NEWS On Tuesday 11 October at 18:00–22:00, Umevatoriet celebrates 10 years with art, music and fun space activities. The planetarium and observatory are well-known among Umeå dwellers – the number of visitors has increased since the start and does not only attract schools but also interested citizens and companies.
Members of staff at Umevatoriet: Bastien Erpelding, Petra Hellgren, Annika Kjellsson-Lind (manager), Marianne Eik and Ann-Lena Sahlman. Photo: Ingrid Söderbergh.
“Umevatoriet provides fantastic opportunities to interact through exciting scientific challenges. By using various educational methods and models, for instance drama, we have managed to create interest in the field,” says Anders Fällström, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University and chair of the Umevatoriet Board.
Operations at Umevatoriet started on a smaller scale in 2006 by the Faculty of Science and Technology. Initiator was the Department of Physics. Umeå municipality became partner in 2008 as a result of the massive and rapid expansion of the operations.
The target audience is everyone between 4 and 99. Out of these, children of school age are especially responsive. Over the past eight years, staff has worked thematically and has had time to cover ten themes for school classes to choose between, for instance Chemistry Berta and Lego Robots.
“It brings us most joy when children come with eyes wide open and millions of questions, that’s when we feel that we really fulfil our purpose; arousing interest of the natural sciences, mathematics and technology to children and young adults,” says Marianne Eik, educationalist at Umevatoriet.
What does the future hold for Umevatoriet?
“At the moment, the question of the future of Umevatoriet has reached a critical stage. If everything goes in my desired direction, the first sod will be cut for a new Umevatoriet at Umeå Arts Campus shortly,” says Anders Fällström.
Umevatoriet is run in collaboration with Umeå municipality and Umeå municipality with the aim of increasing interest in the natural sciences, technology and mathematics.
Programme for 11 October
• Opening hours 18:00–22:00.
• Anders Fällström, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University and chairperson of the Umevatoriet Board, holds a short speech at 19:00 (in Swedish).
• Umeå-based artist Böris Helena opens her exhibition Mars Utopia. It is a short story, an invented future scenario, about a researcher who travels on a lone mission to explore the biosphere on Mars that man created.
• The band Planetariet plays together with Studieförbundet.
• Ongoing throughout the night: shows in the planetarium, play in SpektRum, and weather permitting – stargazing in the telescope.
Marianne Eik, educationalist at UmevatorietPhone: +46 90-71 80 20
Email: marianne.eik@umu.se
Portrait photo for download. Photo: Ingrid Söderbergh
Editor: Anna Lawrence