Techmania Science Center

Techmania Science Center is a non-profit organisation established in 2005 by ŠKODA HODING a.s. and The University of West Bohemia with an objective to operate a modern science center in the city of Pilsen and thus motivate particularly young people to begin their career in science and technical fields. The science center was opened in November 2008. In November 2013 Techmania opened 3D planetarium, the first one in the Czech Republic. From the beginning Techmania is the leader in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education on the regional level and belongs to the top non-formal education institutions in the Czech Republic. Modern infrastructure, skilled professionals and involvement of key stakeholders of all sectors (education, enterprise, public administration) gives Techmania a great opportunity to participate in and influence education policies and strategies, not just regionally. One of the main goal is to strengthen link between formal and non-formal education, bringing schools, universities, companies and NGOs together and trying to empower science education in the Czech Republic. Techmania aims to approach wide public with innovative science education bringing awareness of the different aspects of science and technology via formal and informal teaching and learning. Innovation, forward-looking science education methods and making science attractive to youngsters are being focused very carefully. Exhibitions, educational programmes, workshops, experiment shows, popularization road-shows, public courses, speeches, conferences, science and media communication, teachers education and training, curriculum advocacy, best practices outreach. That is just a brief and definitely not-definite list of activities Techmania brings to life.