Gemini Park in Bielsko-Biała, together with UBB and the Bielsko-Biała City Hall, offers a unique educational and entertainment proposition for the Silesian Voivodeship for the third time. Science Point LAB is a brand-new version of this unique nationwide initiative of an open science center in a retail facility. The project gains momentum year after year, pleasantly surprising with new ideas and formats that encourage both young and old fans of fun to expand their knowledge. This year, the main idea was to bring the fascinating world of scientists and their laboratories closer to the public.
Science Point LAB features a brand-new formula, including three puzzle rooms inspired by the popular concept of escape rooms, enjoyed by teenagers and adults alike. Each room relates to a different scientific area and has a unique storyline. Visitors can, for instance, repair a malfunctioning spaceship using artificial intelligence, witness a car accident and test their first aid knowledge, or try to solve optical puzzles in an abandoned laboratory. The organizers aimed to encourage not only children but also teenagers to explore the mysterious world of science.
– Although we set the bar very high in the previous edition of Science Point, I wouldn’t call this year’s Science Point LAB just a mini but a full-fledged science and fun center. In Gemini Park in Bielsko-Biała, we have, among other things, three puzzle rooms inspired by the escape room formula, interactive exhibits, for the first time in our city, from leading science centers in Poland, and even a real laboratory. Here, everyone will find something of interest, and we prove that a shopping center is a space combining education, culture, and fun at the highest level, as well as a great place to spend free time – says Marcin Ochmański, Marketing and PR Director at Gemini Park Bielsko-Biała.
In the open area of Science Point LAB, a real laboratory has been created where children can feel like scientists, e.g., testing pH with litmus paper, using microscopes, and equipment necessary for experimenting. The third edition also features surprising exhibitions. One of them, “Don’t hesitate – have fun!” consists of 12 interactive stations explaining basic physics laws, and “ReBuild” from the Centre of Modernity “Młyn Wiedzy” develops creativity and manual skills. For the youngest, a workshop space called the Young Scientist’s Laboratory has been created, with fascinating shows taking place five times a day and the opportunity to conduct their own experiments. Additionally, everyone can demonstrate their observational skills in the Family Puzzle Zone, where by completing unique tasks together, they acquire passwords to solve a scientific crossword puzzle. All attractions are free and have unlimited access, only the puzzle rooms require prior reservation.
As part of the Science Point LAB project, there will also be four multi-day scientific events led by animators from leading edu-play centers, such as the Copernicus Science Center in Warsaw, the Centre of Modernity “Młyn Wiedzy” in Toruń, and “Experyment” in Gdynia. The first of these events were held in the opening weekend of Science Point LAB in collaboration with animators from the CNK in Warsaw, who brought chests full of puzzles. During the first weekend, Science Point LAB was visited by nearly 3000 enthusiasts of science and fun.
– Science Point LAB is a unique project that has successfully promoted science through play for three years. Its location is no coincidence – thanks to cooperation with Gemini Park Bielsko-Biała, our science center is open and accessible to everyone, and with each edition, it is visited by more and more people of all ages. It’s extraordinary that in Bielsko-Biała, one project has united a university, a shopping center, and the City Hall for the benefit of the local community – emphasizes Małgorzata Zarębska, Project Coordinator at the University of Bielsko-Biała.
The Science Point project is a permanent element of the CSR strategy of Gemini Park Bielsko-Biała and an example of effective cooperation between a commercial facility, a university, and the local government. The previous edition, Science Point 2.0, attracted 35,000 visitors in just under three months and was recognized by the industry, winning the “CSR Action and Strategy of the Year” award in the PRCH Awards competition.
