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Oslo Science Centre

 

Oslo Science Centre at The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology is a popular science experience and learning centre for technology, natural sciences and mathematics. The science centre is an arena where visitors can experience, learn or renew their knowledge on their own terms. Oslo Science Centre is the country's oldest science centre, established in 1986 and is the regional science centre for Oslo and Akershus. 

One of The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology 's most important tasks is to actively contribute to science recruitment, which is part of the museum's mission to spread knowledge about technology, science and medicine to the general public. Through Oslo Science Centre and its school activities, the museum works to create enthusiasm for the disciplines and provide knowledge about and interest in them. The school activities are strongly linked to curricula and the schools' educational goals. The museum works to more clearly integrate school activities with Oslo Science Centre and make the science centre a good arena for learning.

The 12 regional knowledge centers in Norway work together in a national network, and receive operating funds from the Ministry of Science and Technology through the Research Council of Norway. The mandate is to work for increased interest and recruitment to natural science studies and professions.  

 In the strategy for the period 2017-19, the science center network has worked purposefully with:

  • Increase competence in the use of the knowledge centers among school and kindergarten teachers: During 2019 Oslo Science Centre has conducted around 40 different teacher courses, both in and outside the region. In total, 1,100 teachers attended courses under our auspices in 2019.
  • Increase the families' interest in science (science capital): The aim of science capital projects is to develop and test measures that will improve the experience of visiting families, with the aim that the families will have an increased interest in science and knowledge.
    Among the measures are various learning trails, where the intention is that the public will be helped to understand connections and contexts, and the initiative outside the museum's four walls in Oslo East. During 2019, activities were carried out at six Deichmans branches (science shows, workshops for young people and mini creative festivals). In addition, activities have been carried out at several adult education centers and youth clubs in Groruddalen. The activities at the youth clubs are financed through funds from BUFDir. Oslo Science Centre has also participated in the world's coolest day (Akershus Fortress) and at the Abu Dhabi Science Festival.
  • Further development of competence internally in the knowledge centres.

Oslo Science Centre is part of the national network of science centers in Norway. Today, this network has twelve regional centres, spread across the country from Tromsø in the north to Arendal in the south. In addition, several branches run by the regional science centers have been established. During 2019, the science center network started two large national projects. These are the Maker School, funded by the Sparebank Foundation, and the technological school bag, funded by the Ministry of Education. The talent centers were established as a pilot project at the knowledge centers in Tromsø, Trondheim, Bergen and Oslo in 2016. From 2020, this has become a permanent offer at the four centres, funded by the Ministry of Education.