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Annual Conference sessions

Science ♥ society 2019
Keynote - Audrey Dussutour

"The blob: a genius without a brain". 

2019
Keynote - Margaret Wertheim

"Mathematics as Material Play"

Equity & Inclusion 2019
In the shoes of a blind person

A blindfolded experience to grasp visual accessibility requirements.

Business & fundraising 2019
Funding: what do our pie charts say about us?

The session explores different models for financing our institutions and tackling the biggest challenges we face in the search for a diversified and balanced model.

Strategy & vision 2019
On trial: virtual reality

The Supreme Court of the Ecsite Conference will decide whether virtual reality (VR) in museums and science centres is visceral reality providing vital reactions, or just virtually rudimentary and very rubbish.

Science ♥ society 2018
Keynote - Giulia & Jill Enders

Giulia Enders is the author and Jill Enders the illustrator of the internationally acclaimed book Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body's Most Underrated Organ

Research, theory & evaluation 2018
Keynote - James Beacham

James Beacham is a particle physicist involved in the ATLAS experiment at CERN. Watch a video of his keynote.

Science ♥ society 2018
Can you feel it? A science revival meeting

“Go forth and collide, Multiply and create” is the motto of our Science Assembly. Inspired by religious revival meetings, we will offer you songs, laughter, inspiration, and meaning.

Exhibit development 2018
Team creativity and facilitation techniques: expand your toolbox

Are you facilitating creative team processes? Tired of always using the same old tricks? Interested in the wider potential of creative techniques? This session is for you.

Strategy & vision 2018
The future of science centre exhibitions

What is the future of science centre exhibitions? Do we need to stick to scientific phenomena, or focus on high tech and current science? Do we concentrate on objects or interaction? Or are physical exhibitions becoming obsolete in the digital era?

Research, theory & evaluation 2017
Keynote - Alice Roberts

Professor Alice Roberts is an anthropologist, author and broadcaster, and Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham. Watch a video of her keynote.

Science ♥ society 2017
Keynote - Nina Simon

Nina Simon has been described as a “museum visionary” by Smithsonian Magazine for her audience-centred approach to design. Watch a video of her keynote.

Research, theory & evaluation 2016
Keynote - Frans de Waal

Dr. Frans de Waal is a Dutch-American biologist and primatologist known for his work on the behaviour and social cognition of primates. Speech title: Prosocial Primates: The Cooperative Background of Our Species

Equity & Inclusion 2016
Keynote Elizabeth Rasekoala

Dr. Elizabeth Rasekoala is the President of African Gong – the Pan-African Network for the Popularisation of Science & Technology, and Science Communication. Watch a video of her keynote.

2015
Keynote - Andrea Illy

Andrea Illy is the Chairman and CEO of illycaffè S.p.A., a family coffee business founded more than 80 years ago. Watch his speech on Ecsite's YouTube channel.

Strategy & vision 2014
Keynote - Ian Goldin

Professor Ian Goldin is Director of the Oxford Martin School and Professor of Globalisation and Development at Oxford University. He delivered a speech entitled "Individual and Collective Wisdom and Failure".

Science ♥ society 2015
Keynote - Tristram Stuart

Tristram Stuart is an author and campaigner tackling the food waste scandal. Watch a video of his keynote.

Science ♥ society 2014
Keynote - Ahmet Üzümcü

Ahmet Üzümcü is the Director general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The OPCW is the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2013.

Strategy & vision 2013
Keynote - Dominique Pestre

Dominique Pestre is a social and political historian.Hos speech was entitled "What kind of innovation for the Anthropocene?". Watch the keynote on the Ecsite YouTube channel.

Strategy & vision 2013
Keynote - Susan Greenfield

Susan Greenfield is a neuroscientist at the University of Oxford and delivered a speech entitled “ The neuroscience of creativity – Making the most of 21st century technology”. Watch the keynote on the Ecsite YouTube channel.

Strategy & vision 2012
Keynote - Martin Rees

Martin Rees, Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge, gave a speech entitled "Space exploration, life and the cosmos".

Strategy & vision 2012
Keynote - Carlo Ratti

Carlo Ratti, Professor at the MIT, gave a talk entitled "Future Cities - The real-time city is now real!"

Science ♥ society 2011
Keynote - Derrick de Kerckhove

Derrick de Kerckhove, Professor at the Department of French and former Director of the McLuhan Program in Culture and Technology at the University of Toronto, gave a speech entitled "Navigating among the shoals and reefs of social, state and business controls in science and technology".

Strategy & vision 2011
Keynote - Michael Jones

Michael Jones Chief Technology Advocate, Google, gave a speech entitled "The Billionth Visitor".

The first Ecsite Conference took place in 1989. Here you can browse all Conference sessions since 2010. Use the search engine to look for people, topics...

Looking for an older session? Our digital records start in 2007, with programme pdfs attached to each conference page. 

2022 Ecsite Conference
Equity & Inclusion
Equitable Pedagogies for Informal Science Learning
Angela Calabrese BartonMicaela BalzerDay GreenbergSpela GodecLouise Archer

This interactive session provides an opportunity for participants to explore a toolset in support of equitable pedagogies for Informal STEM learning (ISL). This toolset, co-created by researchers and educators in both the USA and the UK, provides...

2022 Ecsite Conference
Equity & Inclusion
Enacting institutional change
Amparo Leyman PinoInes MontalvaoSilvio WeyAnna Schaefers

Multilingual exhibits, diversification of staff, community partnerships, participatory programmes, among other best practises, are evidence that a science centre or museum is on the right path to becoming diverse and inclusive. However, what is...

2022 Ecsite Conference
Science ♥ society
Project showcase
Cristina PacaLucie SteiglederPatrick KlügelStuart JamesCarla PugliaAndrew Whittington-DavisMiranda ThoenMarzia MazzonettoSiri KellnerMarie CouëdicÀlex ArgemíMariana Rama Pedro AlvesMichael CreekAlix ThuillierSabine HaakeDobrivoje Lale EricBeate LangholfStephanos CherouvisSílvia Zurita i Món

The courageous speakers of this session will be telling you about their projects in an original and jargon-free style.

Expect a two-minute story for each project, followed by 45 minutes of networking. Join to get a quick overview of...

2022 Ecsite Conference
Learning
In conversation with Herlinde Koelbl
Brad IrwinHerlinde Koelbl

From her long-term documentation of Angela Merkel through to her latest exhibition "Fascination of science", German photographic artist Herlinde Koelbl has photographed some of the worlds most influential people. Join us to discuss her career and...

2022 Ecsite Conference
Strategy & vision
Lessons learned: NHM's new strategy
Sharon AmentCamilla ThamLauren HyamsBrad IrwinAlexandra Burch

In 2020, the Natural History Museum set out on a bold new mission: to create advocates for the planet. Join us on a deep dive into how the Museum has begun to realise its new vision, including case studies from across the institution, with honest...

2022 Ecsite Conference
Equity & Inclusion
Reaching new audiences with digital formats
Kati TyystjärviSteffen BockAnastasia VoloshinaSteffen BockMeritxell Fernández CollElisabetta FlorKim Ludwig-PetschMalgorzata RatkowskaIzhana Fitri M RawiFranziska Lang

This session will explore new online methods that have been used during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. Speakers will share their experiences from different European countries. The session also has an interactive, playful element, where we...

2022 Ecsite Conference
Research, theory & evaluation
Evaluation research vs. practical reality: improving exhibitions
Patricia VerheydenNils Petter HauanJen DeWittAnne Land

Exhibition evaluation is a very practical activity existing at the interface of different competencies, and can be useful multiple ways. But why is it important to evaluate exhibitions? How do we account for different stakeholders? How has the...

2022 Ecsite Conference
Business Bistro Happy Hour

A networking highlight! Ecsite invites all participants to come together for a drink among exhibitors’ booths. Traditionally, exhibitors bring specialities from their home countries.

2022 Ecsite Conference
Learning
Co-creation with teachers in times of Covid
Maria ZоlоtоnоsаTamar FuhrmannBrendan Owens‫Chagit TishlerNavit Houri

The pandemic has put further pressure on schools and teachers by overloading them with work, forcing them to operate constantly in troubleshooting mode. Making changes in education on a systemic level is very much needed, but difficult; even with...

2022 Ecsite Conference
Learning
Reimagining educational systems for the 21st century - Part 2
Marianne AchiamSheena LaursenMairéad HurleyVasyl DunetsClayton Cutajar

This workshop is an opportunity for attendees to really tackle the topics raised by the speakers in the first part of this in-depth session of "Reimagining Educational Systems for the 21st Century". It is not essential to have attended Part 1 to...

2022 Ecsite Conference
Exhibit development
The urgent relevance of socio-scientific exhibitions
Sheena LaursenMai MurmannMikko MyllykoskiGyöngyi KovácsMarc Friedrich

Socio-scientific exhibitions have established a new paradigm within science engagement organisations over the past few decades. But how do we approach the development of these exhibitions in order to provide space for both natural science AND...

2022 Ecsite Conference
Science ♥ society
The Grand Bazaar
Martin KulhawczukKai Håkon SundeFederica TamburriniMarco MirandaDerek FishRonen MirSabine HaakeRannvei SætherOla KleivenHanna SathiapalEva HaasKim Ludwig-PetschRebecca KlemmChristina ClassenBrenda Shivanandan

Welcome to the Grand Bazaar, an informal drop-in session featuring dozens of table-top activities – and their facilitators. This long-time favourite session returns to take you on a creative and inspiring journey with spicy experiments, hands-on...

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