Building young scientists

The centre is located at Nanmeebooks headquarters, which has been publishing books for youngsters for almost 20 years and is committed to developing the kingdom’s scientific strengths.

Inspired by science museums in many countries, Nanmee set out to build a 360-degree learning centre that would be easily accessible by public transport and offer a broad diversity of science activities suitable for all age groups.

“We have provided a wide selection of science books for young people for two decades and we constantly organise scientific activities and camps too,” deputy director Kim Chongsatitwatana says. “But we felt it was important to provide facilities where children had a chance to do science experiments of their own. To ensure as wide a range of interests as possible, we’re collaborating with the Phanomenta Science Centre in Germany and Gakken in Japan.”

The learning centre covers a massive 500-square-metres of space and is divided into three zones. The Kiddy Intelligence Centre is a playground for children aged three to six and features four stations stacked with creative books, games and toys for physical, emotional and social development. 

Here, the kids can book a ringside seat for a programme of fables at “The Reading Train”, or enjoy playing in the “We Play We Learn” area with colourful toys from Taiwan.

To encourage imagination, part of the area is designed to resemble a miniature forest, where the children can cross a bridge, climb a fixed ladder and even hunt on a trail that leads to a treasure trove. 

“All of the toys are inspired by nature and come in vivid colours, which helps develop their fine motor skills,” Kim says. “Corners 6Q Up and Little Scientists House offer activities that help develop the intelligence, emotional, moral, adversity, creativity and play quotients.”

Next door is the Hands-on Science Centre, a laboratory set-up in collaboration with Germany’s Phanomenta Science Centre and fitted with 26 experimental stations decked out with equipment in shocking pink. It’s a great place to learn about refraction, resonance, momentum, electrical production and gravitation. There are no instructions but a question board encourages young users to find the answers by themselves. You can count your shadows – lots of them - in a mirror at the “Kaleidoscope” and “The Room of Mirrors” stations. 

Future engineers can learn what the future holds by building a wooden bridge at “Walk Across the Arch” or study electrical production at the B Grimm Power City and Hand Battery stations.

The Stereo Hearing station teaches the physics of sound while Resonance Tubes plays around with frequency.

“We want children to conduct their own experiments and resolve problems by themselves,” says Kim. “We’re different from other centres. We give children freedom to explore everything in a space where creativity is encouraged. There are no descriptions or instructions of how to play; they have to find their own way.” 

The Science Experiment Classroom is operated in association with renowned Japanese educational toy manufacturer Gakken and offers one-day camps comprising workshops on different aspects of science for children age six to 18.

“Our teachers are trained by an expert team from Gakken and our innovative tools are imported from Japan. It’s playful and useful, as the youngster can undertake 30 experiments per topic.”

And there are many topics from which to choose, among them amazing air, freezing point, science in the kitchen, the secret of magnets, miracle of voice, air pressure, vibrations and more. The price is Bt1,600 including a box of toys, lunch and snack.

 

EXPLORING  THE SECRETS

Nanmeebooks Learning Centre is at 11 Soi Sukhumvit 31. It’s open Tuesday to Friday from 9am to noon, for student groups by appointment and on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4pm.

Admission is Bt30 for children and Bt50 for adults. For more details, call (02) 662 3000 extension 1, 5226 or visit www.NameebooksLearningCenter.com.