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In celebration of International Museum Day on May 18, the Academia Sinica Center for Digital Cultures (ASCDC) is launching a new digital project, “The Universal Summons,” on the Open Museum platform this year. Inspired by fantasy worlds, the event combines generative AI and interactive design to create an immersive digital experience. Users can choose different “elemental symbols” to begin personalized exploration through the museum platform, traveling through diverse themes ranging from ancient civilizations to natural ecosystems.

The theme of the 2026 International Museum Day is “Museums Uniting a Divided World.” Academia Sinica President James C. Liao noted that museums transcend the boundaries of language, geography, generation, and ideology, creating opportunities for exchange through openness and shared knowledge, while serving as important bridges between civilizations across space and time. Through the application of artificial intelligence and digital curation, cultural knowledge can be presented in more diverse and accessible ways, bringing it closer to the public.

In addition to AI interactive experiences, “The Universal Summons” website also showcases Academia Sinica’s advanced research through approachable popular science content. The venue features four digital exhibitions spanning astronomy and astrophysics, Indigenous traditions and cultures, marine conservation, and bird ecology. The initiative also brings together external partner institutions:  the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Hsinchu City, Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, National Taiwan Museum, Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station of the Ministry of Agriculture and Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute. These institutions present digital exhibitions and digitized collections as part of the event.

The website will officially launch on May 18 on the Open Museum platform, inviting the public to explore the many dimensions of “The Universal Summons.”

Open Museum “The Universal Summons” (launching on May 18): https://openmuseum.tw/museumday2026
Open Museum: https://openmuseum.tw/
Academia Sinica Center for Digital Cultures: https://ascdc.sinica.edu.tw/

The participating Academia Sinica Institutions are the Biodiversity Research Center, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Institute of Ethnology.

The participating non- Academia Sinica institutions are Cultural Affairs Bureau of Hsinchu City, Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, National Taiwan Museum, The Taiwan  Encyclopedia of Life, Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute, Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station.