In his last day as CEO of Science Gallery International, Michael John Gorman addressed delegates at MuseumNext in Dublin, demonstrating how to use the abstract – such as virtual reality for chickens – to start a debate within a museum setting.

Starting as a small part of Trinity College Dublin and now growing as a global network which will comprise eight galleries worldwide by 2020, Gorman has shaped the institution as its founding director and then CEO into an attraction that welcomes more than 400,000 people annually.

“The Trinity College decided to do a very bold experiment in 2007 – to create a space where unique ideas could be tested,” said Gorman. “It was a space that connected Trinity with the city.

“We talk about Science Gallery as a place where science and art collide. It was a real journey to get the scientists to get on board with this idea. Originally it was a space designed to teach the ‘ignorant public’ the truth of science. We had to go on a real journey with scientists to say that it was about opening up science and the future to conversation at the boundaries between science and art.”

Gorman then detailed several unique concepts that have been displayed at the Science Gallery, a project known as “Second Livestock” among the most unique.

“It’s virtual reality for chickens,” said Gorman explaining the project. “I think it’s a wonderful example of a project that provokes you and makes you think about what kind of future we want to live in. The idea is that battery chickens or battery hens could feel like free range chickens in VR. It’s great because it brings you into that space of conversation about what kind of world and what kind of industry do we want to have? It’s a conversation provocation.”

What Gorman said was at the heart of Science Gallery’s success, as exemplified by Second Livestock, is the institution’s three main principles when developing new concepts and exhibits.

Our core principals for everything we do at the Science Gallery are connection, participation and surprise,” he said.

“Every experience should offer a new opportunity for social connection. Participation is the idea that Science Gallery is the opportunity to get involved and to contribute, rather than just learn about what is going on in science and in art.

“Surprise – capturing people’s imagination – is the most difficult to sustain. Last week at the groundbreaking for Science Gallery London they decided ‘forget the pick axes and the shovels, let’s create a crystal made out of spit’. Everyone spat into a bucket and an artist will transform that into a crystal which will then become part of the foundation of the Science Gallery in London. That’s something rather unexpected I think you’ll agree and that’s what we mean by surprise.”

Gorman now moves on to a new role as professor at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich and as founding director of the Bavarian Museum of Life Sciences and Natural History.

He remains involved with Science Gallery, becoming founding chair of the executive council of the Global Science Gallery Network, where he will work directly with the directors of each gallery in the emerging network.