F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 9 ■ NSCF Contact Chairmans letter to you! NSCFBoard 2007-2009: ■ Lotta Johansson, I hope that you have all started a very good new Science Centre year. Navet, Sverige (Chairman) I wish for all of us a 2009 with many developing, inspiring and con- Tel +46 3335 3396 structive meetings. [email protected] ■ Sampo Puoskari, 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy and the Darwin Year. Tietomaa, Finland This gives us plenty of opportunities to interest many new people for Tel +358 44 703 1342 science. I would like everyone who intend to have some activities or [email protected] exhibitions concerning astronomy and/or evolution to send a short ■ Nils Hornstrup, description to me, so that it can be put on the NSCF webpage and Experimentarium, Danmark perhaps brought to Milan. Tel +45 3925 7226 [email protected] This year, NSCF will have a corner of a booth in the Business Bistro th th ■ Målfrid Snørteland, at the Ecsite Conference in Milan 4 to 7 of June 2009. I hope that Jærmuseet, Norge many of us will meet up there. This newsletter will of course be pre- Tel +47 5179 9432 sented in the NSCF booth. [email protected] ■ Tómas Óskar Gudjónsson, Many of us met in Danfoss for a fantastic conference. It was a very Fjölskyldu- & húsdyragardurinn, Island well arranged conference, which gave us many new perspectives. Tel +354 5757 800 Many thanks from us all in NSCF to Danfoss!! [email protected] The next NSCF Annual Meeting will be in Jæren/Sandnes in Norway NSCF Administration 2007-2009: in October 2009. Jærmuseet will be our host. As soon as the dates NAVET are fixed, we will email the exact times to all member institutions in Nybrogatan 9A order for you to reserve time in your calendar and prepare your SE-503 31 Borås travel. Tel +46 3335 3757 Fax +46 3335 3758 I would also like to remind you all of the opportunity to apply for Email: [email protected] grants for practical training at another science centre. NSCF Newsletter: Best regards, Lotta Johansson ([email protected]) [email protected] NSCF web site: http://www.nordicscience.org The NSCF conference at Danfoss Universe ■ Sara Bagge and Lotta Johansson, Navet The 8 – 10 October 2008 we all look at something, new and in- He also drew the conclusion that met for a very inspiring and in- teresting things will appear. This we will be connected and inter- teresting annual conference at rarely happens in a room built by dependent and that everything Danfoss Universe in Denmark. man. accelerates. Here are some highlights from Hans Henrik Knoop also talked the presentations. about the demands for learning The European Dream – From the and the desire to learn, and what Most to the Best by Anne Skare Science Centers and the Citizens can happen if demands choke Nielsen, Future Navigator. of the Future by Hans Henrik desire. Anne Skare Nielsen started by Knoop, University Research Lab. The presentation of Hans Henrik talking about not getting the most Hans Henrik Knoop talked about Knoop (HHK-slides.ppt) will be out of everything (people, rela- if citizens need to have a basic available for download on the tionships…), but getting the best scientific knowledge in order to NSCF website out of them/it. We must be better participate in the modern democ- www.nordicscience.org at exploiting each others compe- racy. He started out with the tences. She also brought up the fantastic expression Listen louder. Having this in mind in a conver- sation includes • stop talking for yourself • stop downloading and focus on the other person • listen for the meaningful • look for the bigger picture This presentation also brought up the question of what it takes to be successful in the future. Anne Skare Nielsen identified the fol- lowing factors: • Originality – passion • Feel that we are doing impor- tant, meaningful work • Good energy – create situa- tions that gets the best out of us. question on how the environment Science Centers and the Children affects the way we learn. How of the Future by Peter Hes- Improving Education in Science, shall we build rooms so that peo- seldahl, Danfoss Universe Impact. Technology, and Health in Den- ple want to stay there even Peter Hesseldahl talked about mark by Keld Nielsen, Århus Uni- though they don´t have to? The whether the young people of the versity, Department of Science idea Hans Henrik Knoop pre- future are different, since they Studies. sented was that we are evolu- will grow up being on-line 24/7. Keld Nielsen gave us a presenta- tionary designed to enjoy the es- He took a starting point in what tion and reflexions on a new na- thetics of nature. The difference he saw was 3 important trends: tional strategy. between the nature and some- • Increasing complexity thing built by man is the com- • Increasing participating plexity. In nature, the closer you • Merging real and virtual 2 Gala dinner in Thanks to Danfoss Universe! Cumulus The conference We are all greatful for the large dinner was an and successful job that Danfoss event filled with Universe and all their enthusias- delicious food tic staff did for us. Thank you for a and drinks and fuitful conference!!! ■ exciting ex- periments in a merry atmos- phere. Integration between formal and informal learning areas – practi- cal experience with project FUF by Henrik Jacobsen, University Research Lab. A report on FUF project using digital technology for intercon- necting the learning in formal arenas with experiences made in informal arenas. Coproductive learning in House of Science by Heiko Buch-Illing. Heiko Buch-Illing talked about how to mind the gap between formal and informal learning. The presentation of Heiko Buch-Illing (HBI-slides.ppt) will be available for download on the NSCF web- site www.nordicscience.org Workshops Besides interesting presenta- tions, the conference also in- cluded a number of workshops. • Pico: Basic programming in a playful engaging way •Explo- rama: Explore your own Multiple Intelligences profile •Lego Serious Play: Give your brain a hand •Physics in a Park: An outdoor learning arena. 3 Cino4, Sweden's first 4D cinema ■ Mariana Back, National Museum of Science and Technology, Stockholm In January 2007 the Museum of Science and Technology opened Sweden’s first 4D Cinema. With this type of cinematic experiences you are introduced to a show that includes sensory and motion effects in addition to the 3D visuals and the im- pressive surround sound. The seats in the theatre can move forwards, backwards, sideways and are fitted with under-seat ticklers and individ- ual speakers. A re- mote control allows participation in interactive fea- A little later, in April 2007, we in- time for 2008 summer vacations tures. Fans and water sprayer troduced the audience to Hocus in order to attract more visitors. complete the range of sensory Science Focus, a show about sci- This worked particularly well at effects. ence and illusions. This show had the Museum since we also had at great success with kids around 8- the same time an exhibit focusing Learning to Fly 10 years of age, whether in school on the International Space Sta- Two years have now passed and groups, or accompanied by their tion (ISS). It includes mockups of several new shows have been parents. It did not please, how- ISS modules, a Gyro Wheel, a released. The first show on our ever, all adults that visited Cino4 life-sized mannequin of the schedule was Learning to Fly. It without children, to the same de- Swedish astronaut, Christer takes you on a dizzying airplane gree. A new collaboration project Fuglesang, wearing a spacesuit ride over land and sea, where is in the works where children in plus more. howling wind and a vibrating fu- the 2nd and 3rd grades will be selage effect is included. When invited by different companies to During summer the Museum ran the aircraft makes a sudden dive, see the show at the Museum, in an advertising campaign on the sprays of water and condensation Cino4. The main goal is to offer theme “Travel to Space! A Round- are produced and the engines an exciting experience in a trip for less than 8 €.” These fea- roar until it finally levels out and science-related environment and tures were advertised in busses calmly proceeds on its way. In to help fostering an interest for and in newspapers. This com- this exiting journey you also get science and technology. bined space theme attracted to see scenic views from the bird’s many visitors to the Museum dur- perspective and follow the his- A Journey Through the Universe ing the summer and continued to tory of how Man conquered the We premiered the popular show do so during the fall and the win- sky. Audiences love this show! about space and astronomy, A ter seasons. Hocus Science Focus Journey Through the Universe, in 4 Building Without Limits The movie, “Building Without Limits”, premiered in September 2008, just in time for the schools to find out about it and plan a visit to Cino4. Preparation for this particular show had already started in July a year earlier. Ideas and material had been gathered about the theme of extreme engi- neering. A concept was developed and agreed on in collaboration between the Museum and Orpan Group, the producers of the final 4D presentation. The movie deals with: • Manmade constructions - tall, our intense work to fulfil one of wide and generally remarkable. In the first workshop held last fall our dreams -- to produce a per- • To present several different it was a joy to see staff partici- formance for deaf blind audi- exciting fields of engineering that pants made up of colleagues and ences – an artistic work, but one are relevant to our everyday lives.