“We picked museums that are in communities where Googlers volunteer at the museum and have ties to the museum,’’ Yood said. “We think our collaboration with these museums isn’t going to end when we sign a check.’’
Yood said Google had placed no special conditions on the grant.
“It’s up to the Museum of Science to see how they can best use these funds,’’ he said.
Paul Fontaine, vice president of education at the Museum of Science, said the museum hasn’t decided how to spend the money.
“Right now we’re exploring the possibility of using it on an exhibit related to technology and engineering education, possibly computer science,’’ he said.
Google approached the museum in January and approved the grant several weeks ago. But the museum kept quiet until Google was ready to announce its grants to all seven museums.
“We wanted them to have the chance to unveil their generosity in aggregate,’’ Fontaine said.
The other six museums to receive grants are the Museum of Mathematics and New York Hall of Science, both in New York City; the Science Museum of London, the Exploratorium and the California Academy of Sciences, both in San Francisco; and the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago.
Hiawatha Bray can be reached at bray@globe.com.
