Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre

Per-Edvin Persson
pelle@heureka
Heureka- Science Center
Finlandia

Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre, opened to the public in April, 1989. It immediately became one of the major attractions in Finland. Heureka has usually been number four in terms of attendance, and in independent quality surveys, usually number one or number two among charging leisure attractions in Finland. Since its opening, Heureka has been seen by 4.1 million visitors (annual average 297 000), 25 % of these being school children arriving in groups.

Abroad, Heureka’s exhibitions have been seen by 12 million visitors. The population of Finland is 5 million. Heureka is known for its highly interactive and popular science exhibitions. The contents development of these exhibitions is always done in close co-operation with the best available scientific expertise. In this way, the scientific contents of the exhibition is reliable and based on the newest knowledge in the area. In the exhibition planning, design and marketing aspects are very important, as well as the educational functions of the exhibition. The result is an attractive and intriguing set of exhibits that involves the visitor in active experimentation. In addition to the exhibitions, Heureka has a spectacular multimedia theatre (70 mm film, planetarium), school programmes and extensive public service programmes.

During its existence, Heureka has produced 30 different exhibitions with a total floor area > 20 000 m2. Of these, fifteen exhibitions have been shown abroad. Heureka’s exhibitions have been circulated in 22 countries in four continents. Heureka’s partners include Deutsches Museum (Munich), Palais de la Découverte (Paris), La Cité des sciences et de l’industrie (Paris), Museon (The Hague) and Experimentarium of Copenhagen. Heureka hosted the First Science Centre World Congress in June, 1996, with more than 500 participants from 48 countries.

Heureka is run by the Finnish Science Centre Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, with involvement by the entire Finnish scientific community, Finnish industry, and public administration. The annual operating budget is about 6 million euro, of which half is received as subsidies from the City of Vantaa and the Finnish Ministry of Education. The share of gate income is around 30 %.

The Heureka building has a floor area of 8300 m2. Outside, the science park Galilei covers 20 000 m2. Heureka has a staff of about 67 FTE, working in administration, contents development, design, workshop, education, theatre, visitor services and marketing.