Have you already visited any of Latvia's innovation centers? Within the framework of the EEA and Norwegian financial instrument program, innovation centers have been established in four municipalities - Liepāja, Daugavpils, Cēsis and Ventspils - to promote the development and popularization of STEM knowledge in cooperation with partners from donor countries. Innovation centers create new education and training programs for teachers, students and pupils, promoting cooperation between schools, universities, scientific institutions and the working environment. During the congress, in the orangery of National Library of Latvia, it will be possible to get acquainted with all four centers - to find out the answers to interesting questions, as well as to participate in various activities.

 

Ventspils Science Centre VIZIUM

The task of Ventspils Science Centre VIZIUM is to educate children and youth about STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – using exhibitions, creative workshops and science shows. 

VIZIUM is like a future city, where more than 80 interactive and educational exhibits, including creative workshops and science shows, offer to learn science and find out about such topics as physics and mathematics, modern technology and programming, healthy lifestyle, human and self-exploration, geography etc. 

The mission of the Science Centre is to invite and motivate everyone to be interested in, explore and gain knowledge in STEM field, replenishing the formal education with exciting and interactive world exploring experience.

On June 28, 10:00-14:00 Visitors will have the opportunity to walk in virtual reality and control a computer game with their own body. Two creative workshops will be offered, such as "Edison's light bulb", where you can connect your own light bulb using graphite and a battery and repeat the working principle of an Edison light bulb. On the other hand, in the "Fruit piano" workshop, it will be possible to find out how different fruits or other objects can or cannot conduct electrical impulses. If you connect the electrical circuit correctly, the fruits will act like piano keys. 

 

Space Exploration Center

The aim of the Space Exploration Center is to create interest in the STEM fields of study among young people and get to know their connection with the rapidly growing space industry. In order to achieve the set goal, the center has defined three target groups - the learner, the teacher and the family. A separate offer has been created for each of the target groups. Lessons linked to the learning standard for students, current affairs in the world and their connection with innovative pedagogical methods for teachers and meaningful, educational time spent for the family.

The center offers educational exposition, classrooms, educational programs for pedagogues and students, as well as a laboratory and activities for all target groups for the realization of the cognitive process. The exposition of the center will include a story and activities about the independent aspiration of mankind to explore new horizons and the necessary resources.

During the Congress on June 28, 10:00-14:00, there will be a unique opportunity to be one of the first to get acquainted with the Cēsis Space Exploration Center even before its opening!

 

Science and Education Innovation Center

The Science and Education Innovation Centre is located in Liepāja and specializes in four areas of activity. The centre provides opportunities for exploring environmental sciences through biology, ecology, and zoology-related activities, educational technology through programmable devices and information technology tools. The digital fabrication direction is based on the principles of the international Fab Lab community, and the specialization in science theater is a rarely encountered concept in Latvia and abroad, combining well-known natural science experiments with the dimension of theatrical art.

On June 29, 10:00-14:00 at the Science and Education Innovation Center's stand, everyone is invited to get an insight into the results of digital manufacturing small-scale computer numerical control (CNC) devices - printed circuit boards, compare hydraulic and pneumatic models, experience the underwater world in virtual reality, and draw conclusions about how household chemicals affect water ecosystems. 

 

Daugavpils Innovation Centre

Daugavpils Innovation Centre is an educational institution based on the competence approach, which promotes the development of knowledge, acquisition of skills and career choice in the fields of STEM and entrepreneurship. Interactive expositions, lessons and activities are held here, which allow to see and understand physics, chemistry, biology and other sciences in a way that gives visitors the opportunity to understand world processes in a simple way.

The activities of the Innovation Centre contribute to an integrated world and self-exploration and stimulate interest in exact sciences and their correlation with everyday life.

The Innovation Centre is a new learning environment for everyone, where you can experiment, research, create innovative solutions, develop entrepreneurship skills, connect learning content with real life and digital environment, using a co-creation space, a co-creation laboratory, educational exhibits and installations.

At the World Congress of Latvian Scientists, on June 29, 12:00-14:00 together with the Daugavpils Innovation Center, all interested will learn how human nutrition habits and the amount of generated waste affect climate change in the world.