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About the Science Center 2021

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. 

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, industry, 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 this. 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. 

In 2021, the thirteenth regional science center was opened in Sogndal. The 13 regional science centers in Norway work together in a national network, and receive operating funds from the Ministry of Education and Research through the Research Council of Norway. The mandate is to work for increased interest and recruitment to natural science studies and professions. The Research Council's development plan for the period 2021-2024 points to the following measures:

 

  • Further develop and increase the use of the exhibitions
    Oslo Science Centre , in collaboration with Mr.Who and the design company Flux, has developed a new mascot to be used in communication with children at installations etc. To make the science centre exhibition less “basement-like”, the longest wall has been painted and decorated with the museum’s pictograms. In addition, significantly more basic lighting has been installed on the ceiling. The science centre is an active part of the new exhibitions Life and Death and the upcoming I/O. The Life and Death exhibition concerns interactive installations (cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the Anne doll, virtual dissection of the forearm and how various visual disorders work). In addition, the science centre contributed to making the digital exhibition about Covid-19 available in the exhibition. In II/O, the science centre has worked on how the activities in the creative workshops can be linked to the exhibition. Among other things, this applies to programs within artificial intelligence and the interface between programming and art.

  • Contribute to increased science capital among the general public (Science Capital)
    Science capital is defined as science-related qualifications (interests, knowledge, skills and social contacts). The Science Centre does this, among other things, by offering various learning paths, where the intention is that the public will be helped to understand connections and contexts. Empirical evidence shows that large parts of Oslo's population do not use the museum's offerings. There are many reasons for this, but it is important to be seen in environments outside the museum's four walls. During 2021, science shows were held at Deichmann's branches. In addition, activities were carried out at three youth clubs in Groruddalen. The activities at the youth clubs are financed through funds from BUFDir. In the summer of 2021were offered free tickets to the museum, which was a great success.

  • Further developing the regional roleof
    Oslo Science Centre is the regional science centre for Oslo and parts of Viken. Through outreach activities to schools and libraries, we increase the visibility of the science centre and the museum in Oslo. The science centre is a member of theScience Centre Association in Norway, which now counts 13 centres plus a couple of branches spread across the country. During 2021, the Science Centre Association has continued to coordinate the two national projects; Skaperskolen, funded by the Sparebankstiftelsen DNB, and Den teknologiske skolesekken (Super:bit) funded 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 Science Talent Centre is funded by the Ministry of Education and Research.