October 3rd, 2020

The Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (JASU) provides organizational support for school children throughout Ukraine to grow in their understanding of scientific principles, and to encourage their intellectual, spiritual, creative and vocational development. On October 3rd, 2020, JASU was overjoyed to open their new Science Museum for the children of Ukraine.

For more than a year, renovations were underway converting a Soviet era building at the VDNKh Exposition center into a modern children’s science museum. With exhibits chosen from all over the world, QuietPixel was honored to be chosen to provide our HoloSands augmented reality sandbox for their environmental sciences area.
We worked closely with Dr. Vasyl Dunets, the museum Project Coordinator, to design a sandbox to their requirements, and to create a custom biome for Ukraine. The biome captures one of the unique features of Ukraine, that it is lush and moist in the north-western half of the country, but dries out as you move to the south-east.

To portray this, we show dense forests and green farmlands on the “west” end of the sandbox, and transition slowly to drier steppe terrain with irrigation circles on the other. An ocean layer to the “south”, and the sounds of birds and animals native to Ukraine complete the biome.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is the first visitor to use JASU’s new HoloSands sandbox First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelensky, and the First Lady of Poland Agata Kornhauser-Duda examine HoloSands sandbox Director Oksen Lisovy demonstrates AR sandbox to first visitors Visitors play with HoloSands Sandbox
We began work constructing the sandbox in January of 2020. Right as we neared completion, the Covid-19 crisis hit and turned schedules on their heads. The biggest question became, “How do we install a sandbox on the other side of the world in the middle of a pandemic?”
Welded metal base frame, powder coated black Base panels create a storage space on one end, and wheelchair access on the other Sandbox and frame dry fit Electronics cage, which hangs from the ceiling, under construction Storage cabinet open Ready for shipment
In April, we packed up the sandbox, and shipped it to Ukraine using DHL air freight.
Building shipping container Sandbox wrapped and ready for packing Sandbox all packed up All the electronics boxed and secured in the cage for shipment Dropping the cage into its box. Box sides unscrew easily for unpacking Exhibit ready for shipment
As summer approached, Ukraine reopened its borders, and we scheduled a trip to install the sandbox at the museum. Two days before our flight, Ukraine had to close its borders again!
With opening day quickly approaching, we scrambled for a solution. After several Zoom calls, a couple of instructional videos walking through the unpacking and installation procedure, Dr. Dunets and his staff were able to install the sandbox in two days and get it up and running!

NOTE: decorative shroud around electronics cage was not installed yet in this picture.
The reception of the museum by the children of Ukraine has been wonderful. The museum is filled with hundreds of fascinating science exhibits, and HoloSands has been one of the big hits.
It was such a pleasure to work with Dr. Dunets and everyone at the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. If you ever find yourself in Kyiv, please stop in and enjoy this wonderful new museum.
Exterior of the JASU Science Museum Interior of the museum Square wheeled bicycles roll smoothly on the right shaped surface The ceiling provides a light show at night Get up close and personal with your face Test your reaction speed to a light, a beep, or both together Life size emojis teach how different neurotransmitters affect our moods Electromagnetic force exhibit How does surface friction affect sliding pucks? How many times can a bowling ball hit bullet proof glass before it cracks? Explore your internal organs Sound domes transmit whispers from one end of the museum to the other HoloSands Sandbox