New and Temporary Science Exhibits

Wondering what new exhibits are coming to the museums and science centers around the Bay Area? Find out here. We update the list whenever we find out about a new exhibit or temporary program. 

New & Temporary Science Exhibits

Resource Name Link Abstract
Big PictureCalifornia Academy of SciencesScience explains our world, while art often helps interpret it. Immerse yourself in some of the best nature photography at the new BigPicture exhibition, and take in breathtaking photos of some of the most exquisite and fragile natural wonders our planet has to offer. Featuring award-winning imagery from photographers across the globe – witness nature’s triumphs and tragedies in living color. BigPicture: Natural World Photography is open daily. Find it in the Piazza on the Main Floor.
Plants Illustrated 2025: Plants and PollinatorsUC Botanical Garden(January 22–February 3, 2025) The University of California Botanical Garden is presenting the 16th annual Plants Illustrated Exhibition in partnership with Northern California Society of Botanical Artists. This year’s exhibition theme is Plants and Pollinators. Don't miss this fantastic exhibition of botanical illustrations!
Making MusicHands-on BiotechThe LawrenceExplore the cutting-edge field of biotechnology and learn to use the tools of the trade!
Virtually HumanThe LawrenceLearn how Artificial Intelligence acts like a human while tackling tasks like joke-telling, guessing facial expressions, and more!
IlluminOdysseyCuriOdyssey(November 16, 2024–January 26, 2025) Electrify your child’s imagination at CuriOdyssey’s IlluminOdyssey, a dazzling winter light experience designed for children and families. See four levels of walls, floors and ceilings come alive with radiant, moving color. This extraordinary exhibition ignites kids’ imagination with brilliant laser art, gleaming hands-on exhibits and a lustrous forest of touchable, radiant sculptures.
Glow: Discover the Art of LightExploratorium(Nov 21 2024 - Jan 26 2025) Step into the art and science of light … and recharge your winter wonder. Discover luminous artworks that dazzle and surprise:
Art Exhibit: Structural Beauty: Photographs of the SF Botanical GardensGardens of Golden Gate Park(Open Februay - May 2025) Structural Beauty: Photographs of the San Francisco Botanical Garden. In this enchanting new exhibition, Mark Citret captures the physical beauty of plants through his chosen language of the black and white photograph.. Mark Citret’s work is represented by prominent photography galleries in the United States, and is in many museum, corporate, and private collections, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the University of Arizona’s Center for Creative Photography, The Art Institute of Chicago, and the Monterey Museum of Art. A monograph of his photographs, Along the Way, was published by Custom & Limited Editions, San Francisco, in 1999.
The Great Backyard Bird Count - February 14–17, 2025National Audubon Society(February 14–17, 2025) Great citizen science project to do as a class or encourage students to do at home.
ART/ACT: Local – Breaking GroundDavid Brower Center(September 3, 2024 - February 14, 2025) The 2024 Art/Act: Local—Breaking Ground exhibition features five jury-selected Northern California artists reflecting on the ongoing process of creating sustainable change: Daisy Crane, Kate DeCiccio, Luis Garcia, Melody Joy Overstreet, and Simone Skintone. Inspired by our friends at Planting Justice, this exhibition highlights the expansive perspectives of local artists as they consider small steps that can lead to greater connected healing.
National Engineers Week - Feb 16-22, 2025DiscoverEEngineers Week--the only event of its kind--is a time to: Celebrate how engineers make a difference in our world, Increase public dialogue about the need for engineers, Bring engineering to life for kids, educators, and parents. More than a week-long event, Engineers Week is a year-round commitment to making a difference.