Mission & Vision
The mission of the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture (HMSC) is to foster curiosity and a spirit of discovery in visitors of all ages, enhancing public understanding of and appreciation for the natural world, science, and human cultures. HMSC works in concert with Harvard faculty, museum curators, and students, as well as with members of the extended Harvard community, to provide interdisciplinary exhibitions, events and lectures, and educational programs for students, teachers, and the general public. HMSC draws primarily upon the extensive collections of the member museums and the research of their faculty and curators.
History
The Harvard Museums of Science & Culture (HMSC) partnership was established on July 1, 2012, by the former Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Michael D. Smith, to develop a strong, coordinated public face for the six museums that are within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University.
Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments
Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
Harvard Museum of Natural History
Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology
Institutional Values
Collaboration
HMSC values a way of working that encourages broad participation, respect for people and their ideas, and the alignment of efforts around a defined goal. Effective collaboration requires trust in partnerships, consistent communication, transparency, and clear expectations for process and outcomes.
Inclusion
HMSC strives to make all people feel welcome and supported in our museums. We embrace Harvard’s recent report “Pursuing Excellence on a Foundation of Inclusion” and, through deliberate intention and effort in all areas, will make diversity, equity, and accessibility integral to our work. For more information about inclusion efforts at HMSC please read the HMSC Inclusion Statement.
Relevance
HMSC offers evidence-based learning experiences to support a deeper understanding of science, culture, and the natural world, and to enable our audiences to reflect and make decisions on the most important challenges that face society in the twenty-first century.
Sustainability
HMSC champions Harvard’s commitments to addressing environmental sustainability through its support of campus-wide operational initiatives and by advancing understanding of this issue by wide-ranging audiences both on and off campus.
