SGI announces new philanthropic funding worth more than €1.1M

Today we're sharing two important pieces of news about Science Gallery International.

Firstly, we are delighted to be able to announce today new philanthropic funding worth more than €1.1M to support our work in the further expansion of the Global Science Gallery Network, building on the foundational support of €1M provided by Google.org in 2012. This new and transformational funding, which comes from the Cordover Family Foundation and another generous foundation that wishes to remain unnamed at this stage, puts Science Gallery International in a robust position to reach its target of securing eight galleries by 2020.

The funding comes at a landmark time, with galleries already in development in partnership with King’s College London and the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, and discussions at an advanced stage to announce the next Science Gallery in Melbourne. Next week, for the first time ever, there also will be four Science Gallery exhibitions open simultaneously worldwide — SECRET in Science Gallery Dublin, ILLUSION at the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, BIORHYTHM in Taiwan and HUMAN+ at renowned art centre CCCB in Barcelona.

Secondly, today we are also announcing my upcoming transition from my role as CEO of Science Gallery International to Founding Chairman of the Executive Council of the Global Science Gallery Network, in order to take up a new role as Professor (Chair) of Life Sciences in Society at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich and Founding Director of the Bavarian Museum of Life Sciences and Natural History.

Working to establish Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin and now Science Gallery International has been the greatest privilege of my career so far. It is with great excitement that we are able to announce this new and transformational funding today, which matches the gift received from Google.org in 2012, and sets SGI on a firm footing to secure all eight Science Gallery locations by 2020, as we reach the halfway milestone. As I transition to my new role in Germany in mid-2016, I am grateful to have worked alongside so many incredible people in the past eight years at Science Gallery, and thrilled to be able to continue my involvement with Science Gallery International as Chair of the Executive Council. More than ever, I look forward to seeing the Global Network ignite the creativity of 15-25 year olds through the collision of art and science, inspiring the innovators of the future

The SGI Board has established a Search Committee to identify a new CEO. I will remain in my role as CEO until my replacement is in place, which is expected to be within the first half of 2016.

Warmest regards,

Michael John

CEO, Science Gallery International

A full press release covering today's announcements is available here. For media enquiries, please contact Fionn Kidney (Global Engagement Manager, Science Gallery International) at Fionn.Kidney@sciencegallery.com or +353857386425.