[2] The Research and Collection Division of the museum is divided into departments for zoology, botany, geology, and anthropology.

The architect and educator Han Pao-teh was commissioned as the Chair of the Preparation Committee in 1981, while he was the Dean of College of Engineering at the National Chung Hsing University.

Without existing collections to exhibit, the initial phase was to create an exploratory and experiential science museum with focus on education.

On New Year's Day of 1986, the first phase of the museum opened, which included the Science Center, Space Theater, administrative offices, and outdoor grounds.

The center piece of the Human Cultures Hall is the only full sized replica of the Song Dynasty Astronomical Hydro-driven Clock designed by Su Sung in 1092 AD.