SNHM Marked 10th Anniversary with Symposium on Future Development Trends of Natural History Museums

On April 18, 2025, the “Centennial Heritage: Dialogues for the Future” symposium on the future development trends of natural history museums was held in Shanghai under the guidance of the Chinese Museums Association, the Chinese Association of Natural Science Museums, and the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission. Hosted by the Shanghai Natural History Museum (SNHM) (Branch of Shanghai Science and Technology Museum), the event brought together over 140 experts and scholars from domestic and international museum circles, scientific and technological communities, and educational fields. Participants shared decades of practical experience and innovative achievements in the industry, pooling global expertise to explore the mission and innovative development pathways for natural history museums in the new era. The symposium provided cutting-edge theoretical support and diverse practical approaches for the sustainable development of natural history museums.

The date also marked the 10th anniversary of the opening of the SNHM New Wing. Over the past decade, the museum has welcomed more than 19.42 million visitors, amassed a collection of over 310,000 natural history specimens, and developed 14 educational programs alongside 5,000+ high-quality online and offline science communication resources. Its converged media outreach has surpassed 30 million engagements, while collaborations with 319 primary and secondary schools across the city have cemented its status as a beloved public institution.

Building on this symposium, the SNHM will further its mission of “science popularization, cultural heritage preservation, and international collaboration,” actively explore new ways to interpret the relationship between humanity and nature, and contribute to a global development paradigm that fosters harmony between humanity and nature.