Center for Contemporary Biotechnology — Biotech Museum (Pavilion No. 30)

About museum

The history of VDNKh Pavilion No. 30 spans almost a hundred years. It was erected in 1939 and rebuilt in 1954 according to a new design in the style of traditional Russian architecture. At different times the pavilion was devoted to aromatic and oilseed crops, cotton and textile industry products, and since 1964 the main theme of the exhibitions has been the microbiological industry. During the Perestroika period the exhibition was dismantled, but the pavilion has now reopened its doors to visitors. The Center for Contemporary Biotechnology is a unique space that combines an exhibition of modern biotechnological achievements with an area for hosting events. It was established by the Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences — the country's leading scientific center conducting research in the field of industrial biotechnology. The “Biotech” museum is not a collection of artifacts but a modern space where visitors can broaden their understanding of the world and get to grips with complex technological processes. Visitors can touch new materials produced using biotechnologies (from silk to concrete); see familiar food products made from unconventional raw materials (lab-grown meat, cricket flour, mushroom-based cheese); learn how plastics break down under natural conditions and with biotechnological methods; and even see astonishing glowing plants. The exhibition plays an important role in career guidance for schoolchildren. The museum accepts applications for organized educational and scientific guided tours for school classes of various ages, students, postgraduates, young scientists, and teachers of specialized subjects (biology and chemistry).