Introduction

The Science Museum Group is devoted to the history and contemporary practice of science, medicine, technology, industry and media, with the most comprehensive and significant collections anywhere in the world.

The Science Museum Group undertakes research to increase its long-term capacity to use its collection to engage public interest in the role of science and technology past, present and future. Research, of many kinds and conducted by staff within all professional areas, is the life blood of major museums like ours. SMG research is conducted at every level from fact-checking to academic-style publication. The vast majority of our research effort is aligned with major projects within the annual business plans, but research to develop the understanding to enable future projects is also encouraged and undertaken. The museums work to international standards of best practice and seek to become world leaders in the production of original knowledge and new research methods. We support both research more narrowly targeted at the production of particular outputs (such as specific displays) and broader academic research (that is research of university quality that informs both museum displays and websites but also publications and presentations for academic audiences).

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.

research partnerships

A core part of the Science Museum’s work is to promote research that explores our collections, exhibitions and audiences through the following themes:

• The Public Culture of Science and Technology – which brings together research into public history, history of the public culture of science and audience research.
• Science, Technology and the Arts – which enables research that relates Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine to literature and the visual and musical arts.
• The Material Culture of Science – which promotes study of our collections, including conservation research.

The Science Museum’s Research and Public History team work with academic partners to develop funding proposals to support this work. Research helps us better understand our collections, uncover new stories and ultimately inform our public programme.