Art has long been a part of science centres but it can be argued that much of this art is “safe” i.e. not critical of science or how it is done. Would a science centre risk showing art encouraging visitors to question who researches what, to provoke scientists to consider the cultural context of their work? Does the environmental crisis mandate a different role for science centres? We would argue that our institutions ought to take on a more active, critical and participatory role and offer room for developing solutions and leading a critical discourse with the public.