ɬÀï·¬

Annual Meeting

Chicago’s scientific interface

Learn the origin of the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, the site of the ASBMB 2025 closing reception
Gabriella Rant Madeline Ganshert
By Gabriella Rant and Madeline Ganshert
March 7, 2025
Along the lakefront on the south side of Chicago, the stands as an icon of the city. As the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, GMSI has received more than 180 million visitors throughout its lifetime. It will house the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s 2025 annual meeting closing reception, where attendees can explore the museum and become a part of its legacy.
 
by philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, GMSI is a symbol of science and progress. It also serves as a space for the public to engage with science and industry in a hands-on way. The building housing the museum was originally built as the for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, an opportunity for Chicago to make its mark as an innovation and culture hub.

In the late 1920s, Rosenwald renovated the building and established the museum. Inspired by the interactive exhibits at the in Munich, . GMSI officially opened during Chicago’s Century of Progress Exposition in 1933, a fair held in celebration of the city’s 100th anniversary.

The museum’s original interactive exhibit was the Coal Mine, which continues to immerse visitors in a simulated mine. Other prominent exhibits include the U-505 Submarine, which displays the only captured World War II German submarine. The submarine came to GMSI in 1954 and allows guests to view and enter a real submarine. Today, the museum features , including Science Storms, Farm Tech, Numbers in Nature and the Giant Dome Theater.

Throughout its 92-year history, GMSI has promoted STEM through countless outreach and engagement programs. GMSI supports several that seek to connect children with STEM. As a space for scientific connection and discovery, GMSI is the perfect place for the closing reception of ASBMB’s Annual Meeting in Chicago.
 

Wrap up #ASBMB25 in style

Join us for an unforgettable evening of networking, celebration and interactive science fun at the renowned Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.

Catch up with friends old and new while you stroll through iconic exhibits like Science Storms, The Great Train Story and Extreme Ice as well as new experiences like The Blue Paradox and Notes to Neurons.

Enjoy food and beverages from 7:30-9:30 p.m. with access to the museum’s main floor exhibits until 10:30 p.m.

Don’t miss this chance to celebrate the 2025 ASBMB Annual Meeting while immersing yourself in the wonders of science and industry!

Shuttle service will be provided from the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place.

It’s not too late to RSVP — add this event to your registration today before it sells out!

Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.

Learn more
Gabriella Rant
Gabriella Rant

Gabriella Rant is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Loyola University Chicago pursuing a B.S. in biology and a minor in classical studies. Gabriella plans to attend medical school after graduation, where she hopes to further explore her interests in critical care and infectious disease.

Madeline Ganshert
Madeline Ganshert

Madeline Ganshert is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Loyola University Chicago pursuing a B.S. in biology with a molecular emphasis and a B.A. in Spanish. Passionate about science communication and outreach, Madeline will begin her Ph.D. in the fall to continue her work in public health and infectious disease research.

Featured jobs

from the

Get the latest from ASBMB Today

Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in Careers

Careers highlights or most popular articles

Exploring the link between lipids and longevity
Profile

Exploring the link between lipids and longevity

Jan. 2, 2026

Meng Wang will present her work on metabolism and aging at the ASBMB Annual Meeting, March 7-10, just outside of Washington, D.C.

Upcoming opportunities
Announcement

Upcoming opportunities

Dec. 31, 2025

Calling all biochemistry and molecular biology educators! Share your teaching experiences and insights in ASBMB Today’s essay series. Submit your essay or pitch by Jan. 15, 2026.

Defining a ‘crucial gatekeeper’ of lipid metabolism
Award

Defining a ‘crucial gatekeeper’ of lipid metabolism

Dec. 31, 2025

George Carman receives the Herbert Tabor Research Award at the ASBMB Annual Meeting, March 7–10, just outside of Washington, D.C.

Building the blueprint to block HIV
Profile

Building the blueprint to block HIV

Dec. 11, 2025

Wesley Sundquist will present his work on the HIV capsid and revolutionary drug, Lenacapavir, at the ASBMB Annual Meeting, March 7–10, in Maryland.

Upcoming opportunities
Announcement

Upcoming opportunities

Dec. 10, 2025

Present your research alongside other outstanding scientists. The #ASBMB26 late-breaking abstract deadline is Jan. 15.

Designing life’s building blocks with AI
Profile

Designing life’s building blocks with AI

Dec. 2, 2025

Tanja Kortemme, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, will discuss her research using computational biology to engineer proteins at the 2026 ASBMB Annual Meeting.