IEMIC – Industrial-Ecological-Museum-Instruction-Centre
WITHIN THE IEMIC YOU CAN CHOOSE AMONG THE FOLLOWING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES:
- A VISIT TO THE MULTIMEDIA COAL MINING MUSEUM OF SLOVENIA
- LESSON ON PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT BY THE EXPERTS FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH
- LUNCH AT THE RESTAURANT JEZERO
For the organisation of natural scientific days for schools we recommend
A ONE-DAY PROGRAMME OF OUR EDUCATIONAL CENTRE:
A visit to the Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia – The development of coal mining in Slovenia - school hours The development of the Šaleška Valley was strongly influenced by the coal mining industry, which initiated the development of energy activities as well as other industries in the primarily agricultural area. The centre of the valley, Velenje, has since the middle of the former century when it was just a small settlement with less than 2000 inhabitants developed to the present fifth largest town in Slovenia with almost 30000 residents. However, the Velenje Coal Mine did not just represent the basis for the industrialisation and urbanisation of the valley, it also completely changed its landscape. Therefore, it is only logical that we have constructed and located the coal mining museum in Velenje. In the abandoned part of the mine, a collection was set up, presenting the development of coal mining from its early days from more than 120 years ago through to the present, when the Velenje Coal Mine is considered to be one of the most modern and well equipped coal mines in the world.
Environmental protection - resentation of programmes for restoration of the surface and integrated improvement of the environment in the Šaleška Valley - 2 school hours.
The Šaleška Valley measures about 20 square kilometres, which represents only a one thousandth of the Slovene territory. Yet, in this small area, numerous human activities have been going on. There is the biggest Slovene Coal Mine, the biggest Slovene Power Plant, and the most important Slovene exporter, Gorenje. 40 000 people live in this area, and an intensive farming can also be found in the margin of the valley. All these activities had negative influence on the environment. Mining operations damaged the ground of the valley, the margin areas were severely devastated due to the Power Plant, and some environmental elements were also affected by other economy branches.
In the eighties, environment in the Šaleška Valley was seriously polluted. This was the main reason for starting up the programmes for improvement of air and water in the area. Both programmes are being successfully performed, and the environment in Šaleška Valley has already improved. There are also some new programmes ready to be implemented.
The one-day programme of our educational centre is offered as trial programme among those of the Centre of school and out-of-school activities from Ljubljana.