Welcome to the Whitby Wizard.
This is the quirkiest science centre museum in the U.K. It is inspired by the world famous Exploratorium in San Francisco and the Questacon Science Circus based in Canberra. The Whitby Wizard is a curious collection of exciting and educational hands-on exhibits, equally interesting to both adults and children.
Situated on the West Cliff, the Whitby Wizard is built and directed by Dag (pron. “darg”) Hagenaes-Kjelldahl, the Norwegian adventurer and educator. He has been a seaman, journalist, bush pilot, meteorologist and teacher. Dag started Norway’s first science centre, the Teknoteket, in 1986.
'Hands-on' and 'learning through participation' are important innovations within museum teaching. The Wizard's exhibits are truly interactive 'prototypes', most of them not to be seen anywhere else. The Whitby Wizard fills a new role in informal science education by encouraging the use of your five senses of smell, touch, hearing, vision and taste.
North Yorkshire’s new science centre in Whitby is inspired by Frank Oppenheimer's ground breaking ideas for the Exploratorium, which opened to the public in 1969. The three-dimensional interactive exhibits balance and complement the science curriculum. They cater to our natural need to touch and take part as we learn. Self-directed exploration of our environment is universally acclaimed as the most effective and rewarding way to learn, but in the school system nearly all learning has to be tutored for practical purposes. At the Wizard, however, everything is prepared for your self-guided journey through an attractive 'jungle' of challenges.
The Wizard's experiments are surprising and enjoyable challenges to your mind. If you want the kids to take an interest in science, an exciting family visit to the Wizard's science centre in Whitby could be well worth while.
