EXHIBITION

APRIL 20- OCT 23 2026

2/F MAIN LIBRARY

GENENTECH BIO -TECHNOLOGY LEARNING CENTER

Mapping the Human Cell Atlas:

The Stories Our Cells Tell

ABOUT

The human body is made up of more than 37 trillion cells. Each one has a specific role, working together to build tissues, power organs, and sustain life.

The Human Cell Atlas is an international effort to identify every type of human cell. Thousands of researchers across countries are contributing to a shared reference that captures how cells are structured, organized, and how they vary across individuals.

By bringing together data at this scale, the project is creating a foundational resource for understanding human biology—one that enables scientists to compare cells across tissues and better understand how they function in health and disease.

WHY IT MATTERS

The Human Cell Atlas represents one of the most ambitious collaborative research efforts of our time, bringing together thousands of scientists across the globe to build a shared reference of human biology.

This work helps establish a clearer picture of what is typical at the cellular level, creating a foundation for understanding how and where disease begins. Over time, it has the potential to improve how conditions are detected, studied, and treated.

By bringing this research into the San Mateo Public Library, the exhibition expands access to knowledge and reinforces the idea that scientific discovery belongs in civic life. Mapping the Human Atlas : The Stories Our Cells Tell connects a global scientific effort to a place that exists to hold and share stories—positioning the body itself as a source of knowledge.

Here, scientific discovery enters a space designed for shared learning and community, offering a way to engage with work that is actively shaping the future of medicine.

IN THE LIBRARY

Presented on the second floor of the Main Library, the exhibition resonates within the Genentech Foundation Biotechnology Learning Center, a space established through a foundational gift to the Library’s capital campaign.

Since opening in 2006, the Biotechnology Learning Center has served as a unique public hub for life sciences education, connecting professionals, students, job seekers, and families with scientific knowledge and emerging career pathways. It remains one of the only dedicated biotechnology centers in a public library in the country.

In the Library’s twentieth year, the Human Cell Atlas extends that original vision. Global research meets local community. Scientific discovery enters a space designed for shared learning.

The Human Cell Atlas is an international effort to map every cell type in the human body, building a reference that is already reshaping how we understand health and disease. More than 3,500 scientists across over 100 countries are contributing to this global collaboration.

For those who wish to go deeper, begin here:

What is the Human Cell Atlas? — BBC Podcast
A clear and accessible introduction to the vision behind mapping the human body at cellular resolution.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct4wdr

Overview of the Human Cell Atlas — Aviv Regev (Video)
A presentation from the HCA co-chair outlining the scientific ambition and global scope of the initiative.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpk-Og89U_w

The Human Cell Atlas: Towards a First Draft Atlas (2024)
An interactive overview published alongside a major collection of scientific papers marking a milestone in the project’s progress.
https://www.nature.com/immersive/d42859-024-00060-5/index.html

Made possible with support from:

  • Genentech

    Support for this exhibition was provided through the Genentech Civic Fund.

  • Human Cell Atlas

    With special thanks to Dr. Aviv Regev, Dr. Samantha Wynne, and Ayah Al-Rawni.

  • Broad Institute

    With appreciation to the Broad Institute for providing video footage for this exhibition.

An initiative of the San Mateo Public Library Foundation

with additional thanks to Patrick Collins, Abhik Singh, and Brian Young