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At the start of 2024, Ecsite, supported by the Simons Foundation, invited its members to donate exhibits and exhibitions to the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in order to foster science engagement during the war. Members responded enthusiastically, dedicating their time, effort, and resources to make these donations possible.
The first donation, a full exhibition titled ‘Project Fantasy’, was generously given by VilVite – Bergen Science Centre and arrived in Kyiv on 8 May 2024. It features 11 imaginative exhibits showcasing innovative energy solutions inspired by the creativity of Norwegian children.
From 14 October to 14 November, the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, in collaboration with Gulliver (a shopping and entertainment centre located in Kyiv), hosted the exhibition in an interactive space with free entrance. Parents were not only thrilled to bring their children to an exciting new science exhibition designed to inspire young minds and spark their dreams, but enjoyed interacting with the exhibits themselves. And how did the children respond to such an exhibition?
Oleksiy Bilyi, Interpreter at the Museum of Science in Kyiv, had this to say,
"This scientific exhibition dedicated to inventions and ideas impressed visitors with its innovative exhibits. There you could see a nose that detects smells, super kick sled, a swing that generates electricity while riding it, and even a technological stick for the visually impaired that receives information from sensors on the stick and informs the person. And also, many other exhibits that demonstrate the transformation of various types of energy into electricity, making people's lives easier, as well as clean and convert[ed] carbon dioxide and methane.
The children were particularly impressed by the exhibition. They were actively swinging, competing to see who could light the bulb brighter, and one of the children tried to connect the phone to the swing-generator, thinking that in this way it would charge the phone.
One boy even asked, "If I ride the swing too hard, can I charge my tablet?" His idea interested one of the interpreters, who explained the principles of kinetic energy.
The exhibition became a vivid example of how science can be interesting, accessible, and at the same time encourage children to be creative and dream."
On 20 November 2024, the exhibition travelled to its next home – the Science Museum of the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Poltava, which is located in central-eastern Ukraine. On 23 November, the exhibition was officially opened and it will stay at its new home in Poltava until July 2025, where it is sure to have a deep impact in engaging Ukrainian youth in science.
Ecsite would like to thank the Simons Foundation for their support and to extend our gratitude to the following donating organisations for their contributions and hard work:
- VilVite – Bergen Science Centre / Bergen, Norway
- Jærmuseet / Nærbø, Norway
- Universcience / Paris, France
- Muséum national d'histoire naturelle / Paris, France
- Pavilhão do Conhecimento – Centro Ciência Viva / Lisbon, Portugal
- University of Montpellier – Science & Society Department / Montpellier, France
- iQLANDIA / Liberec, Czechia
- Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Toulouse / Toulouse, France
- Natural History Museum / London, United Kingdom
- Cité de l’espace / Toulouse, France
- Technopolis / Mechelen, Belgium
We look forward to sharing the impacts of the rest of the exhibits and exhibitions once they are installed.
We would also like to thank all Ecsite members who have supported Ukrainian science centres and museums since the war began in Ukraine, a full list of which can be found here.