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Vlasta Volak
CEO, Techmania Science Center, CZECH REPUBLIC

Bio:

As a first employee and CEO, I have developed with my team an institution with a yearly attendance of over 200,000 visitors. During the last 12 years, there have been over 1,2 million visitors. We have been running an exhibition area for small children called “Small Science” on more than 1.200 square meters for last 4 years and furthermore a kindergarten for 24 kids for last two years.

I have been a chair of the board of the Czech Association of Science Centers since its beginning in 2013. I have earned a Master’s in Education and I am focused on determining ways students can get skills needed for the 21st century through the cooperation of formal and informal education.

Abstract:

Techmania has one classroom (24 kids) of Kindergarten; in this program, the children attend Techmania every day from September to June except weekends. Techmania’s focus is on the development of movement, English as a second language, and polytechnic areas.

Furthermore, Techmania has a section or exhibition dedicated to the youngest kids; it is a learning space built on more than 1,000 m2. The idea behind the exhibition is that these young children can do something with their body (movement, balance, etc.), their senses (listening, touching, seeing, etc.), and create something by hands (ex: painting).