From August 2019 through April 2020, the Exploratorium invited people of all ages to pull up a chair and dive into Middle Ground, an exploration into human social interactions in the middle of San Francisco’s vibrant Civic Center.
Whether you’re a denizen of the densest urban metropolis or the smallest small town, no person is an island. What goes into the stories we tell ourselves about other people—whether they’re on the streets we share, in our memories and our newsfeeds, or on the other side of the world?
Social scientists have studied how we think, feel, and behave in relation to other people for decades. Their investigations have shed light on bias and stereotyping, humor and generosity, how we work together, and how we pull apart into tribes.
This exciting, free outdoor exhibition was installed on the Larkin Street steps of the San Francisco Main Library. Today, you can pull up a chair and explore fresh interactive digital content about how we think, feel, and behave toward other people. Explore interactive exhibits in the Play section, or dive deep into social science concepts in the Ponder section.
Middle Ground was made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation with supplemental funding from Science Sandbox, an initiative of the Simons Foundation.
New Exhibits
Middle Ground, which was developed by the Exploratorium and funded by the National Science Foundation, is part of San Francisco's Civic Center Initiative, a multiyear effort to create a lively and welcoming heart of the city. We hope it's a place where people can drop their guard for a bit, enjoy the presence of others, and learn something new.
New Digital Content
This website grew out of Middle Ground, a free, yearlong offsite exhibition developed and built by the Exploratorium and installed at San Francisco’s Main Library. The essays and interactive digital experiences you’ll find here aim to get you thinking about how you think—and how you interact with others as you go about your daily life.
Play
Pull up a chair and play a bit! Explore interactive digital content about how we think, feel, and behave in relation to other people.
INTERACTIVES
Ponder
For decades, scientists have studied and learned much about social interactions. Delve into these essays to discover some of what shapes our social lives.
ESSAYS
Upcoming Events
San Francisco Public Library
Explore the events calendar of this amazing local resource and Middle Ground project partner.
San Francisco Civic Center Commons
In San Francisco’s central civic spaces you’ll find art, events, places to eat and people to meet.
More to Explore
In our 50th year, the Exploratorium is dedicated to creating experiences that explore the intersecting personal, social, and biological dimensions that make up how we see ourselves and others.
#MiddleGroundSF
Middle Ground was created by the Exploratorium, in partnership with:
Thanks also to the many individuals from this community who contributed their time, energy, and thoughtfulness to the project.
