Annual Conference sessions
Browse all conference sessions since 2010
Science ♥ society
2019
"The blob: a genius without a brain".
2019
"Mathematics as Material Play"
Equity & Inclusion
2019
A blindfolded experience to grasp visual accessibility requirements.
Business & fundraising
2019
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
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.
Research, theory & evaluation
2018
James Beacham is a particle physicist involved in the ATLAS experiment at CERN. Watch a video of his keynote.
Science ♥ society
2018
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
2014
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
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
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
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
Carlo Ratti, Professor at the MIT, gave a talk entitled "Future Cities - The real-time city is now real!"
Science ♥ society
2011
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
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.
Networking & Partnerships
The data we collect about institutions says a lot about how we perceive our mission. We can usually find data about the numbers of visitors and their demographic statistics, as well as financial data such as annual turnover and physical data such...
Freedom of failure is an essential part of science and learning. How can we offer our visitors the freedom of failure and manage this concept in our organizations? Presenters will discuss the successes and drawbacks of the freedom to fail through...
Learning is at the heart of a museum or science centre’s mission and represents a specific and well-defined professional and research field. Learning also links to the work of many other museum and science centre professionals: curators,...
Looking to rent or buy travelling exhibitions? This year, we take another look at current and upcoming travelling science exhibitions across Europe. This rapid-fire session will give you a glimpse of the huge range of exhibitions on offer,...
Form follows function…or does it? Do designers always have to follow the educational storyline and briefing of a curator? Is style just the outside of content or is there more to the picture than meets the eye? Do we like it when designers take...
Representatives from three of the largest travelling exhibitions programmes talk about their experiences in the planning, production, sales and execution of international tours. Pick their brains to find out how to adequately prepare for your...
Marketing & communication
Several questions must be considered in order to tap the full branding potential of a science centre: What role does the architecture play? What kind of Unique Selling Proposition is at the centre’s heart? Which key attractions does it provide?...
What experiences do visitors seek in museums and science centres? What experiences do museums and science centres encourage? This session is organized by Ecsite’s THE Group and focuses on visitors by looking into their experience from the...
Marketing & communication
This session will feature three case studies of how science centres have developed their digital marketing strategies. We will assess their holistic approach, provide tips for understanding online audiences and cover a range of online marketing...
The speakers will explore the relation between Science and Art. Today many artists are influenced by scientific discoveries and use scientific information or methods in their work. Science is also changing, scientists are more focused on...
The best funding comes with very few conditions attached. But that doesn’t happen very often. Today’s sponsors are increasingly demanding and there is a real skill in ensuring that a science museum’s objectives are not lost to a sponsor’s...
An open question implies that the answer is unknown to the inquirer. Skillfully framed open questions are a powerful, but under-used, science communication tool in exhibit labels, science shows and science centre explainer-training.
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