Go to main content
English
NLEN
Home

Research

How do people learn about science and technology? For nearly 20 years, NEMO Science Museum has been building its expertise on scientific interests and visitor experiences. Research is central to our work, ranging from scientific studies to practical applications, often carried out with national and international partners and supported by an endowed chair. By piloting new programmes with visitors, facilitating research in the museum and turning insights into action, NEMO stays at the forefront of innovation.

The NEMO way

At NEMO, learning means exploring, testing your curiosity, playing and discovering things for yourself. Visitors learn by doing, experiencing, watching, feeling and listening. We invite everyone to discover and explore who they are and the world around them, in a playful and interactive environment grounded in real science. That’s learning the NEMO way. We know what works, thanks to our own research and years of practical experience. NEMO even has its own professor studying how people make sense of science.

Participate in scientific research

At NEMO, everyone can be a test subject in scientific research, getting a firsthand look at how science works while actively helping it move forward. When research meets the public, both benefit: science gains fresh perspectives and people connect with research in real and tangible ways.

  • Research & Development

    NEMO Research & Development breaks new ground in science learning. Researchers from the University of Amsterdam investigate how parents and children talk to one another as they visit the museum, while NEMO’s employees interact with visitors to test new concepts for exhibitions and activities.

    More about Research & Development

  • Science Live

    Science Live is NEMO’s innovative research programme where visitors are invited to take part in scientific research. Scientists working at the museum are keen to find subjects of all ages and from all backgrounds for their research. Children and adults can take part as test subjects, depending on the nature of the research.

    More about Science Live

  • Humania

    The Humania exhibition offers visitors hands-on opportunities to engage with and support active research. By participating in experiments and tests in museum exhibitions, you contribute valuable data to studies on behaviour, cognition and health. These fun and thought-provoking tests, which have been created by various universities, aim to uncover insights into human personality, emotion recognition and belief patterns, among other things.

    Discover the Humania exhibition

  • Dialogue programmes

    In collaboration with partners including the Meertens Institute and the Rathenau Institute, NEMO Kennislink bridges the gap between scientific research and everyday life. Dialogue, play and storytelling encourage reflection, critical questions and mutual understanding. The dialogues provide valuable input for scientists, policymakers and science communication.

    Go to NEMO Kennislink

Agenda

Researching the collection

NEMO curates a multifaceted collection of approximately 20,000 technology objects. From tie warmers to modems, each object highlights the hidden role of engineering and technology in the world around us. In the depot, NEMO examines how the devices work, how they have been used over the years and how best to conserve them. This knowledge helps us deepen our understanding of the devices as well as share stories about technology with everyone who visits.

Journalism as a source of research

NEMO Kennislink writes about science and research, and also actively engages in research itself. This includes research into article recommendations on the website (Responsible Recommender Systems), behaviour in online comment sections (Who is the Troll?) and the role of journalism in scientific projects such as The DNA Dialogues. Through these studies, we gain valuable insights that enhance science communication, guide journalistic decisions and deepen the relationship between science and the public.

More information