From June 27 to June 29, 2023, an important scientific event took place for the fifth time – the World Congress of Latvian Scientists “Science for Latvia” (hereinafter referred to as the congress), where members of the Latvian science ecosystem met – Latvian and diaspora scientists, young scientists, students, entrepreneurs, international and local cooperation partners, representatives of the government, state administration and foreign representative offices. In the view of the Ministry of Education and Science, science centers in Latvia are also considered important members of the Latvian science ecosystem, which is why they were also approached to participate in the world-class event.
One of the science centers in Latvia – the Science and Education Innovation Center (ZIIC) of the Liepāja Municipality Education Department is located in Liepāja and specializes in four areas of activity. The center provides an opportunity to explore environmental sciences through biology, ecology and zoology-related classes, educational technologies through programmable devices and information technology tools. The direction of digital production is based on the operating principles of the international community Fab Lab, and as well there is a specialization in the direction of science theatre as a rare concept in Latvia and abroad – well-known natural science experiments in the world supplemented with the dimension of theatre art.
In addition, since 2020, the Center has also been implementing the project ” Development of the Innovation Centre in Liepaja City ” of the EEA/N grant program “Research and Education”, as part of which 14 (fourteen) interactive installations in environmental sciences were created, and the material and technical base for the creation of a digital production laboratory was purchased and implemented several interest and non-formal education programs. The project is implemented in order to promote the development of such knowledge, which in the future could contribute to the students’ career choice in one of the fields of STEM or environmental sciences.
On June 29, the Center invited not only every participant of the congress, but also the visitors of the National Library of Latvia to get an insight into how the results of digital production – small numerical computer program control (CNC) – equipment are created – printed circuit boards, compare hydraulics and pneumatics models and experience the underwater world in virtual reality, and gain conclusions about how household chemicals affect the water ecosystem.
The center has been significantly developed thanks to the participation within the project “Development of the Innovation Centre in Liepaja City” that is funded by the EEA/N grant programme “Research and Education”. Its total cost is EUR 986 049.00, of which EUR 754 327.40 is co-financing of the Norwegian Financial Instrument, EUR 133 116.60 is co-financed by the State budget of Latvia and EUR 98 605.00 by Liepaja City Municipality.
For additional information:
Liepaja Municipal Education department
Science and Education Innovation Centre (ZIIC)
Acting Manager
Kitija Kuduma
E-mail: kitija.kuduma@liepaja.edu.lv
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