Anne Mulrooney appointed as new Science Gallery director

Vice-Provost Chris Morash welcomed her to the role

The Science Gallery board and Trinity have appointed Anne Mulrooney as the new director of the Science Gallery. Mulrooney is to begin her new role on December 1 and replaces Lynn Scarff who was appointed director to the National Museum of Ireland earlier this year.

Mulrooney is the former CEO of the VISUAL contemporary arts centre in Carlow and has previously worked as a freelance curator in the UK and Ireland. She was also a member of the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland and curated national and international exhibitions for the National Design and Craft Gallery.

She has received numerous awards and bursaries for her work including the Ciclitira Scholarship Prize for Sculpture from the Royal College of Art in 2002 and a bursary for artistic and curatorial research from the PlaCe Research Centre, University of Western England in 2006. She has also worked as a lecturer and external assessor and contributes frequently to cultural programmes and publications.

The Science Gallery opened in 2008 and is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Speaking about her appointment Mulrooney said: “I am delighted to be appointed to lead Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin into its second decade.” She praised the gallery as “an innovative and groundbreaking institution” and described the “the combination of scientific and artistic research with meaningful public engagement” as having “enormous transformative potential”.

Speaking about the new appointment, Science Gallery board member and vice-provost of Trinity, Chris Morash, emphasised the Science Gallery’s mission to encourage “a passion for science and creativity,” and welcomed Mulrooney to the position. “We look forward to Ann’s stewardship in the next chapter of this wonderful initiative,” he said.

The Science Gallery receives support from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht as well as Science Foundation Ireland. Among its programme partners include Intel Ireland as well as founding partner Wellcome Trust. The programme has now expanded internationally and has six members including the Science Gallery at King’s College London, the Science Gallery Melbourne at the University of Melbourne, Science Gallery Venice at University Ca’ Foscari, Science Gallery Detroit at Michigan State University and Science Gallery Bengaluru at the Indian Institute of Science.

Aisling Grace

Aisling Grace was the Editor-in-Chief of the 66th Volume of Trinity News. She was also formerly Online Editor and Deputy News Editor.