Science on stage

Diverse lineup of events announced at Museum of Science

Celina Colby

Celina Colby is an arts and travel reporter with a fondness for Russian novels.... VIEW BIO

Boston’s Museum of Science has debuted a robust schedule of after-hours programs for adults in the winter/spring 2022 season, including a conversation with award-winning actress and mental health advocate Taraji P. Henson. Henson will kick off the program season on Feb. 16, launching a series of programs celebrating diverse experiences, in particular Black life.

“The more that we as a science institution can be a part of conversations around racism and racial inequity, the better,” says James Monroe, producer of adult programs and theater experiences at the Museum of Science. “So much of the history of all of that is ingrained in this concept of biological hierarchy or race science, and so it’s important for us to be a part of these conversations and to do so through a scientific lens to break through those false notions.”

In addition to Henson’s talk, visitors can see the screening of a new film produced by the Museum of African American History Boston and Nantucket on Feb. 23. The film explores the role that African Americans in Boston played in abolitionism. Encode Justice, a group of youth activists working for accountability and equity in AI will lead a discussion on Feb. 24.

The Museum of Science presents a live taping of the “Living a Triggered Life” podcast with Keith and Roxann Mascoll.

Later in the spring, “Who’s Black and Why?: An Evening with Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Andrew S. Currans” on March 30 delves into the 18th-century origins of our current race dialogues, and local mental health advocates Keith and Roxann Mascoll of the “Living a Triggered Life Podcast” will discuss mental wellness in relationships on May 12. The mental health theme within the program lineup is meant to address the weight the pandemic has had on our collective cognitive well-being.

Authors Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Andrew S. Curran will discuss their book “Who’s Black and Why?” IMAGE COURTESY OF MUSEUM OF SCIENCE

These events take place as part of the Museum of Science’s “SubSpace,” an experimental events program combining science, technology and nightlife. All programming is currently scheduled to be experienced in person, but each activity has been designed with intentional agility if the need to pivot to an online format arises. The Museum is monitoring the COVID-19 situation and will make decisions about individual events as they draw closer, but Monroe is hopeful that the community can come together live.

“SubSpace is always built on two main pillars. One is to change the perception of how we can be a resource for adults in the city and to consistently be engaging new audiences,” says Monroe. “That’s what we’re hoping to do is provide access points and break down the barriers around what people consider science.”