New opening and energy exhibition at ViteMeir
The exhibition on the 1st floor is changing.
1st floor on ViteMeir will be the theme zone for energy from September 16th. Through new and interactive installations, visitors can play their way to new knowledge about energy. How is electricity actually produced? And how does electricity reach you and me? Learning by doing is the essence of all our content at the science center and the new energy exhibition is no exception. Some of the installations you can explore deal with topics such as; the electricity grid, energy-intensive industry as a driving force in social development in the region, energy storage and personal energy consumption.
"Contribute to solving today's and future energy challenges by spreading knowledge about and interest in energy as a field of study"
Society is facing major challenges related to an ever-increasing need for energy. If demand is to be met without having enormous consequences for the climate and environment, future energy solutions must be more sustainable than what is mainly used today. It is today's children and young people who will develop the solutions of the future. Therefore, it is extra important to be able to convey knowledge about this topic to this particular target group. The main target group for the exhibition is young people from 12-14 years of age, but it will also contain something for both the younger and the older. In addition to the installations in the exhibition, our own facilitator ViteVero has developed a completely new and energetic "Energy-Science Show". Through this, we convey knowledge about energy in an entertaining way. New learning programs for students will also be developed in connection with the exhibition.
Science center in development
The Science Center in Sogn og Fjordane AS opened its doors to the public on November 11, 2021. Since then, almost 60,000 visitors have visited the center. The first year we had a traveling exhibition on the 1st floor. This was sent to the Science Center Nordland in the fall of 2022. Since then, we have developed new content to fill the center with other cool installations. A science center must be constantly evolving, yet this is probably the largest single development project ViteMeir will be in the exhibition for a long time. Almost the entire 1st floor will be new, but fear not, the favorites the construction site, the hydroelectric power plant and the truck will remain standing.
"In the development process, we have focused on topics that we believe are relevant to our guests' everyday lives, and that may be useful to know more about."
"The vision of the new exhibition is to help solve today's and future energy challenges by spreading knowledge about and interest in energy as a field of study. In the development process, we have focused on topics that we believe are relevant to our guests' everyday lives, and that may be useful to know more about. We hope that the exhibition contributes to creating interest both in energy as a field of study and in the need we have to find new and sustainable solutions to today's challenges," says Marit Haugan Hove , Head of Administration and Development at ViteMeir .
Local cooperation
A total of 13 different actors have contributed to the fact that we can soon open the "Energy Zone" on ViteMeir . ViteMeir would like to extend a big thank you to Vestland County Council, Sognekraft, Hydro, Elkem, Sparebanken Sogn og Fjordane, Statkraft, Sparebanken Vest, Toyota Sogn, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Sogn og Fjordane Energi, Hafslund Eco, Okken Kraft and Aurland Energiverk.
"We hope the exhibition inspires and engages children and youth to solve today's and tomorrow's energy challenges"
Contributions from external sources have been crucial to the realization of the project, both in terms of expertise from the power and energy industry, but not least financially. "As a driving force in Sogn, it has been quite natural to contribute to the establishment and development of the energy exhibition at ViteMeir ", says Miriam Høyheim Lægreid on behalf of Sognekraft. "The exhibition conveys fundamental and important knowledge about the renewable energy system in which our region has a decisive role. We hope the exhibition inspires and engages children and young people to solve today's and future energy challenges," she concludes.
After almost two years of planning and development, we can finally say that we are approaching the opening of the energy exhibition. Almost all of the installations have been developed by us, together with skilled professionals and suppliers. There are 185 square meters to be filled and the process includes everything from choosing a theme, to design and development, obtaining professional content, testing, financing and physical construction. This would not have been possible without good cooperation with local and regional businesses, as well as close cooperation with professionals at HVL.