Without access to large amounts of energy, our modern way of life would be impossible. We only realize how dependent we are on energy when the power goes out. Science and technology have enabled unprecedented prosperity, but at the same time contributed to tremendous pressure on the earth's resources. The types of energy we choose in the future have consequences for the climate, nature, daily life and social development.   

The meeting is part of the development of an exhibition that will tell the story of Norwegian energy, where fossil and renewable meet as parallel themes. It will also deal with nuclear power, solar power, wind power and other energy sources that are currently under development.   

How do we talk about energy in Norwegian society today? Can history, artifacts and an exhibition be used to understand and act in today's crisis? We want your input!  

Program  

• Ketil Gjølme Andersen, curator, author and senior curator at The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology with responsibility for energy, hydropower, electrochemical industry, museum history and more.
• Cathrine Hagem, Research Manager Environmental, Resource and Innovation Economics, Statistics Norway, with a particular interest in environmental and energy economics
• Diego Fernando Marin Rios, Chairman of Attac Norway. He is a historian with experience from several civil society organizations in both Latin America and Norway.
• Sissel Furuseth, professor, Nordic literature, UiO, works in the research project TOIL.
• Øystein Asphjell, civil engineer and CEO Thor Energy
• Dag O. Hessen, author, biologist and professor at the University of Oslo, has researched water, ecology and evolution. In his book Verden på vippepunktet (The World at the Tipping Point) (2020), he combines biology, environment and philosophy. 
• Ragna Nordenborg is the program host/moderator this evening. She is a journalist, editorial director for cultural dissemination at the National Library and incoming editorial director for the audio area Documentary and Society at NRK.

Discussion table: Participants, presenters and exhibition project staff then discuss the questions in smaller groups.

We will conclude in plenary where the presenters will participate in a panel discussion. 

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The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology has around 250,000 visitors a year, of which 50,000 are schoolchildren. In 10 years, this will mean that potentially 2.5 million people will see the new exhibition on energy. The exhibition's stories help shape consensus about the history of energy and possible future scenarios.   

We want to get input on how we can manage and share knowledge about energy so that the exhibition can contribute to well-informed debates about the energy mix of the future.  

The new energy exhibition opens on 23 November 2023. We are not sitting on any answers, but are exploring the issues together with a number of contributors. The main sponsor of the exhibition is Equinor. The exhibition is part of the work on the Sustainable Energy Narratives project, supported by the Directorate of Culture.

The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology has national responsibility in the areas of technology, industry, natural sciences and medicine.