Universeum is growing/Development program/

Development program

Universeum is transforming to meet the needs of society and give more value to more people. We are building the next-generation science center.

Sustainable growth.

A bigger building with new, advanced content provides us with the conditions to meet the needs of society. With popular education and learning, we can contribute to enhanced innovation, strengthened skills supply and action competence for the 2030 Agenda.

Growing power for the future

Universeum’s development programme is based on a major investment in data visualization, an enhanced focus on sustainable development and new content in science, technology and mathematics. All in all, the investments make Universeum an even more powerful arena for public education and learning in the areas of science, technology and sustainable development.

Data visualization

This major investment in data visualization includes a new visualization dome, a public visualization lab and a professorship in Education Pedagogy. With the latest digital technology and developed pedagogy, we create the conditions for strengthened learning in science, technology and mathematics. Data visualization enables new insights and an increased understanding of how the world is connected and works.
The 2030 Agenda

Back in 1999, in connection with Universeum’s construction, we were allocated government funds to work in the field of sustainable development. After over 20 years, we know how to translate and develop knowledge. We are now increasing our focus on sustainable development and making sure that all our content is based on the 2030 Agenda.
New content

We will develop our learning environments and enhance our programmes for children, adults, businesses, students, teachers and student teachers through new content in the fields of science, technology and mathematics. Universeum’s learning environments and programmes will operate in a compensatory way and develop everyone’s competences, abilities and skills.

Initiatives for sustainable societal development

Universeum’s initiatives all takes place in close collaboration with academia, industry and society. The development of our content, from learning environments to programmes, is made possible by donations and partnerships. Together we make a difference.

Visualization Dome

On the roof of Universeum, we are building Wisdome Göteborg, Sweden’s biggest visualisation dome. With advanced technology we aim to make complex science accessible to all with immersive 3D experiences in 8K resolution.

Technology and productions are being made possible through a donation from Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation to five Swedish science centres in the national Wisdome project.
Visualization Lab

In the new visualization lab people have access to research data using the very latest visualization technology. In Vislab, people create their own expeditions into the data in search of questions and answers about, for example, space, the climate or urban development.

The Visualization Lab has been developed in close collaboration with Visualization Center C and with support from the Sten A Olsson Foundation for Research and Communication.
Professorship in Education Pedagogy

A new professorship links education research at the University of Gothenburg with the learning activities at Universeum. Professor Lena Pareto will pursue research in data visualization and learning at Universeum.

The professorship has been enabled by FRF Foundation, Herman Krefting Foundation, IngaBritt and Arne Lundberg Research Foundation, Royal and Hvitfeldtska Foundation, and Mary von Sydow Donation Fund Foundation.
Mathematics

We want to contribute to increasing knowledge and developing learning in mathematics. With a focus on the usefulness of mathematics, from everyday life to research and development, we can make mathematics interesting and relevant for children, young people and adults.

Behind the initiative is the Erling-Persson Foundation, which together with us wants to equip young people for studies and working life where mathematical knowledge is required.
Life science

Universeum’s life science initiative focuses on humans. With a multidisciplinary approach we explore health and sustainability – and highlight vital research. In the new learning environment Humans we provide an overall medical view of the human body and mind

This initiative is being made possible by a donation from the VBG Group’s main owner, the Herman Krefting Foundation for Allergy and Asthma Research.
Miniverseum

A completely new exhibition for children 0–6 years and their adults promotes sustainable development and biodiversity in a fun-filled way, kick-starting the lifelong learning in science, technology and mathematics. The learning environment and programs will be designed as "together activities", so that children and adults can experience, learn and have fun together.

Hasselblad Foundation has made the investment in our youngest visitors possible with a generous donation.
Ocean Science Lab

The UN has decided to focus on the oceans and sustainability in 2021-2030. This decade of ocean science aims to improve the health of the world’s oceans and strengthen the conditions for the sustainable development of oceans and coastlines. Universeum is one of the actors involved in the Swedish Decade of Ocean Science with our Ocean Science Lab: an interdisciplinary knowledge experience that will create engagement, knowledge and innovation for sustainable oceans.

Next-generation science centre

Universeum opened on 8 June 2001. Since then, we have been working successfully on our undertaking: the first 15 years to increasing interest in science and technology among children and young people. In 2016, we started to transform our operations to meet the new needs of the world around us. Since then, we have been enhancing our creativity and capacity for innovation, increasing knowledge and activating critical thinking in children and adults. We are doing this to improve the achievement of targets in schools and to increase the number of people studying and working in the field of science and technology, in order to enhance innovation and to strengthen skills supply – all with the intention of contributing to a sustainable future.

20 years and ten million visitors later, Universeum is growing in order to offer more benefits to more people. With our history behind us and a major investment under way, we are looking to the future and setting our sights on something totally new: the next-generation science centre.

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Because we can do more. And we must do more to meet the needs of society. The education system, businesses, the city and the region – everyone needs more from us. More space and more content.

How does AI work, why can the pH level not change in the oceans, exactly how worrying is it that the number of insects is falling, why are gravitational waves important for science and is the earth really the only place where we can live?

At Universeum, such questions must be asked and the answers explored. This is important if we are to understand our age, to seize the new technology and realise how beautiful yet at the same time how fragile our planet is. But the rapid pace of development and new discoveries demand increased knowledge. Good education and accessible adult education are needed.

Universeum needs to expand and replenish. To grow in order to step up to the next level.

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Universeum currently welcomes about 600,000 visitors a year, around 75,000 of them teachers and students who use Universeum as a learning resource. With new areas and new content, we can attract more and aim for 700,000 visitors every year.

This will make a real difference.

Advanced construction.

The extension features a host of geometric shapes. The dome will be spherical with triangular features (six metres long and eight metres high!). The vertical tower reaches for the heavens while the horizontal bridge hovers in the air.

Sustainable construction in wood

The construction of Universeum started in 1999. It is a climate-smart building in large sections made of wood, constructed against the mountain at Korsvägen with visible cliffs inside its walls and an impressive view of Gothenburg. The vast roof over the rainforest is perfectly positioned to face the sun in order to harvest solar energy all year round. The building also uses the forces of nature for its ventilation through natural draughts. Large parts of it can be dismantled and reused.

When Universeum opened in 2001, it was the biggest public building with a bearing wooden structure. We are now continuing to build on this. Wood, which is increasingly being recognised as the most sustainable building material, will be combined with recycled panes of glass from our own or other buildings. And, just as in 1999, the name of the architect is Gert Wingårdh.

The extension will be visible from several principle angles. It challenges while at the same time giving something back to the city. With the tower and bridge facing south and the large sphere hovering at the very top, along with the groundbreaking technology that the extension will house, Universeum is creating a new landmark – not only in Gothenburg, but also in Sweden.

In the year that Universeum was completed, it was voted the most popular contemporary building in Sweden. It was also awarded Träpriset (Architecture in Wood Prize) in 2004.