Anniversary Exhibition

All floors of the museum were bustling with researchers and experts sharing their knowledge with the large number of visitors.The festival featured a variety of engaging activities, including the display of Fridtjof Nansen's chimpanzee, shark tooth collection, spider identification, and writing messages for a time capsule to be opened in 2225.

A dedicated anniversary exhibition highlighted the museum's societal role over the past 200 years. The "Only Bone" exhibition allowed visitors to closely examine skeletons of various animals, while the "Illuminating Life" exhibition provided insights into the fascinating world of stem cells and their potential to address some of the biggest medical challenges.

Discovering the Future of Medicine: Stem Cells and 3D-Printing at the Knowledge Festival

The "Illuminating Life" exhibition was a highlight. In addition to the stunning stem cell images taken through a microscope by Shuntaro Yamada, the exhibition was extended to include live 3D-printing of a human skull, microscopes displaying bone- and fat-producing cells derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, and information about the clinical Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production of cell-based medicinal products planned at Haukeland University Hospital. Shuntaro Yamada and Elise Aasebø engaged in conversations with curious kids, molecular biology and bioengineering students, and the general public.

Photos from the Knowledge Festival

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The Mohn Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine (MRCRM) showcased their work at the event with a poster detailing the production line of stem cell-based products. The poster also highlighted the immense potential of regenerative medicine, using MRCRM projects as prime examples. Photo: Farivar Fathian

Shuntaro Yamada, the researcher behind the "Illuminating Life" exhibition, with one of the Open House visitors. Photo: Farivar Fathian

Elise Aasebø, Coordinator at the Mohn Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine, alongside a child coloring stem cell pictures. Photo: Farivar Fathian

3D-printing of a human skull was a major attraction. The future potential of 3D-printing using biodegradable materials combined with stem cells is immense. Photo: Farivar Fathian

A completed 3D-printed skull was displayed in the exhibition for those eager to see the results. Photo: Farivar Fathian

The University Museum in Bergen. Photo: Farivar Fathian

Photos from the Knowledge Festival

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Fullscreen images

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The Mohn Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine (MRCRM) showcased their work at the event with a poster detailing the production line of stem cell-based products. The poster also highlighted the immense potential of regenerative medicine, using MRCRM projects as prime examples. Photo: Farivar Fathian

Shuntaro Yamada, the researcher behind the "Illuminating Life" exhibition, with one of the Open House visitors. Photo: Farivar Fathian

Elise Aasebø, Coordinator at the Mohn Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine, alongside a child coloring stem cell pictures. Photo: Farivar Fathian

3D-printing of a human skull was a major attraction. The future potential of 3D-printing using biodegradable materials combined with stem cells is immense. Photo: Farivar Fathian

A completed 3D-printed skull was displayed in the exhibition for those eager to see the results. Photo: Farivar Fathian

The University Museum in Bergen. Photo: Farivar Fathian

Engaging Activities for All Ages

The event was dedicated to the entire population of Bergen and beyond, offering a wide range of activities for all ages. In the "Knowledge Laboratory" located in the museum's basement, visitors learned how museum staff preserve animals and plants, and witnessed a live demonstration of bone bioengineering. PhD student Masoumeh Jahani Kadousaraeri and Master's student Janet Adegbite, from the Tissue Engineering Group at the Department of Clinical Dentistry (UiB), provided hands-on experiments on transforming liquid hydrogels into solid structures—a crucial process in 3D bioprinting used in regenerative medicine.