Naukove Mistechko "Nova Enerhiya"

In the heart of the Prykarpattia region, in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk, lies a unique space for researchers of all ages—"Nova Enerhiya" Science City. This is the first interactive science museum in Western Ukraine, spanning an area of over 400 square meters. Here, science stops being a boring theory from textbooks and turns into an exciting adventure where every exhibit can and should be touched.

Nova Enerhiya Science Town. Иллюстрация. Источник: Kupi.com AI

The museum is based on the ground floor of King Danylo University and serves as a modern educational platform. The primary focus here is on energy, innovation, and sustainable development. It is a place where complex physical processes are explained through play and personal experience, making it a must-visit for family vacations and school trips.

The special feature of "Nova Enerhiya" is that most of the objects presented here—from bicycle generators to wind station models—were created by local scientists and students. A team of PhDs and postgraduate students has turned the museum into a safe space for discovery, where high technology exists alongside fundamental laws of nature, presented in an accessible and spectacular form.

To clarify details for group visits or to book a science show, we recommend contacting the administration in advance. The museum's specialists are always ready to provide consultations on educational programs and energy efficiency.

The main rule of this place is to interact with everything you see. Here, you don't just look at instruments; you can literally generate electricity yourself using a bicycle generator or a muscle energy generator. Visitors are invited to visually study how sunlight and wind are converted into current by working with interactive models of solar panels and windmills.

Guests are particularly thrilled by demonstrations of physical phenomena: here you can touch a "plasma ball," study how a Wimshurst machine works, or see the famous Tesla coil. The latter generates some of the longest lightning bolts in the country, turning the laws of electrodynamics into a spectacular light show. For those interested in the future, there is a zone with 3D printers where you can watch the process of creating objects from plastic in real-time.

In addition to the permanent exhibition, the science city is famous for its show programs. At "ALLchemistry," the audience is shown how to extract iron at extreme temperatures, while the "Sixth Element" show features experiments with liquid nitrogen, concluding with a chance to taste ice cream made right before your eyes. For children, there are special programs using LEGO and Horizon construction sets to model environmentally friendly energy sources.

The interactive space is located at 35 Yevhena Konovaltsia Street, directly within the King Danylo University building. This is in the central part of the city, making it easy to reach by both private car and public transport.

If you plan to travel by public transport, use the trolleybuses or buses that stop at "University of Oil and Gas" or directly at "Konovaltsia". From the stops, it is about a 5–10 minute walk to the entrance of the science city. The journey from the railway station by public transport takes approximately 15–20 minutes.

For those who prefer comfort, a taxi is always available from anywhere in the city center. The ride will be short and budget-friendly. Drivers should note that parking spaces near the university may be limited during school hours, so it's better to plan your visit for the first half of the day or the weekend.

The history of this unusual place began in 2016. "Nova Enerhiya" started as an ambitious social startup by a group of young scientists from the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas (IFNTUNG). Inspired by interactive centers abroad, the initiators from the "Bureau for Development of Innovative Technologies" NGO decided to create the first such platform in the west of the country.

The official opening took place on September 21, 2016. From the very beginning, the project aimed to popularize science among children and youth. Remarkably, almost all the initial exhibits—bicycle generators, solar panel models, and wind station models—were developed and assembled by hand by the museum team rather than purchased from abroad.

In its first five years of operation, the museum welcomed over 85,000 visitors, most of whom were children. This confirmed the immense interest of residents and city guests in an interactive learning format. In 2022, marking its sixth anniversary, the science city moved to a new location—on the ground floor of King Danylo University—which allowed them to update the exhibition and make it even more accessible.

Today, a team of more than 30 specialists, including doctors and candidates of sciences, works on the project's development. They continue to create unique new objects, such as the "Physics and Illusions" exhibition, proving that modern science in Ukraine can be bright, lively, and incredibly interesting for everyone.

To do more than just look at the exhibits and have enough time to experiment with each of them, set aside at least 1.5–2 hours for your visit. A standard tour with a demonstration of how the main devices work takes about an hour, after which visitors are traditionally given time to explore the space on their own.

If you plan to attend one of the famous science shows (such as the Tesla Energy Show) or participate in a workshop, you should add another 30–45 minutes to your main time. For families with inquisitive children or organized groups, planning a visit of up to 3 hours is optimal to ensure the experience is complete and unhurried.

The science city is usually open to visitors throughout the week, though the schedule may vary slightly. On weekdays (Monday–Friday), the museum welcomes guests from 09:00 to 17:00. On weekends (Saturday and Sunday), the doors are open from 11:00 to 15:00.

Before planning your trip, we strongly recommend checking for the latest information on the official website or the project's social media pages, as working hours may be adjusted for special events, roadshows, or holidays.

Ivano-Frankivsk is a city with a compact and very cozy center, so a visit to the science city can easily be combined with exploring other interesting sites. A walk around the neighborhood will allow you to switch from the world of high technology to the city's historical atmosphere.

Within walking distance are the main architectural symbols and modern entertainment areas that will be of interest to both adults and children.