The Dark Side of Progress: Science Museums vs. Technophobia

10:00 – 11:10 (May 22)
Moscow Museum
Cinema

#museum_and_science

Roundtable Discussion

Science perpetually pushes boundaries and propels humanity forward. Yet society often struggles to keep pace with rapid advancements, frequently generating its own mythology around emerging technologies: global microchipping conspiracies, AI dominance fears, bio-threat anxieties, and extra-terrestrial invasion scenarios. Such apprehensions manifest in increasingly sophisticated forms, masquerading as civic vigilance, environmental awareness, or health concerns.
These fears stem less from reality than from collective imagination — projections of a future where humans lose control. They demand not just conventional science communication but cultural mediation: transitioning from fear to understanding, from distrust to dialogue.
In this landscape, science museums evolve into cultural intermediaries between evidence-based reasoning and fear-based narratives. Their role extends beyond technological explanation — they must restore the public sense of comprehension, choice, and trust in tomorrow.

• What uncomfortable questions must science museums address today?
• How to facilitate public dialogues on cutting-edge scientific advancements?
• Can museums become trusted spaces for navigating technological anxieties?

Speakers:
Elena Mironenko, Director General, ATOM Museum