The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology is Norway's national museum for science, technology, industry, transport and medicine. The museum's objective is to demonstrate the implications of progress in Science and Technology, socially and culturally, through the ages. The museum is an educational institution with collections, exhibitions, publications and other activities, which makes it a place of learning for all.Through its collections and exhibits it chronicles the development of Norway from an agrarian society to a complex industrial society. The museum, located in Oslo, contains exhibitions on transport and aviation, Norwegian industrial history, energy and electricity, wood and metal industries, oil, gas and plastics, clocks and watches, calculating machines and computers, as well as the science centre. The galleries offer examples of how objects, through interpretation can be used to provide an understanding of contemporary life.The museum has a library and historical archives, cafe and museum shop.
The most recent addition to the museum is the National Museum of Medicine, opened to the public in 2003. This distinctive collection is devoted the history of medicine, focusing especially on the rise of public health medicine from the early 19th century to the present day; this is accomplished by a fusion of creative graphic plates and medical objects. The present museum was founded in 1914 as a part of the commemoration for the 100th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution. It was not until 1932 that the museum was first opened to the public, in the basement of the Viking Ship House at Bygdøy. In 1959 the museum relocated to its own building at Etterstad. Gradually these premises grew too small, and area development plans and the underground prevented further expansion. The only solution was to move to a new site. The museum has been located at Kjelsås in Oslo since 1985, with some 20,000 square meters of floor space.
Museums have many identities; both as a warehouse, a place of learning, a playground and a place for inspiration -the name 'museum' originally meant home of the muses, the angels of inspiration. Here a certain reverence for the great achievements of the past are fostered as well as recognition of the men and women which made them possible, but also some humility at the incompleteness of our own understanding.
A
small appetiser of the artefacts on display:
Klima X (new!):
Spectacular effects are used in this exhibition to show the causes and effects of global warming. The visitors wear our special rubber boots when entering the exhibition, as the floor is covered with 10 cm of water to illustrate the effect of increasing sea level. Important: Children must be accompanied by adults.
Wheels,
tracks and wings.
The first car and tram in Norway, a steam locomotive, a paddle steamer,
the first fragile aircrafts and a complete passenger jet are on display
in the Communication Hall. Exclusive royal automobiles are to be found,
as well as more popular cars such as the model T and the Beetle. You can
see both velicopedes and Harley Davidsons among the two-wheeled vehicles.
2. floor
Dive
into industrial history
The river "Akerselva", running by the museum, played a vital part in Norway's
industrial history. The industrial exhibitions include early turbines
and steam engines, a pristine textile loom, as well as a complete mechanical
workshop, historical sawmill and papermaking equipment. Present-day production
is represented by the pharmaceutical, plastics and petroleum industries.
Computers,
telecom and watches
The
Computer exhibition displays early mechanical calculators and punch-card
machines throught to the first Norwegian built electronic computers and
early PCs. The Norwegian Museum of Telecommunication chronicles the development
of telecommunication from the Morse code to the internet. The clock gallery
hosts a unique collection of rare and beautiful clocks and watches.
Generate
electricity and experience the oil adventure
Hydropower and electricity, energy intensive industries and the oil discoveries
in the North Sea have all been crucial to Norwegian history. The exhibitions
on energy, electricity and petroleum explain how electricity is made and
how to locate and extract oil and gas. Discover how Norway developed into
an oil and gas producing nation.
The
National Medical Museum
Look into perceptions and treatments of ailments and disease during the
last 150 years. Become acquainted with medical research and technology,
as well as both historic and present day epidemics. Let us show you scores
of historical images and artefacts ranging from flams for blood-letting
to magnetic resonance induction therapy equipment.
Push
buttons, explore and enjoy
The Science Centre transforms technology and science into entertaining
and educational activities. Explore, examine, touch and discover natural
science through hands-on experiences. The Centre also has a planetarium
and a robot centre where you can program your very own robot. The activities
are suitable for explorers of all ages.
The
museum contains a large library with storage for technical literature,
company archives, technical drawings, photographic material and other
documents relating to the history of science and technology.
ls.
A
guide to the exhibitions is available in english at the information desk.
