International travelling exhibition “Vaccines: Injecting Hope” inaugurated at Science City in Kolkata

KOLKATA: The international travelling exhibition “Vaccines: Injecting Hope” was officially inaugurated on April 15 at Science City, Kolkata, highlighting the global scientific effort behind the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines. The exhibition, developed jointly by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), India, and the Science Museum Group (SMG), London, is supported by Wellcome UK, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and other leading scientific organisations.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Padma Shri awardee Prof. Balram Bhargava, former Director General of ICMR, in the presence of several eminent dignitaries, including Prof. Partha P. Majumder, National Science Chair, Government of India; Roger Highfield, Director of Science at SMG, London; Kunal Sarkar of Medica Superspecialty Hospital; Madhumita Roy from Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute; Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director of the British Council, East and Northeast India; and top officials from NCSM and Science City.

After travelling to Delhi, Nagpur, Mumbai, and Bangalore since its launch on November 15, 2022, the exhibition will now remain open at Science City, Kolkata, until September 30, 2025. It is expected to draw over two million visitors during its Kolkata leg.

The exhibition narrates the gripping story of how scientists worldwide raced against time to create vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic—compressing decades of research and development into less than a year. It explores every phase of vaccine development, from the arrival of the virus to global vaccine rollouts, while providing a humanistic and historical lens to the process.

With sections titled “The Arrival of a New Virus,” “Designing a New Vaccine,” “Trials and Approvals,” “Mass Production,” and “Living with COVID,” the exhibition dives into both the science and the emotional journey behind vaccines. It also features a collaborative art installation “Through the Lens,” commissioned by the British Council as part of the India/UK Together Season of Culture. Created by Indian sculptor Sushank Kumar and British playwright Nigel Townsend, the piece explores the public’s relationship with vaccines.

To broaden outreach, a specially designed Mobile Science Exhibition (MSE) Bus will travel to surrounding areas in and around Kolkata to educate communities, especially in rural pockets, about the critical role of vaccines in safeguarding human lives.

“This exhibition is a powerful testimony to human resilience and scientific collaboration,” said Arijit Dutta Choudhury, Director General, NCSM. “Following the success of our previous project ‘Superbugs,’ this initiative is yet another effort to raise public awareness, particularly in light of the COVID-19 crisis.”

Sir Ian Blatchford, Director and Chief Executive of the Science Museum Group, echoed this sentiment: “This exhibition documents not just the scientific breakthroughs but also the global response to a defining moment in modern history. It is a tribute to everyone who made vaccine development and distribution possible.”

So far, over 1.8 million people have visited the exhibition in India, with an additional 2.6 million reached through digital platforms, said Samarendra Kumar, deputy director general, NCSM and national coordinator for the project.

Anurag Kumar, director of Science City, Kolkata, encouraged the public to participate: “We have lined up engaging activities and educational programmes to make this an immersive experience. We invite schools, families, and citizens to come and explore the journey of vaccines.”

The inauguration also saw the enthusiastic participation of students from various Kolkata schools, who got a firsthand look at the immersive displays and installations. The exhibition is open daily from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM at Science City and is poised to become one of the city's most significant science outreach initiatives in recent years.