Interactive scientific exhibitions in Poland

The Exploratorium opened in San Francisco in 1968 is generally considered to be a prototype of all science centres or interactive exhibitions. However, its creator, the American physicist Frank Oppenheimer (1912–1985) was inspired by European science and technology museums, such as Science Museum in London or Deutches Museum in Munich. In the 19th century such museums were also present in Poland, but the first establishment, in which interactive models were purposefully used, most often by pressing the button, was the Museum of
Industry and Technology which opened in Warsaw in 1933.
Over the last dozen years or so, various initiatives for the promotion of science, and in particular the natural sciences, have been launched throughout Poland. The concept initiated in the US some 45 years ago is popular in many countries around the world, but it really established itself in Poland in the early 21st century. Two Kraków-based museums – the Jagiel-
lonian University Museum and the Museum of Municipal Engineering – played a pioneer role in this respect. Initiatives to create interactive exhibitions were also launched in other cities across Poland – Szczecin, Gdańsk, Gdynia, Toruń and Wałbrzych. The highlight of those projects was the opening of the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw in November 2010.
 

Interactive scientific exhibitions in Poland

The Exploratorium opened in San Francisco in 1968 is generally considered to be a prototype of all science centres or interactive exhibitions. However, its creator, the American physicist Frank Oppenheimer (1912–1985) was inspired by European science and technology museums, such as Science Museum in London or Deutches Museum in Munich. In the 19th century such museums were also present in Poland, but the first establishment, in which interactive models were purposefully used, most often by pressing the button, was the Museum of
Industry and Technology which opened in Warsaw in 1933.
Over the last dozen years or so, various initiatives for the promotion of science, and in particular the natural sciences, have been launched throughout Poland. The concept initiated in the US some 45 years ago is popular in many countries around the world, but it really established itself in Poland in the early 21st century. Two Kraków-based museums – the Jagiel-
lonian University Museum and the Museum of Municipal Engineering – played a pioneer role in this respect. Initiatives to create interactive exhibitions were also launched in other cities across Poland – Szczecin, Gdańsk, Gdynia, Toruń and Wałbrzych. The highlight of those projects was the opening of the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw in November 2010.