Through play, experiments and practical exercises, school pupils get motivated to study science subjects.
Former minister of education and research Øystein Djupedal (centre) and StatoilHydro research head Morten Loktu (right) watch Carl Edvard Stoum Skånøy (left) demonstrating a CO2 test. (Photo: Kari Dahl)
The new room is a state-of-the-art arena for teaching science to school pupils aged 13-15. It is a unique educational concept which combines practical experiments with report-writing and an engaging story of energy and social responsibility.
The Newton Energy Room project was performed by the First Scandinavia foundation in collaboration with the Trondheim local authority, the Science Centre and the NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology.
A dedicated Newton teacher with responsibility for tuition has also been appointed by the local authority.
"The Newton Energy Room helps make energy and technology come alive to the pupils," says Morten Loktu, StatoilHydro's senior vice president for research.
"They get to take part in interactive experiments within traditional energy production and they get to make energy from renewable resources."
Mr Loktu says that in the Newton Energy Room the pupils learn more about how the energy picture looks today and how fossil fuels, along with renewable energy sources, will contribute to securing future energy supplies.
"We can arouse an interest in science subjects in this room. Talents can be developed and heroes created."