The Future of Food, Opening March 8, 2025

Today, The Lawrence Hall of Science (The Lawrence), The University of California, Berkeley's public science center, announces the opening of its inventive new exhibit, Future of Food. Debuting as the inaugural exhibition in a new Global Issues Exhibitions series, Future of Food dives into the complex world of food production, sustainability, and innovation, while inspiring respect for nature and the cultural traditions around what we eat.

"Food brings us together, connects us through shared stories, and nourishes both our bodies and our communities—but access to food is not equal for everyone," said Claudia Bustos, Executive Director of Public Engagement at The Lawrence Hall of Science, who spearheaded the creation of the exhibit. "Future of Food invites everyone—families, students, educators, and STEM enthusiasts alike—to explore how our food choices not only fuel our bodies but can help heal the planet and build more equitable, sustainable communities."

The innovations highlighted in Future of Food exemplify the thoughtful use of science and technology to change and improve the way we produce and consume food. The exhibit will introduce visitors to relevant advanced technologies, such as gene editing and robotics, in an approachable and fun way.

Spanning over 4,000 square feet, The Future of Food was developed in collaboration with over 150 community partners, scientists, engineers, educators and food entrepreneurs to design an impactful learning experience. Notably, this exhibit is also The Lawrence's sixth to include a bilingual experience in both Spanish and English. It also reflects The Lawrence's ongoing partnership with the local Ohlone community and includes elements in Chochenyo, the language of the East Bay Ohlone people.

"The Lawrence Hall of Science has been at the forefront of science education for over 55 years," said Rena Dorph, Director of The Lawrence Hall of Science. "As part of UC Berkeley, we prepare young people to face the challenges of our changing world and inspire them to shape a better future in their communities and beyond. Future of Food represents an innovative approach to integrating global issues, social justice, and scientific impact into our exhibits and programs."

In addition to learning about technological and agricultural innovations, the exhibit includes stories of "Food Heroes," real people in the Bay Area who are working towards a better future of food, today.

"By sharing these stories, we hope to broaden and deepen our understanding of science and who does science," said Michelle Rodriguez, Public Experience Design Lead at The Lawrence. "We also hope to inspire young people by exposing them to inspirational people who make a difference and to see the vast range of STEM careers associated with food."

Futuristic Exploration and Hands-On Learning in Future of Food

The Future is Innovative: Explore a life-size model cow's microbiome, edible mealworms, and futuristic foods that could be made possible by Bay Area food startups.
The Future is Aquatic: Play the interactive Hungry, Hungry Oyster game, inspired by Hungry, Hungry Hippos, beneath a towering kelp forest that showcases how seaweed is being transformed into innovative meat alternatives. Come see native Olympia oysters and eelgrass in a 100 gallon tank.
The Future is Robotic: Discover how robots could transform future farming.
The Future is Undergrounds: Dig through an immersive tunnel experience to get to the bottom of soil and its connection to nutrition and climate change.
The Future is Nourishing: Engage with a nutrition simulation and learn about healthy foods in a kids play kitchen.
The Future is Bioengineered: Try your hand at a gene-editing game inspired by corn toss.
The Future is Climate-Friendly: Design a climate-friendly lunch, and check out a custom-designed global farming and climate map on Science on a Sphere (SOS), an interactive display system that uses spherical projection to visualize data.
Exhibit Details:

Location: The Lawrence Hall of Science, 1 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA 94720
Opening Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025
Closing Date: Winter 2027
Tickets: Included with admission
About The Lawrence Hall of Science

The Lawrence Hall of Science (The Lawrence) is UC Berkeley's public science center and a learning lab—a place where world-class researchers engage with critical questions and significant challenges facing science, technology, engineering, and math education. The Lawrence's mission is to inspire and engage through scientific discovery and learning to advance equity and opportunity. Each year, The Lawrence reaches over 20% of K-12 students in the U.S. through its standards-based curriculum and model programs for learners and educators. Since 1968, The Lawrence has been inspiring tomorrow through innovative and engaging learning experiences, reaching 12 million young people annually in schools, museums, and informal learning spaces in all 50 states and worldwide.