Science Museum teams up with Marvel to bring Black Panther to major new exhibition

Set to debut later this year, Technicians: The David Sainsbury Gallery will feature Marvel’s Black Panther as its centrepiece, with the IP being used to encourage children to explore the role of technicians

Shuri’s Lab from Black Panther will be brought to life as part of a new exhibition looking at the role of technicians

A new Black Panther exhibit will form part of a major new exhibition at the London Science Museum, with the new addition seeing Marvel team up with the famous institution to teach visitors about the important role of technicians.

Set to open later this year, Technicians: The David Sainsbury Gallery will see the Science Museum work with the NHS, National Grid and Sheffield University on the new addition, which is dedicated to explaining the work of technicians across four key sectors: advanced manufacturing, creative industries, health science, and energy networks.

The gallery, says the Science Museum, seeks to “change perceptions of technical careers and inspire tomorrow’s technicians”.

The centrepiece of the new gallery will see Shuri’s Lab from Black Panther brought to life, with visitors able to step into the shoes of a film-set technician to adjust the lighting, while also matching sound and dialogue to video using special visual effects technology.



Other displays include a look at how pharmacy technicians create bespoke drugs for patients in NHS hospitals. In this part of the gallery, visitors will be able to try out their analysis and measurement skills through interactive exhibits which mimic the life-saving tasks – such as preparing an IV bag, checking medicines for contaminants and pipetting.

Moving through the gallery visitors can see how National Grid staff build and maintain huge wind turbines. With a giant wind turbine model greeting visitors, they can then take on the role of a maintenance technician, diagnosing and solving problems. They will also get the chance to pilot a remotely operated vehicle on the ocean floor, studying camera feeds and weather charts while trying to clear obstructions from an underwater trench.

Finally, visitors will be able to experience the work of technicians at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre by testing innovative designs using computer-aided design. In this part of the gallery, they will be able to experiment with simple coding to optimise the movement of a robotic arm, watching it in action in a task inspired by the use of robotics in recycling facilities.

The gallery has been funded by and named after philanthropist David Sainsbury, with exhibits primarily targeting children aged between 11 and 16.

“The decision about what career we want to pursue is one of the most important of our lives, and if we are to make the best decision, we need to know what type of jobs are available, and what are the educational routes which underpin them,” said Sainsbury.

“The roles celebrated in this new gallery demonstrate that being a technician can be a gateway to social mobility and personal fulfilment for the individual, and offer a chance to play a meaningful part in the prosperity and welfare of the country.”

The free-to-visit gallery will open to the public on November 3.