Reopening of Nowon-gu Astronomical Science Museum Permanent Exhibition Hall 'Big History Hall'

From the 16th, Nowon Astronomical Science Museum’s 3rd Floor Big History Hall Reopens After Remodeling

Exhibits Focused on Immersive and Experiential Displays to Stimulate Curiosity and Imagination of Children and Adolescents

Nowon Equipped with Facilities Supporting Experiential Learning Including VR Space Experience, Planetarium, and Astronomical Telescopes

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) has reopened the Nowon Astronomical Science Museum on the 16th, featuring primarily experiential exhibits.

This remodeling was carried out to install new exhibits showcasing the latest trends in space science in the permanent exhibition hall Big History Hall on the 3rd floor and to improve the aging environment. After about a month of pilot operation since February, normal operations began on the 16th.

The newly transformed Big History Hall is broadly divided into corners on cosmic history, Earth history, life history, and human history. It is equipped with various exhibits to help visitors understand scientific principles and the development history centered on the formation of the universe and the birth of life and humans.

A distinctive feature of the newly arranged exhibition room is that it moves away from exhibits that are only visual, planning displays that stimulate visitors’ curiosity and imagination through visual, auditory, and tactile senses.

At the entrance of the exhibition hall, a curved screen is installed to display messages that run through the theme of the exhibition, providing immersion. Along the walls of the exhibition hall, timeline graphics are installed to present the history of the universe and the evolution of life forms in a storytelling style, delivering scientific information.

The representative exhibits, considered the core of this Big History Hall renovation, are two large table screens located in the center of the exhibition space. Using technologies such as motion recognition sensors, these mission-type exhibits allow visitors to manipulate the exhibits themselves and learn the scientific principles of “The Birth of Stars and Galaxies” and “The Birth of Earth and Moon.”

Additionally, there are experiential exhibits using various devices such as “Fundamental Particles Discovered by Particle Accelerators,” “Formation of 118 Elements,” and “We Who Came from Space.” Visitors can also see fossils ranging from the Precambrian era to the Cenozoic era, some of which can be touched and observed directly.

Finally, after viewing, visitors can leave messages along with their photos on a projector screen and kiosk, recording their impressions and preserving memories through a digital guestbook.

The exhibition hall operates from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Admission fees are 1,000 KRW for children and adolescents (ages 6?19) and 2,000 KRW for adults. Children under 5 years old, seniors over 65, national merit recipients, and persons with disabilities are admitted free of charge.

Opened in 2017, the Nowon Astronomical Science Museum spans from basement level 1 to the 6th floor. It offers a book caf? on the 1st floor, an auditorium and science classrooms on the 2nd floor, the Big History Hall on the 3rd floor, the Cosmos Hall and planetarium on the 4th floor, and astronomical observation rooms on the 5th and 6th floors, providing experiential learning opportunities for local children and adolescents.

Except for experiential facilities in the permanent exhibition halls on the 3rd and 4th floors, some programs such as night observation and solar observation require prior reservation through the Nowon Astronomical Science Museum website.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “We have newly arranged exhibits that can stimulate our children’s cosmic imagination and infinite curiosity,” adding, “We will continue to operate various experiential programs so that diverse learning needs can be met nearby without having to go far.”

Seongdong-gu Opens Specialized Library for People with Developmental Disabilities

‘Wagle Wagle Library’ for People with Developmental Disabilities Opens on the 15th and Begins Full Operation

Ondol Floor Installed and 1,000 Specialized Books Provided to Create a Library Where Running and Loud Voices Are Allowed

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced on the 15th the opening of the ‘Wagle Wagle Library,’ a specialized library where people with developmental disabilities can freely use the facilities.

At Seongdong-gu’s ‘Wagle Wagle Library,’ anyone can read books while making noise and running around. Visitors can lie down on the floor and read books loudly while sharing their thoughts or feelings. This is because the library is designed for people with developmental disabilities to use freely.

The library, located on the 2nd floor of a building in Doseon-dong with an area of 66㎡, was created to meet the needs of people with developmental disabilities and borderline intellectual disabilities who are slow learners, but it is open to everyone. It houses about 1,000 books including artificial, tactile, and sound books composed of short sentences or simple structures, educational books for parents and guardians, and general books. Additionally, an ondol (heated floor) was installed so visitors can freely lie down, and the library plans to operate various reading programs and host visits from developmental disability organizations.

In fact, libraries are often an insurmountable barrier for people with developmental disabilities who find it difficult to visit typical public places. A district official said, “We wanted to provide slow learners with the opportunity to freely use the library and learn library culture,” adding, “What they need is not a children’s library with colorful colors or cartoon characters, but a space where non-disabled people can understand people with disabilities and coexist.”

The library will operate from Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM, excluding legal holidays and weekends, with plans to extend operating hours depending on usage.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “The library needed by people with developmental disabilities is comfortable and free but not separated from non-disabled people,” adding, “I hope it becomes a special space for them to adapt to society and become members of the community. We will continue to provide multifaceted and active support for the happy and satisfying lives of people with disabilities.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.