Idea & Concept

The Science Center idea was born over 40 years ago. The Exploratorium in San Francisco developed the first hands-on exhibits offering visitors an interesting, playful approach to the natural sciences and thus to material often perceived to be dry-as-dust. Since then, this mode of imparting knowledge is being utilized worldwide in museums and specially designed science centers. The mission:

• Getting across that the natural sciences can be lots of fun,
• Staging an educational experience involving all the senses,
• Taking a learning-by-doing approach, and
• Dispensing with all the moralizing and pressure to perform.

Almost 20 years ago, the idea of setting up just such a hands-on facility in Upper Austria was born among members of the Federation of Upper Austrian Industry, and the science center concept was presented to the province’s governor. The Federation of Upper Austrian Industry continues to support the project to this day.

It wasn’t long before this inchoate plan began to assume more concrete dimensions among various circles in the City of Wels. The first creative ideas for an Energyland project were supported by Erich Rondonell and Johann Grassegger of E-Werk Wels, Kurt Leeb of Mea Solar, Gerhard Zettler (then with Wels Strom), Wels Mayor Peter Koits and Deputy Mayor Hermann Wimmer. Leo Ludick got on board. Their ideas brought forth more detailed conceptions about the Science Center’s content: exhibits and experiments having to do with renewable energy that would

• Reinforce a sensitive way of dealing with energy,
• Get locals enthused about energy from the region,
• Demonstrate that environmental and technical careers have great future promise in the Province of Upper Austria,
• Make institutions offering scientific and technical training more attractive, and finally
• Endow Upper Austria with an interesting tourist attraction.

The steps necessary to get from concept to implementation were taken over the following years.