The Science and Technology Museum is a pleasant place for informal education, experimentation, cooperation, acquisition of knowledge, experience and entertainment. It operates on the University campus as a Laboratory of the School of Natural Sciences. It was officially founded in 2001 and opened to the public in 2009. It is addressed to the entire university community, as well as to any individual who would like to learn some aspects of science and technology in a simple and pleasant way.
At the STM there is a permanent exhibition entitled "Telecommunications in our lives" and also a number of temporary exhibitions are organized each year on topics related to science and technology, the environment and the relationship between science and art.
A significant number of seminars, informative educational workshops and entertainment events are organized each year on topics related to its permanent or temporary exhibitions, education, studies, innovation, and volunteering, often in collaboration with organizations of education, culture, science and technology, but also with the cooperation with other departments of the University. The Science and Technology Museum enables students not only to visit its exhibitions and attend its various activities but also to participate in the organization and implementation of temporary exhibitions, educational activities, events, and all its activities through volunteering, pedagogical competence and internship.
The main objectives of the University of Patras, Science and Technology Museum are:
- The connection of the University with society and the creation of a dialogue with it.
- The scientific and technological literacy of university and school students, teachers and society.
- The connection of the three levels of education.
- The dissemination of science to as many levels as possible.
- The public's contact with the progress of science and its latest achievements.
- Understanding science and technology issues in which the public is in daily contact with and ignores or would like to learn more of.
- The creation of an important educational tool for the teaching of the History of Science and Technology, enabling the public to gain experiences.
- Covering the shortage of Technical Museums in Greece and mainly in Western Greece.
The Science and Technology Museum deals with the acquisition, maintenance and study (recording, documentation, evaluation) of objects of Science and Technology that primarily concern the existing objects in the University area. These objects after being studied and combined, are stored, or exhibited in the Museum, to contribute to research, education and entertainment (according to the definition of the Museum given in Article 2, paragraph 1 of the Statute of the International Council of Museums of ICOM).
In detail, the main activities of the Science and Technology Museum for the public are:
- The permanent exhibition "Telecommunications in our lives"
- The temporary exhibitions
- Educational programs and guided tours for various audience groups
- Training days and seminars
- Informative and Entertaining events
- Networking with Schools-Thematic School networks in collaboration with innovative events of Primary and Secondary Education
- Panhellenic Competitions
- Other events
The research, education and other activities of the Museum are carried out in collaboration with the respective activities of the University and with other institutions of education, science, technology and culture.
