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The Rashi Foundation has developed the concept and initiated the construction of a state-of-the-art science park in the heart of Be'er Sheva – a center for innovative, quality science education programs that whet the appetite for science and make it accessible and fascinating to all.
Since its founding 60 years ago, the State of Israel has become a global leader in many fields of advanced technology. In order to retain this position, strategic and focused efforts must be made. In particular, the country's most important natural asset – the minds and talents of its younger generation – must be cultivated both for the sake of their personal fulfillment and advancement, and for the sake of the nation's economic stability and prosperity.
The Israeli government is well aware of this challenge and in December 2005, passed a resolution supporting the establishment of a Science Park in Be'er Sheva.
In 1997, Rashi joined with the Ministry of Education to establish the Madarom Project to strengthen science and technology education in the southern region. Over the past decade, Madarom has leveled the playing field for children in the south by equipping schools with laboratories, introducing science courses in high schools, preparing students for matriculation, guiding gifted student towards competitive university studies, and training teachers for new and demanding science curricula. The project has promoted informal science education by opening after school activities in dozens of communities, including community internet centers, math clubs, science summer camps, and a new scientific youth movement.
The new Science Park will provide a permanent home for the Madarom offices and for the continued coordination and development of its activities. In addition, the science education centre will promote the perception of science as a topic that is comprehensible, accessible and worthwhile.
Within an environment of intellectual curiosity and excellence, Madarom will aim for ever greater educational impact.
The Science Park's mission is to kindle interest in science and technology and offer opportunities for acquiring science skills and knowledge, within an innovative educational framework.
With this in mind and in order to support and enrich the science subjects that the children learn at school, Madarom's educators will develop exhibitions that will be closely tied to the Ministry of Education's curriculum. They will supplement formal textbook study with hands-on learning that promotes a deeper understanding of the subjects being studied. At the same time, the Park will be open to the public and provide a fun way for families or individuals to interact and rediscover the scientist within.
The Madarom Science Park has been designed as an eye-catching and symbolic yet functional architectural statement. Open to the streets and merging with the existing urban landscape, the park will be a source of urban and civic pride for the city of Be’er Sheva and its residents. It will be comprised of several buildings connected internally or by paths and green spaces. Most of the structures will be beneath ground level in order to create an urban plaza, and to avoid overshadowing the park's central landmark: a superb building from the Ottoman era that will be restored to serve as a central exhibition area.
Visitors to the Madarom Science Park will experience through the architecture the span of centuries, bringing them in touch with the heritage of the city while they enjoy the innovation and creativity of the 21st century.
Most science centers in the western world are built around exhibits accompanied by lengthy, printed explanations. Visitors with no scientific background – whether adults or children – may have difficulty understanding such long winded explanations, and could leave having learnt little or nothing.
In contrast, the Madarom Science Park will offer a compelling, challenging and enjoyable interaction between visitor and exhibit. Each exhibit is planned and designed as a thought-provoking “game”, accompanied by a short explanation. Students will move on to moderated discussions and laboratory demonstrations to learn more about the topics introduced in the exhibits. The learning process is very much one of "learning through doing".
The park will emphasize the relationship between science, technology, society and community, and will deal with the topics of Light and Sight, Sound and Hearing, Communications, Mechanics-Machines-Energy, and Science and Technology in the Negev.
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