More than just another touristic attraction

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More than just another touristic attraction
Center of Innovation, Torun, Poland

• Jan Iwaniszewski
• Programme Council of Center of Innovation
• and Institute of Physics, Nicolaus Copernicus
  University, Torun, Poland

Ecsite Annual Conference 2011, Warsaw, Poland,
26-28 May Session Hot scene in Eastern Europe,
26 May 2011, 13.45, blue room
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Torun is known for
birthplace of

• old recipe

Nicolaus Copernicus
gingerbread
ghotic monuments
view over Vistula river
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Science and its popularization
Torun
Nicolaus Copernicus University lectures,
competitions, workshops, lessons,
Kangaroo of mathematics
Planetarium
Forest School
Torun Festival of Science and Art
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Decisions
2006 decision of the City Council of Torun to
establish science centre localization
- former corn mill and granary (some 60-100 years
old) 2008 EU project for renovation of
postindustrial areas ERDF 2009 agreement with
the university on collaboration, Programme
Comitee Nov. 2010 City Council set up Center
of Innovation status of a cultural
institution carried out by the city Jan. 2011
beginning of rebuilding (till the end of
2012) May 2011 - competition for the director
Torun
openning middle of 2013
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The Centre

• total area 5000 m2
• exhibitions main 1500 m2 for children 300 m2
• workshops 500 m2
• dominant exhibit
• Foucault pendulum (35m)
• four main exibitions
• De revolutionibus
• River
• Energy
• Ideas
• exhibitions for children (3 rooms)

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De revolutionibus

• tribute to Copernicus and to the one of the
  greatest inventions of all time a wheel
• Solar System, day and night, seasons
• circular movement and inertial forces, Foucault
  pendulum, Coriolis cabin
• use of wheels, gears

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River

• a story on Vistula river from its springs up to
  the sea
• maquette of a river
• elements of geology, hydrology, landforms,
  typical
• ecosystems
• benefits of rivers
• dams, hydropower (water-mill), transport
• physics of flow, pumps

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Strength and energy

• on mediewal city walls and sources of energy
• kinds of physical energy, simple physical
  interactions
• sources of energy, ways of its receiving for
  applications, scientific foundations of the
  problems, comparison of different sources

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Ideas

• on inspiration, investigation and innovations
• brain, nervous system, sences, perception
• computers, programming
• mathematics, logic

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Children corners

• corner of an unknown world
• journey arond the world - landscapes, climates,
  animals, plants, monuments, ways of travel, etc.
• everydayness corner
• nature around us, domestic animals, cultivated
  plants, food and its preparation (baking
  gingerbread), craft, etc.
• corner of light and shape
• the exhibits and plays with geometry and light,
  variety of figures, mosaics, building
  constructions, light rays, mirrors, lenses,
  optical ilusions, etc.

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more than just another touristic attraction?
Does our center be something

• It depends mostly
• on the individuals
• working for it!