and interpret compelling stories about the past, present and future of science and our collection, as we strive to be open for all and inspire futures. 

The Science Museum Group is

• The Science Museum explores the science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine that shape our lives.

• The Museum of Science and Industry explores how ideas can change the world, from the Industrial Revolution to today.

• The National Railway Museum explores the huge impact of railways on Britain and the wider world.

• The National Science and Media Museum explores the transformative impact of image and sound technologies on our lives.

• Locomotion explores railway history and innovation in the world’s first railway town.

• The Science and Innovation Park is home to our stored collections, housing around 300,000 objects at the National Collections Centre.

The unique composition of the Group means that it is well placed to develop innovative cross-cutting research; because of our remarkable collections and role as a public forum, we are able to broker substantive inter- and multi- disciplinary projects.

Our strategic research clusters include the following, although they do not supersede research associated with each museum’s subject specialisms:

• Open access and making collections digital

• Informal science learning and engagement

• Heritage science

• Major gallery developments – including Space at the Science Museum and Manchester’s industrial story (‘City of Ideas’)