AHHAA

AHHAA
Science Centre AHHAA

AHHAA logo
Established 1 September 1997 (1997-09-01)
Location Tartu
Type Science museum
Founder City of Tartu and the University of Tartu
AHHAA

Science Centre AHHAA is the biggest science centre in Estonia and the Baltic states, located in Tartu. The main purpose of AHHAA is promoting science, technology and the scientific approach to solve common disadvantages.

Since 7 May 2011, Science Centre AHHAA has been located in a building in the centre of Tartu.

History

AHHAA was established as a project of the University of Tartu on 1 September 1997 and by 2004 it had developed into a foundation constituted by the city of Tartu and the University of Tartu.[1] From the very beginning, the head of Science Centre AHHAA was Tiiu Sild. In 2008, the AHHAA 4D Adventure Cinema was opened in the Lõunakeskus shopping centre in Tartu. In 2009, a branch office of Science Centre AHHAA was opened in Tallinn at the Freedom Square. On 7 May 2011 Science Centre AHHAA in Tartu opened the doors of its new, 11,156 m² building engineered by architects Vilen Künnapu and Ain Padrik in the heart of the city.

The activities of the Science Centre AHHAA Foundation are coordinated by a committee composed of Jarno Laur, Hannes Astok, Mart Noorma, Jaanus Karv, Mart Laidmets and Vallo Mulk.

Additionally, the practical aspects of the activities of the foundation are appraised by a science committee composed of Toivo Maimets, Per-Edvin Persson and others.

Planetarium

Science Centre AHHAA offers a view of the starry skies in a fully spherical hybrid planetarium (which means that there is a possibility to show the skies with both optical and digital projection, which can be displayed either separately or together).

Constructional and technical side

The uniqueness of AHHAA's planetarium lies in the fact that in addition to the ordinary view on the ceiling and the walls, the image of the skies in the planetarium of the centre also extends under the floor, which is the reason why the floor of the planetarium is made of glass.[2]

General

The AHHAA Planetarium belongs to two organisations:

4D Adventure Cinema

Science Centre AHHAA has a 4D Adventure Cinema, located in the Lõunakeskus shopping centre on the southern edge of Tartu.[3]

Events

The Science Centre AHHAA Foundation regularly organizes special events. Some of the most reputable events are listed below:

International representation

The Science Centre AHHAA Foundation participates in science festivals and fairs both in Estonia and abroad, its main “trade tricks” being the science theatre shows and various workshops. During the past few years Festival della Scienza and Perugia Science Fest[5] in Italy, Korea Science Festival[6] in South Korea, Moscow Science Festival[7] in Russia, Science Picnic in Poland and Science Festival Belgrade[8] in Serbia have been among the few places where Science Centre AHHAA has been represented.

Acknowledgements and credits

Science Centre AHHAA has been awarded with numerous prizes both for the building as well as for its intellectual achievements.

Donors and sponsors

The activities of the Science Centre AHHAA Foundation are funded and sponsored by many academic institutions but close-knit relationships have been established with collaboration partners from private and public sectors as well:

The Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, the City of Tartu, the University of Tartu, Haribo, Laima, AGA Estonia, Tallegg, Nordea Bank, the Environmental Investment Centre, The Rakvere Meat Factory, A.Le Coq Tartu Brewery.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to AHHAA.

Coordinates: 58°22′36″N 26°44′03″E / 58.376694°N 26.734098°E / 58.376694; 26.734098

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