Theory of science communication
How do we communicate science and involve citizens in the latest developments of scientific research? Theatrical science communication, participation techniques, mobile bus laboratories and science circus are presented – live and in action...
Exhibit development
Museum objects have many stories to tell, but scientific and technological objects do not always readily reveal their stories to visitors. New media interfaces provide an opportunity to interpret objects in more depth, but there are risks in...
Exhibit development
Eco-designing an exhibition means factoring in the ecological footprint of the exhibition’s manufacture, from its creation through to recycling. In this session, we will try to provide pointers on the additional constraint of eco-designing...
Explainers & visitor services
Many science centres and museums work with real scientists as a source of knowledge for developing exhibitions, interactive activities and public meetings with visitors. Scientists have a detailed knowledge of their field, they know about the...
Operations & finance
What is the value of intellectual property in the science centre industry? What are the risks of buying copies of exhibits? What are the risks for fabricators of going “open source”? If we acknowledge the source of an exhibit idea, is...
Technology
Today’s popular and academic literature is filled with a broad spectrum of opinions about how technology is changing our culture. The implications for museums are potentially wide-ranging and profound. This session will investigate how trends in...
Operations & finance
Efficient planning of resources in science centres is very important, certainly in times of economic crisis. Visitor numbers have the biggest influence on the use of resources. Forecasting of visitor numbers is thus crucial. The presenters in...
Exhibit development
Looking to rent or buy travelling exhibitions? This year, we take another look at travelling exhibitions on science, available now and coming soon across Europe. This rapid-fire session will give you a glimpse of the huge range of exhibitions on...
Finance
Many science centre managers feel like “kamikaze pilots” trying to manoeuvre in the rugged waters of science centre management, facing risks and uncertainties from early planning throughout financing and into implementation. Risk and uncertainty...
Networking & Partnerships
Science centres and museums are perceived as centres for middle-class, mainly white, visitors. Why should this be? Shouldn’t science be for all, irrespective of ethnicity, education, age, or socio-economic status? This session will look at three...
Science in Society
Despite the great significance of the impact of science on our history and our daily lives, science is not routinely considered as a key cultural value in our societies. In this session we will hear from three EU funded projects: PLACES, CASC and...
Exhibit development
There are many communication products on sustainable development, bringing all sorts of media into play. The theme is the focus of government announcements, advertising by big industrial groups and communication by political parties, among others...