The Lawrence Hall of Science buzzed with life Thursday night as adult science enthusiasts—gathered for The Future of Food and the Buzz of Science, a lively, bug-themed after-hours event exploring everything from pollinator science to Indigenous oral tradition to large-scale fire art.

The event marked The Lawrencer’s first adults-only evening in years, drawing a diverse crowd for a night of discovery and celebration. Guests were invited to explore insect evolution and ecology, engage in hands-on experiences with microscopes and virtual reality, and reflect on the deeper cultural significance of bees and other pollinators. Attendees who came dressed as bugs even received a $5 discount.

“It’s been a very challenging time for us as an organization,” said Lee Bishop, the Biotechnology Lead at The Lawrence, in welcoming remarks. “But we are really excited to keep the lights on for science—and feel very strongly about continuing our work creatively and adaptably.”

One of the evening’s most powerful moments came from Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino of the ’ottoy initiative, who shared an Ohlone story titled nefeja pin nanikma a taresh, or The Bees and the Man. The tale, recorded in 1921 and passed down through generations, tells of a man who exploits a hive: stealing honey, killing bees, and ultimately facing the swarm’s revenge. The story, Medina explained, is rooted in a concept of personhood that applies not only to humans but also to animals, plants, and ecosystems.

“This story takes the side of the bees instead of the side of the man,” he said. “It’s a reminder of Ohlone personhood and how that’s something still respected by our people today.”

Trevino added that the story’s themes of balance, respect, and consequence are especially resonant in today’s environmental climate. “We work at the intersection of Ohlone science and Western science,” he said, “and we’re proud to see our culture represented here at The Lawrence—not dismissed as folklore, but uplifted for the scientific principles embedded in it.”

The evening also featured presentations from UC Berkeley entomologists Dr. Nina Sokolov and Dr. Signe White. Sokolov captivated the audience with her deep knowledge of native bees and their medicinal behaviors. While most people associate bees with social hives, she explained that 90% of bee species are solitary.

“There are 1,600 species of bees in California alone,” Sokolov said. “And many of them are sick—infected with viruses and struggling with habitat loss. But they’re also incredibly smart. We’ve seen bumble bees use sunflower pollen to self-medicate against gut parasites.”

She encouraged guests to plant a diversity of flowers to help stock pollinators’ “food pantries and medicine cabinets.”

White, a lepidopterist, followed with a story about monarch butterflies and their use of milkweed toxins to fight off OE, a protozoan parasite. Infected adult monarchs, she explained, often choose to lay their eggs on more toxic milkweed plants, ensuring their offspring have a better chance at resisting infection.

“Animals have agency,” she said. “They know what they need—and they make choices that help them survive.”

Meanwhile, the San Francisco Microscopical Society set up stations for guests to peer into the miniature world of insect anatomy, diatoms, and even a delicate fish-shaped mosaic made from butterfly wing scales. Their goal? “To get people excited about the microscopic beauty all around us.”

A large crowd also gathered around Serenity, a glowing firefly installation by the Flaming Lotus Girls. The San Francisco-based collective, known for its interactive metal art and appearances at Burning Man, lit up the evening—literally. The sculpture featured a fire-breathing insect built by a team of artists ranging from newcomers to seasoned fabricators.

“Everyone can be a Flaming Lotus Girl,” said longtime member Caroline “Mills” Miller, who also works as a microscopist. “We’re all about demystifying art and empowering people to build amazing things.”

Also on display was a virtual reality experience by 10k Science, inviting participants to shrink down to the scale of the glassy-winged sharpshooter—a vineyard pest—and explore how its presence affects plant health. The interactive storyline allowed viewers to zoom through insect anatomy and even visualize the bacteria that cause disease.

As the sun set behind the Golden Gate Bridge, guests lingered in Dinosaur Lookout, pressing buttons to create bursts of fire from Serenity.

“We’re known in the Bay Area as a place for families and kids,” said Bishop, “but we also want to serve our adult community—and create spaces where curiosity, culture, and fun can thrive together.”

From the shimmer of insect wings under a microscope to the roar of fire sculptures against the night sky, The Future of Food and the Buzz of Science offered a reminder: science is for everyone and it’s anything but boring.

BERKELEY, CA – The Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley’s Public Science Center, invites the public to join us on Saturday, May 10 for STEM Day. The event celebrates the innovative work that UC Berkeley, including the Lawrence Hall of Science, has done to shape science education in schools and other learning spaces, like museums and science centers. The special displays and interactive experiences will include:

• The East Bay Academy of Young Scientists (EBAYS) will present a display on their Urban Youth Participation in Community and Citizen Science project, which engages youth of color between 14 and 18 years of age in community-driven science investigations of local environmental issues. EBAYS is studying the impact that participation in these programs have on students’ perceptions and awareness of science and STEM careers.
• Virtually Human is an exhibition that introduces museumgoers to artificial intelligence (AI), and invites them to explore how AI approaches solutions to different problems. The Virtually Human team is researching how young children make sense of and interact with AI. Visitors will prototype new AI experiences currently in development for inclusion in a new iteration of the exhibit.
• Supporting Rightful Presence in Museum Spaces is a model of participatory design with indigenous communities. The project created the tappenekšekma Ohlone Science Diplomats Program, in which Ohlone youth & families co-create Ohlone Science mixed reality exhibits at the Lawrence Hall of Science through a series of participatory design workshops that center and celebrate Ohlone cultural and scientific knowledge.
• Innovative, NSF research-based TK–12 science activities developed by The Lawrence! Our instructional materials, used across the U.S. and internationally, are brought to TK-12 classrooms through partnerships with leading publishers. The Lawrence designs our instructional materials aligned to national standards, and include the programs Amplify Science (TK-8), FOSS (TK-8), SEPUP, and the Ocean Sciences Sequence.
• Several partners from UC Berkeley and beyond including The Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), the NSF Center for Genetically Encoded Materials (C-GEM), and Dynamoid will showcase their innovative research to museumgoers.

STEM Day participants can also explore our engaging hands-on exhibits including the Planetarium, Outdoor Nature Lab, Animal Discovery Zone, Curiosity Corner/Esquina Curiosa, Playtopia/Juegolandia, and so much more at this celebratory event.

STEM Day is on Saturday, May 10 from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Admission to The Lawrence for the day is reduced to a special discounted rate of $5 per person. A free shuttle will run in a continuous loop from the Downtown Berkeley BART station to The Lawrence (every 20-30 minutes) to increase access to the science center on this celebratory day.

Why we are featuring these programs and projects

Throughout our history, federal funding, including major support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), has made possible important innovations from the basic research on learning that led to the creation of new approaches to teaching science, preparation of educators to use high quality instructional materials and methods, and studies on the effectiveness of STEM education in serving the needs of all students. Without federal funding, our visitors would not have been able to experience some of The Lawrence’s most beloved programs, including the Planetarium, our outdoor nature activities, the Virtually Human exhibit, and our outdoor science park, Forces That Shape the Bay.

STEM Day was originally envisioned, in part, as a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the National Science Foundation and the many innovations and discoveries that have been made possible by NSF support over the years. “We want our community to be able to experience and see examples of the impactful projects and programs made possible by past NSF support. On STEM day visitors will engage in science discovery and learning made possible by these investments  and learn more about STEM learning and research across UC Berkeley,” said Rena Dorph, Ph.D, Director of The Lawrence Hall of Science.

About The Lawrence Hall of Science

The Lawrence Hall of Science (The Lawrence) is UC Berkeley’s public science center. Opened to the public in 1968, The Lawrence’s mission is to inspire and engage through scientific discovery and learning in ways that advance equity and opportunity. We activate hundreds of thousands of Northern CA youth, families, educators and communities through fun and rigorous, hands-on science learning at our Berkeley-based science center and with extensive outreach programs. Nationwide, The Lawrence reaches over 20% of US K–12 students through its science curricula (including Amplify Science, FOSS, SEPUP). We also impact millions of people worldwide via its effective STEM learning programs, educator professional learning, and STEM learning research and design.

Press Contact

Newsroom@berkeley.edu

This material is partially based upon work that was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2241805.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Instead of launching audiences into distant galaxies, Bloodstream Submarine shrinks visitors down to microscopic size and sends them deep inside the human body. In this 30-minute immersive presentation, audiences board a tiny submarine and explore the bloodstream of a real patient, Victoria Gray — the first person with sickle cell disease to be treated with CRISPR. Along the way, visitors learn how red blood cells function, what happens when they deform, and how scientists are working to fix the problem at the genetic level.

But the show is more than just a science adventure. It’s part of a larger initiative to educate the public about one of the most transformative technologies in modern medicine: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, or CRISPR.

Developed in part at UC Berkeley by Nobel Laureate Dr. Jennifer Doudna, CRISPR is a powerful gene-editing tool with the potential to cure genetic diseases, including sickle cell disease. Yet despite its growing impact, surveys show that many people have never heard of CRISPR — let alone understand how it works.

That gap in public awareness became a driving force behind the development of Bloodstream Submarine.

“Our main goal is to give the general public a basic understanding of how CRISPR works and what it can do, so that people are prepared to consider and discuss how this technology should or shouldn’t be used,” said Lee Bishop, the Biotechnology Lead at The Lawrence. “In surveys of people who participated in our CRISPR planetarium shows, over a quarter of people had never even heard of CRISPR. So, the need is out there to be met.”

The show is adapted from a virtual reality experience called CRISPR-VR, originally developed as a standalone tool for individual use. Now reimagined for the planetarium, it uses vivid visuals to depict how sickle-shaped cells block blood vessels, what causes their abnormal structure, and how gene editing seems to have cured Victoria’s disease. Entire audiences can experience the simulation together, and educators have begun incorporating video exports into classrooms, presentations, and high school science curricula.

Centering the story on a real patient helps translate the science into a narrative that’s easier for audiences — especially younger ones — to follow and understand.

“Rather than diving into an abstract bloodstream, we’re diving into our new friend Victoria’s bloodstream,” said Ellen Torres Thompson, The Lawrence’s Planetarium Specialist and the show’s script co-writer. “We’re working together to treat her sickle cell disease. The element of imaginative play here is particularly intended to engage early childhood learners.”

One of her favorite moments comes when hemoglobin molecules first appear on screen. “I like to ask the audience, ‘Do these molecules remind you of anything?’ and almost every time, a kid yells out, ‘Nerd gummy clusters!’”  Ellen ended up adding an image of the candy to the show, and the reaction, she said, is instant. “Kids go wild with laughter and a sense of validation — and I suspect they remember what hemoglobin’s function is.”

The show itself is the result of a partnership that began years earlier. The CRISPR VR project grew out of a collaboration between the Lawrence Hall of Science, Dr. Doudna’s Innovative Genomics Institute, and Oakland-based educational technology company Dynamoid. The groups first connected in 2018, just as The Lawrence was launching its biotechnology education program. 

“We are partnering with them to support them bringing these real research stories into the classroom or into science centers,” Bishop said. “We all worked together to design a VR storyline, which was relatively easy to bring into the planetarium, since VR and planetaria are quite similar in terms of the 3D data needed.”

Looking ahead, the team hopes Bloodstream Submarine will continue to serve as a gateway for audiences to learn not only about CRISPR, but about how science is applied in the real world. For now, the show invites audiences of all ages to explore the future of medicine—one red blood cell at a time. Catch Bloodstream Submarine on weekends and holidays before it goes away for the summer!

Zach Wilder

Senior Web Developer
He/Him
From Ohio

Zach has worked at The Lawrence for almost five years

Q: What do you do at The Lawrence?

A: I make websites. 

Q: What is your favorite exhibit at The Lawrence and why?

A: I have a personal bias for Science on a Sphere because I helped make the Kiosk interface for it. However, my current favorite is the gut health activity in Future of Food. My 3 year old son laughs like a maniac at the sound it makes when you feed it “healthy” food.  NumNUMnum!

Q: Describe your path to science/education

A: 11-year-old Zach would be very pleased to know that it’s my job to make websites about dinosaurs, space, and robots.  

Q: What is something new (science-related) you’ve learned at The Lawrence?

A: In the Animal Discovery Zone, I learned that Axolotls are like a salamander Peter Pan that doesn’t ever grow up, maintaining its juvenile features into adulthood. 

Q: What was your first aha moment at The Lawrence?

A: My first aha moment is when I realized the big industrial metal thing that is next to the Plaza is the 65-ton electromagnet that powered an early Ernest O. Lawrence cyclotron. I thought it was an air conditioning unit or something! 

Q: Who is your favorite fictional character, and why?

A: Kilgore Trout, who appears in several Kurt Vonnegut novels. I’d love to have a career of describing absurd science fiction novel plots without ever actually writing the book. 

Q: If you could be any animal, real or imaginary, which would you be and why?

A: I would be Sally the tortoise in our Animal Discovery Zone. She’s always eating the most colorful, delightful-looking salads.

Q: Do you have an unrealized project you want to talk about?

A: I’d like to launch a campaign to get bike racks installed at The Lawrence! I bike to work most days, and I’d love for our visitors to have that option as well.

Q: If you could amplify one thing at The Lawrence, what would it be?

A: I want everyone to know what a special place The Lawrence is, full of brilliant, caring people doing important stuff.

The day began with widespread media coverage, as The Lawrence was featured on KTVU Fox 2 News, NBC Today by the Bay, and more, spotlighting the exhibit’s efforts to engage the public with cutting-edge food science and sustainability innovations.

As guests arrived, they were welcomed with a unique tasting experience, sampling food innovations that could shape the future. Beth Zotter, co-founder and CEO of Umaro, and Bianca Le, a cell biologist and tech strategist at Mission Barns, showcased their companies’ groundbreaking work. Zotter’s company is developing seaweed-based protein in the form of “bacon,” while Lé’s company is pioneering cultivated animal fat in the form of meatballs, creating alternatives to traditional meat. Guests had the opportunity to try these novel food products before the event officially began.

After a chance to connect and try some of the showcased food innovations, guests turned their attention to Dr. Rena Dorph, Director of The Lawrence Hall of Science. She addressed the attendees, emphasizing the exhibit’s role in bridging science, sustainability, and education. 

“Future of Food advances The Lawrence’s strategic priorities by engaging young people and their communities in exploring global issues through science and social justice lenses,” Dorph said. “We know that our planet faces tremendous challenges—from climate change to healthcare to food insecurity—and we know that these challenges disproportionately impact marginalized and minoritized communities. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics play a critical role in addressing the world’s most pressing problems and inspiring young people to shape a better tomorrow.”

As part of this mission, The Lawrence has transformed the William Knox Holt Exhibition Hall into the permanent home of its Global Issues exhibits, which will rotate every two years. Future of Food is the inaugural exhibition in this series, developed in collaboration with more than 150 community partners, scientists, engineers, educators, and food entrepreneurs.

The Future of Food exhibit was chosen as the first theme in the Lawrence Hall of Science’s Global Issues series because food is a universal experience—it connects, nourishes, and sustains communities. It is also deeply intertwined with science and social justice, spanning fields such as nutrition, agriculture, ecology, biochemistry, robotics, and climate science, as well as traditional practices and cultural knowledge.

Next, Mayor Ishii took the stage, highlighting the city of Berkeley’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, innovation, and the intersection of science and policy in shaping a better future. After previewing the exhibit, she shared her thoughts on its impact.

“It’s truly a treat—it presents complex topics in a way that’s easy to digest (excuse the pun),” said Ishii. “It encourages visitors to think about where their food comes from, how it impacts health and the environment, and what role they can play in shaping the future of food.”

The event then transitioned into a panel discussion moderated by Lee Bishop, the Lawrence’s Biotech & Design Lead, featuring Zotter, Lé, and Dr. Mason Earles, an assistant professor at UC Davis who leads the Plant AI and Biophysics Lab, which develops low-cost AI systems to better understand crop biology and improve precision and sustainable agriculture. He is also a co-Principal Investigator at the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems, which partnered with The Lawrence on the exhibit.

The panelists explored the biggest challenges facing food systems today and how scientific breakthroughs—from lab-grown meat to climate-resilient farming—could transform the way we eat.

Zotter spoke about the untapped potential of seaweed as a protein source. 

“Seaweed requires no land, no fertilizer, and no fresh water,” said Zotter. “We’ve been eating seaweed for millennia but it’s sort of fallen off of our radar as a food source in the western world so we’re trying to change that.”

While Zotter focused on ocean-based alternatives, Lé turned the conversation to cultivated animal fat, emphasizing how it can make alternative proteins more appealing to consumers.

“Food should be fun, accessible, and delicious,” said Lé. “Consumers shouldn’t have to sacrifice taste or affordability to make the ethical or sustainable choice. Our cultivated animal fat allows us to bring that experience to people while reducing the environmental impact of traditional meat production.”

At the end of the event, guests were invited upstairs for a tour of the Future of Food exhibit, led by Michelle Rodriguez, Public Experience Design Lead at The Lawrence Hall of Science. The exhibit, which officially opened to members on March 7 and to the public on March 8, offers a hands-on exploration of the latest advancements in food technology. Visitors can explore a cow’s microbiome, learn about FarmBots and other new agricultural technologies, discover food heroes that highlight how food can be produced more sustainably while honoring cultural traditions, and so much more. 

Curious what you can do to innovate your plate? Visit the Future of Food exhibit today!

BERKELEY, CALIF. – Today, The Lawrence Hall of Science (The Lawrence), The University of California, Berkeley’s public science center, announces the opening of its inventive new exhibit, Future of Food. Debuting as the inaugural exhibition in a new Global Issues Exhibitions series, Future of Food dives into the complex world of food production, sustainability, and innovation, while inspiring respect for nature and the cultural traditions around what we eat.

“Food brings us together, connects us through shared stories, and nourishes both our bodies and our communities—but access to food is not equal for everyone,” said Claudia Bustos, Executive Director of Public Engagement at The Lawrence Hall of Science, who spearheaded the creation of the exhibit. “Future of Food invites everyone—families, students, educators, and STEM enthusiasts alike—to explore how our food choices not only fuel our bodies but can help heal the planet and build more equitable, sustainable communities.”

The innovations highlighted in Future of Food exemplify the thoughtful use of science and technology to change and improve the way we produce and consume food. The exhibit will introduce visitors to relevant advanced technologies, such as gene editing and robotics, in an approachable and fun way. 

Spanning over 4,000 square feet, The Future of Food was developed in collaboration with over 150 community partners, scientists, engineers, educators and food entrepreneurs to design an impactful learning experience. Notably, this exhibit is also The Lawrence’s sixth to include a bilingual experience in both Spanish and English. It also reflects The Lawrence’s ongoing partnership with the local Ohlone community and includes elements in Chochenyo, the language of the East Bay Ohlone people.

“The Lawrence Hall of Science has been at the forefront of science education for over 55 years,” said Rena Dorph, Director of The Lawrence Hall of Science. “As part of UC Berkeley, we prepare young people to face the challenges of our changing world and inspire them to shape a better future in their communities and beyond. Future of Food represents an innovative approach to integrating global issues, social justice, and scientific impact into our exhibits and programs.”

In addition to learning about technological and agricultural innovations, the exhibit includes stories of “Food Heroes,” real people in the Bay Area who are working towards a better future of food, today. 

“By sharing these stories, we hope to broaden and deepen our understanding of science and who does science,” said Michelle Rodriguez, Public Experience Design Lead at The Lawrence. “We also hope to inspire young people by exposing them to inspirational people who make a difference and to see the vast range of STEM careers associated with food.”

Futuristic Exploration and Hands-On Learning in Future of Food

• The Future is Innovative: Explore a life-size model cow’s microbiome, edible mealworms, and futuristic foods that could be made possible by Bay Area food startups.
• The Future is Aquatic: Play the interactive Hungry, Hungry Oyster game, inspired by Hungry, Hungry Hippos, beneath a towering kelp forest that showcases how seaweed is being transformed into innovative meat alternatives. Come see native Olympia oysters and eelgrass in a 100 gallon tank. 
• The Future is Robotic: Discover how robots could transform future farming.
• The Future is Undergrounds: Dig through an immersive tunnel experience to get to the bottom of soil and its connection to nutrition and climate change.
• The Future is Nourishing: Engage with a nutrition simulation and learn about healthy foods in a kids play kitchen.
• The Future is Bioengineered: Try your hand at a gene-editing game inspired by corn toss.
• The Future is Climate-Friendly: Design a climate-friendly lunch, and check out a custom-designed global farming and climate map on Science on a Sphere (SOS), an interactive display system that uses spherical projection to visualize data.

Exhibit Details:

• Location: The Lawrence Hall of Science, 1 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA 94720
• Opening Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025
• Closing Date: Winter 2027
• Tickets: Included with admission

About The Lawrence Hall of Science

The Lawrence Hall of Science (The Lawrence) is UC Berkeley’s public science center and a learning lab—a place where world-class researchers engage with critical questions and significant challenges facing science, technology, engineering, and math education. The Lawrence’s mission is to inspire and engage through scientific discovery and learning to advance equity and opportunity. Each year, The Lawrence reaches over 20% of K-12 students in the U.S. through its standards-based curriculum and model programs for learners and educators. Since 1968, The Lawrence has been inspiring tomorrow through innovative and engaging learning experiences, reaching 12 million young people annually in schools, museums, and informal learning spaces in all 50 states and worldwide.

Press Contact

Newsroom@berkeley.edu

Adam Frost

Marketing & Communications Manager
He/Him
From Virginia

Adam has worked at The Lawrence for 9 years.

Q: What do you do at The Lawrence?

A: I help tell the story and keep our audiences informed about all the awesome stuff happening every day at The Lawrence! Most of my job is writing, including writing descriptions for exhibits and events, content for our website and email newsletters, and signage on the museum floor. I also help manage graphic design, advertising, and other projects.

Q: What is your favorite exhibit at The Lawrence and why?

A: My favorite exhibit is the Outdoor Nature Lab, for a couple of reasons. I love to hike and spend time outdoors, so the exhibit gives me a wonderful little taste of nature within walking distance of my office. Having been here long enough to know what was there before the Outdoor Nature Lab, I also appreciate the great use of the space and what a huge improvement it’s been for the science center.

Q: Describe your path to science/education

A: As a historian by training, I never expected to end up working at a science center. My path to The Lawrence was through education and museums, rather than science. When I was in college, I was originally studying to be a history teacher. However, one summer I had my first museum job, an internship at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. I had always loved visiting museums as a kid, and realized that I could actually go into museum work as a career. I decided to pursue a graduate degree in museum studies with a concentration in new media and interactivity, at George Washington University in D.C. My experience and expertise in promoting and writing about museums eventually led me here!

Q: What would you say if you could give your childhood self one piece of advice?

A: I would probably tell my childhood self to try to get more into science! When I was in school, I was always more interested in the humanities, like history and English. Since working at The Lawrence, I’ve gained a greater appreciation for the value and importance of STEM subjects, but I’m still not very knowledgeable when it comes to science. I wish I had learned, explored, and absorbed more when I was younger, to give me a better foundation to build on as an adult. 

Q: Do you have an unrealized project you want to talk about?

A: Several years ago, I organized a science fiction film festival at The Lawrence. The events invited scientists from UC Berkeley and beyond to discuss each film in the context of their real life research. We even got Jill Tarter, the inspiration for Jodi Foster’s character in Contact, to come and speak before a screening. We haven’t done the event since, but I’d love to start it up again, especially now that our 3D Theater has been renovated!

Q: If you could be any animal, real or imaginary, which would you be and why?

A: I would probably be a cat. I have a pet cat who has a pretty nice relaxing life. It would be fun to vacillate between several hour naps and crazy climbing, jumping, and playing depending on my mood!

Q: What do you do in your free time that no one would expect?

A: I brew my own beer at home! It’s something I got into during the pandemic, and it’s so much fun. I’ve actually learned a lot of math and chemistry thanks to brewing, and I’ve had to do more math than I’ve done since I was in school. It’s a great scientific hobby!

“Science and technology can be found in so much of the food process—from where and how food grows, to cooking food, to how food nourishes us,” said Michelle Rodriguez, Public Experience Design Lead. “We chose to focus on food because people can connect with it on so many levels. It’s also universal; everyone has to eat!”

The exhibition aims to show that food is more than just sustenance—it is a force that unites communities, preserves cultural traditions, and shapes our environment. Visitors will learn not all food is created equal, and the way we produce and consume it has far-reaching consequences.

With a focus on sustainability, innovation, and cultural heritage, Future of Food explores how food can not only nourish but also heal—our bodies, our communities, and our planet. Through a thoughtful balance of nature, science, and technology, this exhibit challenges visitors to rethink what’s on their plate and what the future of food might look like.

“This is a new type of exhibition for us,” said Lee Bishop, Biotech Design Lead. “As our first major ‘Global Issues’ exhibition, it focuses on a kind of science that tells a story all the way from big global issues like climate change, to societal level things like how food brings people together, to our food choices and the impacts on our gut microbiomes.”

The exhibit helps visitors explore big questions about food in fun and interactive ways. What will food look like in the future, and how will it affect our health? How does food bring people together and help us share traditions? And how can we take care of our planet while growing the food we need? 

Through hands-on activities and real-world stories, Future of Food invites kids and families to discover how science, culture, and nature all play a role in what we eat.

“Our current exhibits do a good job of helping families explore and engage in science ideas together, and I’m excited to build on that by intentionally having more complex science ideas that connect to societal issues–such that parents and older kids will connect in a new way to these exhibits,” Bishop said. 

In designing this exhibit, community members and Lawrence visitors have been put in the driver’s seat: The Lawrence held community focus groups and hands-on prototyping sessions to shape the exhibition’s story and interactive experience. Signage in this bilingual exhibit will be in Spanish and English, and incorporate elements of Chochenyo, the language of the East Bay Ohlone people.

“This exhibit was designed in close collaboration with our community partners to make sure we were responding to their questions and ideas,” said Bishop. “Through that work, we have identified and are featuring stories of a few different Food Heroes from the community—people working to bring about what they would like to see in the future of food.”

Each section of the exhibit highlights real people from the Bay Area who are making a difference in food sustainability, innovation, and access. By sharing their stories alongside hands-on science activities, Future of Food shows visitors that science isn’t just something that happens in a lab—it’s happening all around us, in our kitchens, farms, and communities.

“We hope to inspire young people by introducing them to people who are making a difference and showing them the vast range of STEM careers connected to food,” Rodriguez added.

Visitors will get a glimpse into the future of farming with innovations like automated farming robots developed at UC Davis, and gene editing research right here in Berkeley where crops are improved to withstand the challenges of climate change. The exhibit also explores protein alternatives, gut health, and the many ways science and technology are shaping what we eat. By connecting these advances to real-world challenges, Future of Food encourages visitors to think about how their choices can contribute to a healthier planet and a more sustainable future.

Future of Food opens for a member and special guest preview on Friday, March 7, with a public opening the following day. With its mix of interactive science, real-world stories, and big ideas about the future of food, this exhibit invites visitors to explore how they can be part of building a healthier, more sustainable world—one meal at a time.

A key goal of the Young Explorers Area renovations is to revitalize beloved exhibits while introducing exciting new elements. 

“Playtopia Juegolandia will still feature favorite activities like our pinwall, puppet theater, Bernoulli blower, gravity well, gravity tracks, and air tube, alongside two major additions: a climbing structure and a dedicated area for children under the age of 2,” said Michelle Rodriguez, Public Experience Design Lead.

These updates will preserve the magic of the original space while expanding its appeal for younger learners. Guests will experiment with real-world phenomena through interactive exhibits and will learn cause-and-effect through play. 

Downstairs, on C-level, Curiosity Corner/Esquina Curiosa will also offer a brand-new experience for children ages 2 to 6. This drop-in space will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will feature a different science theme each season. The opening theme, Dance into the Light, will enable children to uncover the wonders of light and color. 

“In this space, children dig deeper through exploration and play,” says Rodriguez. “We’ve designed creative areas for exploring, discovering, making, and sharing, including a quiet area for reading and relaxing, as well as a movement area for practicing large motor skills.” 

Visitors to the Curiosity Corner/ Esquina Curiosa can also engage in activities like playing with UV light, dancing with primary colors, and creating shadows and shapes.

As part of a broader initiative, The Lawrence Hall of Science aims to enhance and expand the experiences for its youngest visitors. The goal is to create a cohesive, dynamic space where children can explore science in age-appropriate ways. The renovations and new spaces are part of The Lawrence’s commitment to fostering children’s growth and development.

“We kept three principles in mind while designing these spaces,” says Rodriguez. “First, science is everywhere! Children practice science skills through their own investigations and discoveries in a fun, dynamic environment. The diversity of science and scientists is represented all around us through imagery and storytelling.”

The second principle emphasizes the importance of growth—for both children and their caregivers. “Children grow, and adults grow with them,” Rodriguez continues. “These spaces are designed for age-appropriate, open-ended, and child-initiated joyful play, ensuring that there’s something for everyone, no matter where they are in their development.”

The final principle involves the well-being of each child. “Every child will be welcomed, accepted, nurtured, and cared for in these new spaces,” says Rodriguez. “The physical, cognitive, social, cultural, and emotional well-being of every one of them is our top priority in these spaces.”

This renewed focus on early learners has been made possible through the generous support of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, as well as a grant from the HEDCO Foundation.

In the first six months after Playtopia Juegolandia opens, the team behind the innovations will carefully observe how young visitors and their families interact with the space. Based on those observations, new activities will be added to enhance and complement the experiences that guests enjoy.

At the Curiosity Corner/Esquina Curiosa, the first program, Dance into the Light, will focus on light and color for about six months. Following that, the next theme, Through the Looking Glass, will explore the tools we use to observe the natural world. 

Over the next year, guests can look forward to seeing new programs and creative designs take shape that will inspire and engage visitors of all ages.