VilVite Brings the World of the Oceans to Life
The “Planet Ocean” exhibition at VilVite Science Centre in Bergen invites visitors to explore the ocean and water interactively. // Photo: VilVite / Tove Lise Mossestad
(eap) The VilVite science centre in Bergen, Norway, which welcomes around 125,000 guests annually, has expanded its offering with the immersive exhibition “Planet Ocean”. It aims to convey the importance of the oceans for life on Earth in an accessible and interactive way. Through playful elements, technology, movement and sensory stimuli, guests can explore the many different dimensions of the oceans.
“Jellyfish Climber” lets young guests climb between glowing jellyfish and use their whole body to explore life beneath the surface. // Photo: VilVite / Tove Lise Mossestad
Planet Ocean is aimed particularly at children aged six to twelve and their families and comprises 13 completely new interactive stations. Young explorers can, for example, climb through glowing “jellyfish”, discover through play how the movement of water can be harnessed to generate energy, or compose their own ocean music using authentic sound recordings from the deep sea.
“The ocean is essential for all life on Earth, yet for many children it can feel distant and abstract. With Planet Ocean, we want to make the ocean tangible through play, exploration and immersive experiences that spark curiosity and build understanding,” explains Marte Mjånes Torkildsen, marine biologist, curator and thematic lead for Planet Ocean at VilVite.
Where does the salmon fillet in the store come from? “Salmon Race” lets kids learn about salmon and race their friends. // Photo: VilVite / Tove Lise Mossestad
Led by Project Manager Inger Høstmark, Planet Ocean was developed by an interdisciplinary VilVite team together with numerous partners from Norway and abroad. Dutch specialist Bruns was responsible for the exhibition’s physical installations. Fellow Dutch design studio NorthernLight developed the graphic design and visual concept.
Belgian company Create contributed the software, lighting design and further technical solutions that enable visitors to explore, interact and learn through technology. Together with VilVite, British company Science Projects redesigned and further developed the “Hydropower” and “The Water Cycle” installations for Planet Ocean. ■
