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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 parts of Viken.

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 (continued for 2020, new plan underway for 2021-2024), the science center network has worked purposefully on the following measures:

  • Increase competence in the use of science centers among school and kindergarten teachers
    During 2020, Oslo Science Centre conducted around 20 different teacher courses, both in and outside the region. In total, 580 teachers have attended courses under our auspices in 2020. The corona pandemic has led to a number of cancellations in the spring and autumn of 2020.
  • Increasing families' interest in science (science capital)
    The goal of science capital projects is to develop and test measures that will improve the experience of visiting families, with the goal of increasing families' interest in science and knowledge. Among the measures are various learning paths, 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 2020, activities were carried out at two Deichmans branches (science shows and workshops for youth). In addition, activities were carried out at three youth clubs in Groruddalen. The activities at the youth clubs are financed through funds from BUFDir.
  • Further development of expertise internally in the science centres
    Oslo Science Centre is a member of the Science Centre Association in Norway. The association consists of the twelve regional centres spread across the country, which are financed by the Ministry of Education and Research. In addition, several branches have been established to run regional science centres. During 2020, the Science Centre Association has continued to coordinate the two national projects; The Creators' School, financed by the Sparebankstiftelsen, and The Technological School Backpack (Super:bit) financed by the Ministry of Education and Research. The Science Talent Centre was established as a pilot project at the science centres in Tromsø, Trondheim, Bergen and Oslo in 2016. From 2020, this has become a permanent offer at the five regional science centres (the original four + Jærmuseet). The Science Talent Centre is financed by the Ministry of Education and Research.

Science Center R&D: at Explainer gathering on February 4, 2020, Vesa Lepistö from Heureka gave the presentation Playgrounds and science capitalists, prospects for exhibition design in the 2020s.