Museum director Frode Meinich. Photo: Lars Opstad
I perioden fra 2019 til 2023 har vi investert over 75 millioner kroner i utvikling av mer enn 2500 kvadratmeter av museet og flere utstillinger. Vårt mål er å møte våre besøkende med moderne og aktuelle utstillinger. To av de nye høydepunktene er den unike IKT-utstillingen I/O og den medisinske utstillingen Liv og død. I den første får de besøkende tilbud om å bruke kunstig intelligens, med andres tidligere erfaringer fra utstillingen, for å navigere seg gjennom utstillingen. I den andre setter vi fokus på store og små medisinske temaer og dilemmaer gjennom livet. Det kommende året åpner den splitter nye utstillingen ENERGI i klimakrisens tid, og en temporær utstilling om modeller. Vi vet at modeller fascinerer barn i alle aldre, og vi har mer enn 700 modeller i samlingene våre – alt fra gruvemodeller fra 1700-tallet til 3D-printede håndproteser.
The museum building is getting old and needs constant maintenance. We have spent a lot of time in 2023 on upgrades and starting work on replacing our older ventilation systems. Three systems are now being installed and this is part of our continuous work for a more energy-efficient building. In existing exhibitions and premises, we are also replacing a large number of light sources with LEDs and better lighting control. Everything to make the building more climate-friendly. In addition, in 2023 we have expanded the car fleet with another electric van instead of a fossil fuel car. It is used by The Talent Centre for science teaching at upper secondary schools, the newly started branches in Oslo, Kongsberg and Larvik. We have also acquired an electric goods bicycle this year for marketing in central Oslo and goods transport in the local area.
It is pleasing to report that the summer visit has been very good this year as well. Many found their way to us. Most gratifying of all is that, according to our survey, 95% of the visitors want to return in 2023.
We have been active outside the museum's walls in more areas than The Talent Centre in 2023, with participation in several important and relevant events. Among other things, we have been a co-organiser at the Oslo Skaperfestival at Deichman Bjørvika, we have participated in Lego building at The Kids Are Alright at Aker Brygge, and not least at the World's Coolest Day at Akershus Fortress in collaboration with Sparebankstiftelsen DNB.
This summer we opened the doors to our protected coastal radio station at Rundemanen in Bergen. In collaboration with Museum Vest, we tempted with freshly baked waffles and coffee. 840 people made the trip up to the station on the Sundays we were open. It is a walk of almost an hour from Fløyen, and we are impressed that so many braved the weather and wind, and made the trip up to the station to learn about how important this coastal radio station has been for the whole of Norway.
After thorough preparations in the years that have passed, we start 2024 with energy in the time of the climate crisis. A brand new exhibition that really puts the current topic on the agenda. Here we highlight the connection and competition between fossil and renewable energy in a historical perspective, while also discussing possible solutions to the energy question in the future. In addition, our versatile weekend and holiday program, filled with exciting and educational activities and new exhibition openings, will still inspire and fascinate. We look forward to another year of continued speed for renewal, and will meet our visitors and partners with dedication and enthusiasm. We look forward to delivering engaging, knowledge -giving and fun experiences for everyone, also in 2024.
Thank you for joining us on the journey!
director at The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology
Photo: Lars Opstad
Full speed under the Research Square at The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology . Photo: Gro Synnøve Ellefsen
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 and medical history. The association has its origins back to the museum's founders in 1914.
The number of memberships in the association is slowly increasing after the pandemic, and paid memberships in 2023 were 964.
The Friends' association's finances are based on the sale of annual tickets to the museum.
Membership offer in 2023
Familiedager De tradisjonelle familiedagene foreningen arrangerer i samarbeid med Tekna og NITO ble arrangert i juni og november, med rekordgod oppslutning i november. Familiedagenes hensikt er å markedsføre museet i de norske teknologimiljøene, og å gi medlemmer og familier et utvidet museumstilbud fra eksterne bidragsytere.
Teknologihistoriske foredrag De månedlige teknologihistoriske foredragene, som er et samarbeid mellom Venneforeningen, Tekna, NITO og museet, er et gratis tilbud og tilgjengelige for alle.
Båttur med veteranskipet DS Børøysund Den tradisjonelle båtturen i indre Oslofjord med veteranskipet DS Børøysund ble arrangert i august for medlemmene. På turen ble det servert mat og drikke.
Museumsprosjekter I tillegg til det årlige økonomiske bidraget, får museet økonomisk støtte og dugnadsinnsats til prosjekter i museet.
- Industrimodellen, en miniatyrmodell av tre industrisamfunn fra 50-tallet med modelltog, båter, biler, hus, kunstig sjø og fosser er meget populær. Modelltoget har siden 28. mai 2021 blitt kjørt 45 440 ganger, og har tilbakelagt imponerende 2 957 km (det er lenger enn å kjøre bil fra Lindesnes til Nordkapp med bil – som er 2 518 km)! Venneforeningen har betalt for og utført restaurering av modellen, og sørger nå for løpende vedlikehold og drift.
- Modelljernbanen. Venneforeningen har i 2023 fortsatt å gjøre driftsmessige forbedringer og løpende vedlikehold på den store modelljernbanen, som foreningen kjøpte inn til museet i 2020.
Financial contribution
For 2023, the Friends Association will transfer NOK 337,175 to The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology as compensation for members' free admission to the museum.
The association has its own secretariat and is formally and financially independent from The Norwegian Museum Of Science And Technology . The association is a member of the Norwegian Association of Museum Friends.