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.
Margareta HallinFiorenzo GalliLuisa MassaraniKaren SitRobert WestIgnasi López VerdeguerLuigi Amodio
The starting point for the science centre movement were encapsulated in the goals of the Exploratorium in San Francisco, United States. But since these beginnings science centres have developed and evolved, for example:
- Science centers...
Josh GutwillJosh GutwillKaren WilkinsonElin RobertsElena Mashintsova
Humans have been making things since before recorded history. In recent times, however, with the advent of global production and a shift toward consumerism, “making” at home and in school have become lost arts. Children and adults can learn much...
Sheena LaursenDavid HeywoodMichael Dzoga
Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education still misses the content of the letter “E”- engineering. The challenge is to advance engineering as part of the science’ education in schools, to develop the culture...
Johannes-Geert HagmannHouston WilsonSven BakkenChristophe ChaffardonDaniel Rosqvist
Mobile applications are increasingly used in all the museums to help visitors discover exhibitions and content. In the particular case of interactive sciences centres, what could be the added value of these tools? Do they bring new content or...
Eric EdbladJonas EdbladJerk Zander
One of the most over-used words in corporate communications is ‘innovation’. An innovation culture is considered to be one of the most critical focus areas for organizations in the 21st Century and yet this is proving difficult to...
Gérard CobutPeter BentsenBent Johan PoulsenJulie BønnelyckeNathalie CapletAnna FisherKathrin Kösters
The general public is made up of so many different audiences. Some are particularly difficult to reach while others have specific needs – both cases require special attention. Building on the speakers’ experiences, this session aims...
In a perfect world where budgets and feasibility are not obstacles what would exhibits and exhibitions be? Ordered like a school-book or creative-chaotic like a dream? With clear instructions or without guidelines? In color or black and white?...
Leonel AlegreInes MontalvaoBergit ArendsVarda Gur Ben ShitritBryndís SnæbjörnsdóttirJorge Wagensberg
Historically museums have had a role in defining what’s true, beautiful, valuable and worth sharing with visitors. But how do science museums find balance between the scientific truth and other values and beliefs of social, aesthetic and ethical...
Wendy SadlerDavid PriceMarieke NavinJohn Downey
Passion and interactivity await in this session full of the richness, innovation and potential contained in the spirit of science busking. We dream of a time when the emotional and entertainment value of this highly adaptable method of...
Michelle DevaneyJean-Jacques PerrierBruna ValettiniMichelle DevaneyLUDOVIC FRERE ESCOFFIERMarzia Mazzonetto
In order to imagine new solutions, we must bring together different actors (researchers, stakeholders, societal actors) with complementary knowledge and experiences and forge new partnerships using a participatory approach.
Environment...
Anne PrugnonChristina Ritzl VejlgaardLars WerdelinSonja NeumannPanagiotis Poulopoulos
In our dreams, we are transported to different worlds, distant times and sometimes unfamiliar places. This session will explore innovative techniques for creating a sense of time and place in exhibitions, using objects, digital interpretation and...
Elna NordBlair ParkinDaniel AntoineFarah Ahmed
A revolution is happening in museums and store rooms around the world. Objects held in museum storage for hundreds of years, some hundreds of millions of years old, are starting to see the light of day in entirely news ways using 3D visualisation...
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