Hope in Balance, 2021, by Junko Mori. Sterling silver and bronze. Collection: The Goldsmiths’ Company.

Injecting Hope is a new, free exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland that presents the science behind the COVID-19 vaccine.

This exhibition details the rapid research, development and delivery of the vaccine. Learn the science behind the creation of the vaccine, and understand the logistics behind its global roll-out.

The exhibition brings together more than 80 objects that were acquired in real time during the peak of the pandemic by curators across the UK.

Visitors will also see historic objects and modern innovations in the National Museums Scotland collection, and discover how these helped the global COVID-19 response. Highlighted objects include a syringe belonging to Alexander Wood, a Scotsman who invented the world's first hypodermic syringe, the vial of the first COVID-19 vaccine to be administered worldwide, notebooks used by June Almeida, the Scottish scientist who discovered coronavirus in 1966 and artworks interpreting the story of the pandemic by artists including Luke Jerram, Angela Palmer and Junko Mori.

Sophie Goggins, Senior Curator of Biomedical Science at National Museums Scotland said: 

“The development and rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in record time is one of the greatest collaborative human achievements in recent memory. This exhibition tells the story of just how this extraordinary feat came to be; from the scientific breakthroughs which led to the creation of the vaccine to the countless individuals who helped to roll it out around the globe.” 

Injecting Hope will also share uniquely Scottish experiences of the global pandemic. Learn about the people involved in the creation of Scotland's blue vaccine appointment envelopes, developed to stand out and be prioritised by post offices and receivers, and hear voices from the African diaspora in Glasgow on vaccine hesitancy in the community.

Injecting Hope: The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine is part of an international tour presented by the Science Museum Group.

The Goldsmiths’ Company is proud to support Injecting Hope through the loan of Junko Mori’s Hope in Balance.