MISSION AND VISION
Mission
The mission of Science Museums is to create engaging, thought-provoking and authentic learning experiences about science aimed at children and young people. We communicate key areas of research and findings in natural and medical sciences from a cultural-historical perspective, making them relevant to children, young people and adults, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
Through exhibitions, workshops, guided tours, public lectures and active collecting, we make complex research and historical processes accessible, highlighting the university's role as an institution in society.
Exhibitions are developed with researchers and our target audience through co-creation. Through this collaborative approach, the museums help raise standards for research communication, particularly for children and young people, thereby strengthening science capital in society.
We collect, catalogue and preserve objects belonging to the museums' four collections: the History of Science Collection, the History of Medicine Collection, the University History Collection and the Botanical Collection. The Botanical Collection includes the Aarhus University Herbarium, which is not open to the public, and a living plant collection at the Greenhouses in the Botanical Garden, where admission is free.
Vision
The vision of Science Museums is to strengthen science capital in society and create exciting, engaging museum experiences that connect with our audience, particularly children and young people.
Science Museums focuses on innovative ways of communicating natural and medical sciences and technology, including making the museums' collections of objects and plants accessible to everyone.
Science Museums aims to set new standards for communicating current scientific topics and societal challenges from a cultural-historical perspective. Through exhibitions, collections, lectures and engaging face-to-face activities in inquiry-based learning environments, we aim to inspire scientific curiosity in every visitor.
Science Museums actively supports the university's efforts to attract new students, partly by focusing on educational activities for primary and lower secondary schools. The museums develop exhibitions together with university researchers and the target audience through co-creation.
Science Museums offers workshops, day visits and overnight experiences to school classes in collaboration with university departments. Our ambition is to provide children and young people with experiences that help shape their identities and values, presenting the university as a welcoming place they will want to return to.
About Science Museums in Aarhus
Science Museums includes the Ole Rømer Observatory, the Greenhouses in the Botanical Garden in Aarhus, the Steno Museum, the Herbarium and Public Lectures in Natural Science. Science Museums is part of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Aarhus University and is partly funded by the Faculty of Health.