Director Frode Meinich. Photo: Lars Opstad
2024 was an important year in which energy, the environment and the era of the precious metals were in focus. In January, we opened the permanent exhibition ENERGY in the Time of Climate Crisis, which provides insight into Norway's energy history and today's climate challenges. We have highlighted our extensive collection of objects related to both fossil and renewable energy sources, with particular emphasis on the electrification of society from the late 19th century to the present day.
We have had our own climate activities every weekend and during school holidays and have had engaging energy debates for adults in the evenings to create an arena for reflection and discussion around the energy issue. A joint seminar in the two projects Sustainable Energy Narratives and Museums and Industry had sponsorship and industry collaboration as the main theme, with a particular focus on energy and sustainability.
During the year we have carried out important upgrades in the museum building. Among other things, the replacement of several ventilation systems, installation of heat pump and transition to energy efficient LED lighting of more than 600 bright spots. With the support of the Government's energy supplementary scheme, these measures have made a significant difference. This is a clear step towards a more sustainable operation, which we are proud of. In addition, we have been recertified as an environmental lighthouse, which confirms our commitment to a greener future.
A water leak in the museum's book magazine at the beginning of the year led to parts of the book collection and some vintages with foreign journals being damaged. However, extraordinary efforts from both the fire department and our employees, according to the museum's contingency plan, limited the damage, and showed us that it is important to be prepared for both small and large crises.
At the Coastal Radio station, Bergen Radio, Rundeman, we have performed maintenance with support from Bergen Municipality. We have painted the station with linseed oil paint in line with the conservation regulations. We have a strong desire for protection through use and hope to open the doors again to the public, in collaboration with Museum Vest. The coastal radio station is protected and needs continuous follow -up to safeguard an important part of our national history.
In 2024, we had visits from several ministers. The Minister of Culture was the first to get to know the museum. During Girl Tech Fest, the Minister of Digitalization participated and was impressed by the engagement of young girls in technology activities. In our new concept Ask a Minister, 6th graders had the opportunity to meet the Minister of Health and Social Care, the Minister of Transport and Communications and the Minister of Energy. The meetings created a unique dialogue between young students and decision-makers, and were held in our exhibitions to provide an exciting historical setting.
The new temporary exhibition Models and Miniatures, which opened in November, has been a hit. With more than 100 exciting models from the museum's collections, including Crown Prince Olav's electric Cadillac toy car, models of the human body, cars and trains in various scales, as well as examples from aviation, architecture and engineering, the exhibition has already proven popular. The exhibition's main attractions are a giant dollhouse that children can enter, a large car track where visitors can compete with each other and a separate activity area for the little ones filled with toy models. The exhibition is planned to run until 2025.
Much of the management work in 2024 was linked to the two new exhibitions: ENERGY in the Time of the Climate Crisis and Models and Miniatures. This year's additions to the latter exhibition include several toys and medical teaching models. The National Medical Museum has continued its systematic collection review both at Kjelsås and in the storage room at Gjerdrum.
The digitization of Dextra Photo has accelerated further through collaboration with the National Library, while working on strategies to handle cataloging of large volumes digitized material. This work is supported by the DNB Sparebankstiftelsen, which owns Dextra Photo. The transfer of the website Industrimuseum.no to Store norske leksikon (Great Norwegian Encyclopedia) means that our research dissemination also reaches more. So far, more than 130 articles have been published here.
The year has been characterized by animal time, which most of us have known. It is gratifying that we, towards the end of the year, received several financial contributions from companies and foundations. We received support from Equinor to strengthen and further develop the museum's commitment in the natural sciences and technology through interactive exhibitions and activities in the Science Center. In addition, we received support for the rebuilding of a new large water wheel that extends through three floors at the museum from the Sparebankstiftelsen DNB and Statkraft. It is expected that the water wheel will be completed in the summer of 2025.
In addition, Tekna supports free entrance during the summer months for residents of Oslo East and South for a three-year period (2024-2026). These important contributions give us the opportunity to realize good projects and fulfill the social mission towards a wider target group.
We look forward to 2025 with optimism. Together with our visitors, we take new steps towards a greener and wiser future, and we look forward to creating inspiring and educational experiences for everyone.
director at The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology
Photo: Gorm Gaare
The police motorcycle that the Friends Association has restored-a 1996 model BMW K75 RT-P with 3-cylinder 740 cc and 75 hp. Photo: Jill Bottolfsen
The Association of Friends
The purpose of the Association of Friends of The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology is to contribute to the development of The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology , and to be a forum for enthusiasts, companies and organizations with an interest in the museum's work and in technical, industrial and medical history.
The number of membership in the association is still increasing after the pandemic. By 2024, the association had 1193 membership, which is a net increase of 229 from 2023.
The Friends Association's finances are based on the sale of membership in the Friends Association, membership provides free access to the museum throughout the year.
Member offers in 2024
Family Days The traditional family days that the association organizes in collaboration with Tekna and NITO were held in May and November, with 818 visitors in May and 910 in November. The purpose of the family days is to market the museum in the Norwegian technology communities, and to provide our members and families with an expanded museum offering.
Technology History Thursday The monthly technology history lectures, which are a collaboration between the Friends' Association, Tekna, NITO and the museum, are a free offering and available to everyone.
Boat trip with the veteran ship DS Børøysund The traditional boat trip in the inner Oslofjord with the veteran ship DS Børøysund was arranged in August for the members. Here a tour of the boat is given, and there is an opportunity to visit both the engine room and the bridge. Food and drinks were served on the trip.
Museum projects In addition to the annual financial contribution, several hundred hours of volunteer work are devoted to projects in the museum.
- Police motorcycle, a newly restored BMW police motorcycle from 1996, was donated to the museum in May 2024 to mark the association's 110th anniversary. The motorcycle has received a full technical and cosmetic restoration by Arne Vegard Langmo of the Friends' Association, and is now in drivable condition again.
- The Industrial Model Association provides ongoing maintenance and operation of the model. It is a miniature model of three industrial communities from the 1950s with model trains, boats, cars, houses, artificial sea and waterfalls and is very popular. Since May 28, 2021, the model train has been driven 63,000 times, and has traveled an impressive 3,277 km (that's longer than driving from Lindesnes to North Cape by car - which is 2,518 km)! The Association of Friends has carried out and paid for the restoration of the model. The model is very popular with young and old visitors.
- The Model Railway Friends Association has continued to make operational improvements and ongoing maintenance on the large model railway, which the association purchased for the museum in 2020. Since Oct. 2022, the model railway has been run 17,000 times. In 2024, the model was also renewed with a new fairground. The model is very popular with young and old visitors.
- The Little Klaus Friends Association has worked during the year to reopen Little Klaus, in collaboration with the museum's workshop. Little Klaus has been closed for several years, and needed repairs and improvements to safety and functions. Little Klaus is an exciting labyrinth where you have to navigate through various obstacles in pitch darkness within 60 seconds. The labyrinth is located near the oil exhibition, and is an example of how one can train to navigate inside an oil platform if power and all light are lost in a tortuous environment.
Financial contribution
Approx. 80% of the Friends Association's quota revenues are returned to the museum, partly as an annual contribution and partly as project funding, in addition to several hundred hours of free work.
For 2024, the Friends' Association will transfer NOK 385,000 to The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology as compensation for members having had free admission to the museum this year.
The association has its own secretariat and is formally and financially independent of The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology . The association is a member of the Association of Norwegian Museums Friends.