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.
Research, theory & evaluation
Christina ClassenClaudia GorrVesa LepistöClayton Cutajar
The idea for this session is to talk about data that render practical changes in our science centres or museums. To be precise, it's about evaluation data – mostly quantitative but to a certain extent also qualitative. The sticking point is to...
Robert FirmhoferZuzanna MichalskaNato SamkharadzeOlena PavlyukBarbara Szymańska-MarkowskaElżbieta Miterka
Commitment: 21st century skills
In a constantly changing, interconnected world the formal education systems, based in most countries on factory production principles, cannot help educate the next generation for the...
Research, theory & evaluation
Lizzy MoriartyAnne-Sophie GresleGiovanna PaciniBálint Balázs Daria Dvorzhitskaia
This session explores evaluation as a self-reflection tool and how it can be used for quality assurance and stakeholder engagement. Our panel will cover current aspects of evaluation tools based on adaptations due to Covid-19 with examples from...
It is certainly ironic: we had already been preparing an exhibition about epidemics through the ages for two years, due to open on 15 April 2020. But this had to be postponed because of the outbreak of an epidemic. With the exhibition Contagious...
Vanessa MignanAmparo Leyman PinoHeidrun Schulze
Commitment: Equity & inclusion
It’s something of an understatement to say that we are not fans of women’s magazines, but we’ve all done an absurd quiz and/or read silly articles when we’ve had a few minutes to spare...
Conference hosts Brad Irwin and Dorothée Vatinel are here to welcome you to the final day of the 2021 Ecsite Online Conference. For this final welcome session, we'll be joined by Ecsite Executive Director Catherine Franche, where you can be sure...
Mairéad HurleyBrendan OwensMaria VicenteElad PazEva Durall
The Covid-19 crisis has challenged traditional science learning environments, many of which relied on face-to-face interactions. The current scenario has become one in which disruption of regular practice is part of the new normal. But how can we...
Julie LeclairPeter TrevittHillary SpencerTobias WolffElin Roberts
The past year brought us all challenges but it has also given us freedom in many ways. During the pandemic many museums felt that they were able to (and perhaps had to), take more risks than they would have done otherwise. Our panellists worked...
Was there simply not enough time to network during the day? Or perhaps you were so engrossed in the sessions and our Keynote speaker that there was no time to connect with peers? And for our colleagues in North, Central and South America it was...
Mark WinterbottomMaria KarnezouInka de PijperMaria Xanthoudaki
Commitment: Equity & inclusion
This session will explore contemporary issues in inclusive STEM learning practice, with a focus on how hands-on making and tinkering can provide opportunities to work in more equitable...
Andrew BullockWolfgang ButtressMartin BencsikFiona Philpott
Commitment: Climate & biodiversity crisis
Meet the artist Wolfgang Buttress and his scientific collaborator Dr Martin Bencsik as they talk with Fiona Philpott, Director of Exhibitions (National Museums Liverpool),...
Harry WhiteSarah AlexanderLisa FinchRyan JenkinsAndreas MattEric Londaits
In part two of the session, we'll continue with the exploration of the automata and artificial intelligence hands-on explorations from Cabaret Mechanical Theatre and IMAGINARY, and participants will have the opportunity to try the second part of...
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