Creative Museum Designers (CMD), a wholly owned Section-8 company of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) under the Ministry of Culture, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa to develop India’s first Polar & Ocean Museum. The museum will be located at the NCPOR campus in Goa.
Museum Features and Exhibits
The museum will present the science, history and significance of India’s polar and ocean research programmes through immersive, interactive and experiential exhibits. Designed in line with international museum standards, it will take visitors through the cryosphere, polar environments, oceans, climate systems and India’s scientific expeditions in some of the world’s most extreme regions.
The galleries will move beyond conventional displays and adopt a thematic, story-led format. Visitors will encounter chapters on Antarctic exploration, India’s Polar Programme, glaciers, polar ecosystems, deep-ocean research, climate processes and the country’s growing role in global polar and ocean science. The museum will also feature archival photographic collections, outdoor installations and dedicated immersive zones for audiences of all ages.
Technology and Artefacts
State-of-the-art technologies including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), dynamic projections, immersive multimedia environments, interactive exhibits and digital storytelling will be used to create an engaging visitor experience. Original artefacts, scientific instruments, geological specimens and ice-core displays collected during various polar missions will also form a key part of the museum’s collections.
Speaking on the occasion, Creative Museum Designers (CMD) managing director Amitabh said, “This landmark project reflects CMD's commitment to creating innovative museum experiences that communicate complex scientific subjects in engaging and accessible ways. The proposed Polar & Ocean Museum will combine science, design, technology, and storytelling to create an immersive visitor experience aligned with international standards. We believe the museum will emerge as a premier destination for learning and inspiration, highlighting India's contributions to polar and ocean research while fostering greater public understanding of climate, oceans, and the cryosphere.”
Signing Ceremony
The signing ceremony was held at CMD, Kolkata, in the presence of Thamban Meloth, Director, NCPOR; Rahul Mohan, Scientist G and Group Director; Avinash Kumar, Scientist E & Scientist-in charge, Outreach and Cooperation; and Ravikant Sharma, Scientist E & Scientist-in charge, Estate Section. CMD was represented by Amitabh; Shri Subrata Kumar Mishra, adviser to MD; Shri Nataraj Dasgupta, Curatorial Expert; Ms. Deblina Chakraborty, Curator; Ms. Pallabi Karmakar, Production and Design Executive; and other officials associated with the project.
Vision for the Museum
The Polar & Ocean Museum is envisioned as a contemporary science communication centre combining education, innovation, art and technology to make polar and ocean science accessible to students, researchers, tourists and science enthusiasts.
