This year’s event was organized as part of the celebrations marking the fifth anniversary of the first state-run Museum of Science of the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv. The theme — “Interactivity as a Contemporary Comprehensive Approach in Museum Pedagogy” — united both theorists and practitioners. Educators and museum representatives shared their experience in interactive learning within museum spaces, while researchers presented new methods and studies in the field of museum pedagogy.

“This event is dedicated to a special occasion — the fifth anniversary of our innovative educational space which, despite the challenges of wartime, continues to inspire and open new horizons for Ukrainian children,” noted Stanislav Dovhyi, President of the Junior Academy of Sciences, in his welcome speech. “Through expanding international cooperation and thanks to the support of our partners — Ecsite, ASTC, Simons Foundation, and other organizations worldwide — we are implementing initiatives aimed at increasing public engagement with science across Ukraine’s regions, opening new science centers and museums. Today, museums are living spaces for dialogue where new thinking and ideas are born.”

The importance of the topic and the event was emphasized by Valerii Bitaiev, First Vice President of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, and Maksym Halchenko, Director of the Institute of Gifted Child of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine. The discussion was moderated by Denys Svyrydenko, Professor and Head of the UNESCO Chair on Science Education at Dragomanov Ukrainian State University.

European insights into museum interactivity were presented by Sofia Lourenço, Head of the Exhibitions Department at the Pavilion of Knowledge in Lisbon, Portugal. In her presentation, “Hands on! Interactivity sparkling impact,” she discussed the process of developing and testing interactive exhibits, emphasizing the importance of empirical approaches and adapting exhibitions to audience needs.

Stephanos Cherouvis, Senior Project Manager at Ecsite (Brussels, Belgium), in his report “Museums as Interactive Testbeds for Science, Innovation, and Societal Reconstruction,” highlighted the strategic role of science museums in the coming decade as “critical infrastructure” for innovation, learning, and resilience. He noted that in Ukraine, museums can become “hubs of imagination for reconstruction”—spaces where citizens co-create sustainable visions of the future.

• Professor Serhii Rusakov (Dragomanov Ukrainian State University) explored the cultural methodology as an integrative foundation for museum pedagogy.
• Oksana Vozniuk, lecturer at the same university, shared examples of using virtual and interactive technologies in student learning.
• Professor Oleksii Karamanov (Ivan Franko National University of Lviv), presented research on the components that make the museum environment truly educational, holistic, and therapeutic.
• Olha Zheleznyk, a teacher from Lviv, shared her experience organizing interactive art history lessons in museum settings.
• Nataliia Pysarevska, Director of the State Polytechnic Museum at the National Technical University “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute,” showcased unique exhibits that present a comprehensive historical picture of the development of science and technology in Ukraine.
• Valeriia Lavrenko, Director of the State Aviation Museum named after Oleg Antonov, addressed the question, “How can we inspire children to love aviation in a country at war?” — demonstrating that, despite the massive size of the aircraft exhibits, they continue to appear at many educational and cultural events across the city.
• Serhii Kizyma, Director of the Bukovyna branch of the JAS, presented successful case studies of interactive approaches implemented at the Science Museum in Chernivtsi.

The advantages and versatility of interactive approaches were vividly demonstrated in a workshop by Mariia Dubrovа, Head of the Science Centers Development Department at the National Center “Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.” Participants explored connections between paintings, scents, and music; analyzed textures and materials in playful formats; and invented museum stories and exhibits — proving that genuine interaction can be created even in traditional museum spaces, often from almost nothing. All it takes is to begin.

The Junior Academy of Sciences has been organizing such events for six consecutive years in partnership with:

• Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine
• Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine
• National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
• National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine
• National Academy of Arts of Ukraine
• Institute of Applied Systems Analysis of the NAS of Ukraine
• UNESCO Chair on Science Education at Dragomanov Ukrainian State University

Video recording available.