Tæknimiðstöð Íslands

Preparations are now in progress for an icelandic science center / museum of technology.  A preparations committee has been operating for almost five years, gathering informations, making connections, presenting the idea and organizing next steps.

It all began with an exhibition in Thjorsarver Culture Center in South-Iceland in the summer of 2004.  The exhibition, "Hugvit og hagleikur" ("Ingenuity and skilfulness"), was mainly about the many inventors and crafts-people who have lived in the area.  The exhibits filled the house and its surroundings and there was also an introduction of the Federation of Icelandic Inventors.  A book was published on the subject and a film was made.  Among many distinguished guests was the President of Iceland and the First lady.  The exhibition was a great success and clearly showed general interest in technology, inventors and science.  It also made clear the fact that in Iceland there is no science center, no complete museum of technology and no institution has direct obligations to preserve the icelandic heritage of technology.  Research after research have showed the need for some means to promote interest of students in the field of technology and science.  But little has been done yet.  The main planner of the exhibition; Valdimar Ossurarson, concluded that something had to be done.  Valdimar had a meeting with the Federation of Icelandic Inventors and they were interested in the idea.  Now things were in motion.  

A committe of preparations was soon established.  The Floi Tourist Board decided to take these matters in their hands.  They presented the idea to the Althingi (the Icelandic Parliament) and applied for a contribution.  This was granted, confirming the interest of the icelandic government and Althingi and underlining the importance of the subject.  Since then, things have been progressing rapidly.  
To learn more about science centers, the committe took a journey  to Sweden to see the Tekniska Museet, and to Norway to see Norsk Teknisk Museum.  This journey was a success:  Many things were learned and good connections were established.  Since then the Tekniska Musset has been very helpful.  Lars Paulsson came to Iceland in december 2006 and gave a speech at our presentation.  The Icelandic engeneering firm VST-Engeneering made a cost-estimate for an icelandic science center, based on the facts at hand.  In december 2006 the committee delivered an intermediate report on its work to the Althingi and to the Minister of Education.  Originally the committee planned the science center to be located in Southern Iceland, as a tourist attraction in the committee´s area.  As things have progressed though, the location is a matter of later decision which will depend mostly on functionality factors and the science center´s operation.  The tourist attraction is no longer the main focus, but much rather the educational and technicultural factors.

Why an Icelandic Science Center ?
The current name of this project is in icelandic; "Taeknimidstod Islands", which means; "The Icelandic Science Center".  The main purpose is science center activity, but at the same time to be a museum for Icelandic technology.  The developement of technology and science in Iceland has been vey rapid, and in some fields we are in the front row.  We haven´t had any world-famous inventors yet, but in many ways we have changed imported technology and adapted it to icelandic circumstances.  No establishment has the obligation to save things from this technological past as a whole, document it, display it and use it for information and encouragement.  That´s one of the answers to the question above.  Another is the need for for a science center as an encouragement in the field of science and technology, especially for educational purposes.  The Icelandic education system is one of the best in the world today.  Still we are behind in some aspects.  We have made use of the best from other nations´ education systems, and we compare the effectiveness of our education to other nations.  This is not fair, neither to the system or the students, as we are not using all the tools available to other education systems.  We have not yet established a science center.  This is the most important factor in the sense of urgently needed encouragement for technology and science education.  When we look at how other nations are systematically using their science centers for school visits, then we can understand many things that are going wrong in our education.

Plans and visions.
The plans for the Icelandic Science Center have varied a little through the preparations work, and probably the final outcome will not be be entirely what the committee has in mind right now.  New informations lead to new results; consultancy from others do also, and final decisions are of course dependent on the financing of the project.
The vision right now is like this:
The Icelandic Science Center will either be state-owned and a part of the icelandic education system, or run as self-owned establishment, with an agreement to the state and municipalities and with educational obligations.  Firms and investors might be owners, or substantial supporters. 
The main factors will probably be:

1. Science center.
2. How things work; frontiers of technology
3. Exhibition of icelandic technological heritage
4. Icelandic inventors
5. Temporary exhibitions
6. Educational  and outreach programs
7. Documentation and research
8. Other activity, such as museum shop, restaurant, office and workshop.

Important report.
The preparations project got one of its greatest boost in the summer of 2008, when the Univesity of Education (UE) finished its report on the educational need for an icelandic science center.  This work was in the hands of the department of consultancy and research in the UE, and was done independently, but on the request of the preparations committee.  The UE gathered some group of specialists from many steps of the education system, and the report is mainly based on their opinion, but also on the expertice of the UE specialists. Part of the summary is a good example of the reports conclusions as it says:

"The establishment of the Icelandic Science Center is an urgent and timely task.  The Icelandic Science Center (museum of technology) is an important cultural establishment that plays a great role in the society.  It has a role in preservation, research, culture and education.  Technological developement is rapid and old things get lost easily.  Therefore it is important to start their collecting and preservation".  (transl: V.O.)

This report is an important milestone for the project.  Based on its conclusion a letter was sent to many parties af the society, including universities, labour organizations, educational organizations and the council of icelandic museums, asking for their opinions and asking them to designate their representative to a preparations group.

A visit to Canada.
The project manager, Valdimar Ossurarson, recently travelled to Canada to visit two science centers, and meet their conductors.   First Valdimar ,and his wife Gudbjorg, visited Ontario Science Centre in Toronto.  This is Canada´s largest science center.  It has the world´s most experience in the field, and has provided consultancy and assistance in the establishment of many science centers around the world.  Their expertize might be important for the proposed Icelandic Science Center.  After a brief visit in this great science center, Valdimar had an informal meeting with some of its experienced conductors, confirming their will to assist, and getting a few good advice.  Cathie L. Spencer, project manager at OSC, has already been very helpful to the Icelandic project.  She welcomed the icelandic visitors and guided them through this magnificent center.  Next Valdimar and Gudbjorg visited the Discovery Centre in Halifax.  Although much smaller than the OSC, this center is very interesting as its size is more compareble to the planned Icelandic Science Center.  Valdimar had a meeting with Sally Camus, director of exhibits and facilities.  She described the DCH´s activities and operation and offered assistance in any way.  The Discovery centre is interesting in many ways, not least for its educational activities.

Nationwide associations and unions join in.
The project has gained an extra boost when several organizations decided to join in the preparations work.  This resulted in the forming of a consultancy group and also a new preparation group.
The Union of Icelandic Teachers in Innovation and Entrepreneurship concluded strongly in favour of the project, and so did also the Union of Science Teachers and some labour unions in the technology sector.  A rapidly growing "preparations group" was forming, giving the project a wide perspective and robust foundation.
The preperations committee has held several meetings with ministers of the government, local councils and others.  The minister of education is very interested in the progress of this project, and so are other ministers of the Icelandic Cabinet.  Many meetings and interviews are ahead, not least concerning the local councils.

A consultancy board is formed
This board consists of representatives of unions and association operating a national scale in the fields of education, innovation, technology and industry.  Presently representing:
The Association of Science Teachers (FR)
The Association of Icelandic Teachers of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FIKNF)
The Home-School Association (Landssamtökin Heimili og skóli).
The Icelandic Association of Inventors (LHM)
The Association of Women Entrepreneurs  (KVENN)
The Union of Industry and Technology (FIT)
The Union of Engeneering and Metalurgy (VM)
The Innivation Center of Iceland (NMI) http://nmi.is/english/
More members are expected on the next months.  This consultancy board plays an important role in organizing, both the science center itself and the preparation procedure.

ATAK; A new preparations committee.
On the 14. february 2008 a new preparations committee was formed, named ATAK. It is a preparatory association for an Icelandic Science Center.  It´s founding members are those who have conducted the preparations work so far and those who recently have joined in.  The biggest individual member yet is FIT; Thu Union of Industry and Technology, with over 4000 members.  The board of the ATAK-association consists of: Valdimar Ossurarson (the project´s manager), Elinora Inga Sigurdardottir (chairman of KVENN) and Heimir Olafsson (manager).  ATAK is expected to grow rapidly, creating a powerful agent in creating a good and useful science center.  It is an open and free-of-charge association.

About this site
This website is intended to inform the viewer about science centers in general; the need for an icelandic science center; the preparations taking place and bring news of the preparations work.  It is also intended to be an educational factor, showing liks to interesting and interactive websites.  To demonstrate and underline our meaning, we publish several pictures from interesting and active science centers all around the world, borrowed from their websites.  We thank them for this contribution.

VO.