- The collaboration between institutions and the private sector has promoted the new center, located in the former Cosmocaixa
- It houses the largest collection of scientific and technological heritage and various activities for social participation
- The exhibition, with 3,000 m2 and 500 pieces, opens its doors starting tomorrow and admission is free
The Vice President of the Government, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, the Minister of Economy and Competitiveness, Luis de Guindos, and the Mayor of Alcobendas, Ignacio García de Vinuesa, today inaugurated the new headquarters of the National Museum of Science and Technology (MUNCYT) in Alcobendas (Madrid).
The agreement between the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, the City Council of Alcobendas and the Obra Social “la Caixa” has allowed the museum to be moved from its previous location, in a building of the Madrid Railway Museum, to a space that allows exhibiting a sample much more extensive in the collection of scientific and technological heritage. MUNCYT is, therefore, an example of the importance of collaboration between institutions and with the private sector.
The Alcobendas building of the MUNCYT, whose headquarters is in La Coruña, is an open, dynamic and innovative social center that aims to bring science closer to society. For this, it has two tools: the museum space itself, which will bring together the most relevant national scientific heritage, and a program of activities to invite social participation in science, from camps and workshops that encourage curiosity and interest of Children to scientific meetings and congresses.
The building – which hosted Cosmocaixa – has been ceded by the town hall of Alcobendas. It has the financial support of the Obra Social "la Caixa", which will allocate 1.8 million euros over the next three years to enhance the programming and exhibitions of the new center. La Caixa has also transferred part of the content that was exhibited in the permanent room of the previous center and will offer its traveling exhibitions, aimed at promoting and disseminating scientific knowledge.
The new headquarters has more than 3,000 mtwo of exhibition that house more than 500 pieces of our historical and scientific heritage, as well as more than 2,000 mtwo of classrooms that will be used for workshops and educational activities.
The museum opens its doors with a temporary exhibition, “Biotechnology. Quality of life ”, in commemoration of the Year of Biotechnology in Spain. The objective of this exhibition is to bring biotechnological knowledge and its multiple applications to everyday life in a simple, pleasant and rigorous way. It places special emphasis on the research carried out in Spain in this area.
The museum will open its doors from tomorrow, December 12. Access is free. On Saturday and Sunday the first activity will take place: A “Wikimaratón”, a workshop aimed at increasing the content and quality of information about Spanish scientists, technologists and innovators, and increasing the number of editors in our languages on Wikipedia.
More information on the MUNCYT website: www.muncyt.es
