Science moves into a Vaasa shopping centre – Energy Week invests in the next generation

From 16–19 March 2026, a pop‑up space in the Espen shopping centre in Vaasa is transformed into a hands‑on science venue where children from preschool to grade nine get to test their senses, balance and curiosity through a variety of experiments.

The room buzzes with activity as immersion class 5B from Keskuskoulu in Vaasa steps inside. Some pupils try to build a pyramid out of four colourful wooden blocks, while another compares the contents of two school desks to figure out which items differ. In one corner, an exercise bike is connected to halogen and LED lights that glow brighter the faster you pedal. And in the middle of the room awaits a classic challenge: what does it actually feel like to sit on a seat covered in sharp nails?

For four days, school classes and preschool groups get to explore the experiments – and interest has been high. All available time slots were booked quickly.

“There has long been a wish to offer science activities for children and young people in Vaasa. Last year I got in touch with Göran Häggblom from the association Kaboom, and we quickly realised that Energy Week would be the perfect opportunity to test this kind of concept,” says Josefin Stolpe, Project Manager for Sustainable Development and Circular Economy at Vasek.

Göran Häggblom explains that he dreams of one day establishing a permanent science centre in Vaasa. “Between 2014 and 2019 we travelled around with our mobile science centre, but the pandemic put an end to that. Luckily, all the experiments were saved, and those are the ones we’re using here this week,” he says. He adds that schools can once again book visits from Kaboom.

On Saturday 21 March from 10:00 to 16:00, the pop‑up room in Espen will also be open to the public.

Energy Week Next Generation is organised by the City of Vaasa, Espen, Kaboom rf, Green Skills Vaasa/Vasek, Novia University of Applied Sciences, the Ostrobothnia LUMA Centre/University of Vaasa, Skolresurs/Åbo Akademi, Vamia and Vaasa 4H. The event is financed by the City of Vaasa and the Ostrobothnia Chamber of Commerce.

EnergyWeek is an annual international event that brings together energy experts from around the world. The focus is on renewable energy, smart energy, energy storage and clean gases – as well as digitalisation, battery technology, circular economy, future smart cities and energy regulation.

Caption: Sanna Kangasniemi/Vamia, Josefin Stolpe/Vasek, Göran Häggblom/Kaboom, Jenny Rönnqvist‑Norrby/Novia, Jan Holmgård/Skolresurs and Johan Ångerman/Kaboom. Photo: Linda Granback.