Billionaire philanthropist Michael Bloomberg is giving $155 million to Boston’s Museum of Science, an institution he visited as a child and credits with sparking his lifelong love of learning. Announced in August 2026 through Bloomberg Philanthropies, the gift is the largest in the museum’s history and supports a new 10,000-square-foot public science venue named the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Public Science Common, after his late parents. Opened to the public on October 10, the space is designed to bring scientists, creators and audiences together through immersive experiences and public events exploring artificial intelligence, climate change, public health and space exploration.
For Bloomberg, the project connects a personal childhood memory with an effort to make scientific discovery more accessible to future generations.
Speaking about the project, Bloomberg said the space would help more young people experience the kind of discovery that shaped his own childhood. The new facility carries their names as a tribute to their influence.
The museum has set an ambition to reach one billion people online annually by 2030, alongside targets for visitors attending in person and learners participating through schools.
The space will connect scientists and other experts with the public through conversations, conferences, symposia and immersive experiences, according to the museum. Artificial intelligence and robotics demonstrations are intended to help audiences understand emerging technologies and consider their wider implications. Public discussions can also provide opportunities to explore questions about innovation, ethics and the role of technology in society. Climate science and public health will form another part of the programme. Planned events include discussions about wildfire smoke and its health effects, alongside conversations about how scientific evidence informs public understanding and decision-making. The space incorporates large LED displays, high-resolution projections, spatial audio and real-time data visualisation. Its Deep Space projection system, developed by Ars Electronica, can transform the walls and floor into large-scale visual environments. These are broader institutional goals, rather than results already achieved by the new venue. By naming the space after William and Charlotte Bloomberg, the project recognises their role in encouraging learning and discovery. At the same time, its public programmes are intended to give future generations opportunities to engage with science, ask questions and encounter new ideas