Staff Reporter –
The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) has been honoured with the prestigious CIMUSET Award for its ground-breaking climate change gallery “On The Edge?” developed at Science City, Kolkata, a unit of NCSM. The award was announced on November 15, 2025 during the CIMUSET award ceremony organised during 27th ICOM General Conference in Dubai, marking a proud moment for India’s science museum community.
Science City, Kolkata, a unit of the National Council of Science Museums, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, proudly presents “On the Edge?”, a permanent gallery on climate change that embodies the ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and aligns with global sustainability goals.
“ ‘On the Edge?’ stands out as a powerful demonstration of what science museums can achieve when they take seriously their responsibility toward society. The project addresses the urgency of climate change through an impressive combination of scientific rigour, community engagement, and genuine inclusivity. ‘On the Edge?’ shows how science museums can act as agents of change, inspiring people to imagine and shape more sustainable futures. This is exactly the kind of ambitious, socially relevant work the CIMUSET Award seeks to recognise.” — Jacob Thorek Jensen, Chair of the CIMUSET Award Committee.
“Through interactive exhibits and evidence-based storytelling, this gallery helps visitors understand the human-induced causes and severe impacts of climate change, and the urgent need for mitigation and adaptation,” said Mr. A. D. Choudhury, Director General, NCSM. He further added “Winning the CIMUSET Award is a proud moment for us, reinforcing our commitment to creating museums that inspire awareness and collective action for a sustainable future.”
“It is a moment of immense pride for all of us at the National Council of Science Museums and Science City, Kolkata, to see our climate change gallery ‘On The Edge?’ receive this prestigious recognition from ICOM–CIMUSET. This award is not just an honour—it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to creating meaningful, research-driven, and engaging experiences that bring the urgency of climate action to the forefront. As the then Director of Science City, it was a pleasure to commend the dedication and creativity of our curators, designers, and technical teams, who worked tirelessly to bring this gallery to life. We hope
that this recognition will inspire even stronger public engagement with issues of sustainability and environmental stewardship,” said Mr. Anurag Kumar, DDG, NCSM, and former Director, Science City, Kolkata.
“The gallery was inaugurated earlier this year, on January 11, 2025, by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Government of India. Since then, more than one million visitors have explored this facility. We are honoured to receive the prestigious CIMUSET Award, which recognizes our commitment to making climate science both accessible and engaging. Our 10,000-sq.-ft. gallery integrates immersive exhibits, AR/VR experiences, and an interactive LED wall to clearly convey climate impacts, underlying causes, and actionable solutions—encouraging visitors, especially young people, to participate in collective climate action,” said Mr. Pramod Grover, Director, Science City, Kolkata.
“This gallery has been developed to meet the expectations of our visitors, who consider us an institution of trust. Since its inauguration, regular outreach activities with different groups of students have been carried out, playing an instrumental role in promoting climate literacy.”- said Mr. Subha Sankar Ghosh, Curator, Science City.
The CIMUSET Award honours outstanding science and technology museums and centres that drive positive social change and advance a more equal, inclusive, and sustainable world. Rooted in the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, it recognises innovative projects that embody contemporary museum values and hybrid practices. Supported by ICOM, the award celebrates institutions that go beyond traditional boundaries to foster community engagement, shared heritage, and lifelong learning.
