Museum of Science, Boston
For decades, the Museum of Science, Boston’s dynamic experiences have inspired people of all ages and backgrounds by guiding them through the interconnected natural and engineered worlds. In October 2016, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a $50 million gift to the museum, the largest in the institution’s 186-year history, to support and name the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Science Education Center in honor of Mike Bloomberg and Marjorie Tiven’s parents.
Bloomberg’s gift solidified the museum’s status as one of the premier educational institutions in the world by ensuring the stability of its education department and supporting the founding of computational thinking and food science initiatives. It has also helped with other research and programming around the museum’s mission to become a leading global center in expanding the public’s access to, understanding of, and critical thinking around engineering, technology, and the sciences.
Bloomberg Philanthropies has made gifts to the museum before, supporting the renovation of its Charles Hayden Planetarium, funding access and internship programs, and helping assess the investment needed to redesign exhibition and programming spaces. In 2014, Bloomberg received the museum’s Bradford Washburn Award for outstanding contributions toward public understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in our lives.
Top photo: Local students attend the opening of the education division at Boston’s Science Museum, the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Science Education Center, named after Mike Bloomberg’s late parents.