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
Joseph RocheSam MejiasEva DurallAutumn BrownJen Wong
Do you struggle to create a balanced partnership between art and science collaborators? Are you interested in creating equitable events which encompass a wide range of learner identities and perspectives but finding the choice of a robust...
A preview of current and upcoming touring science exhibitions across Europe and the world. This fast-paced session will give you a glimpse of a large range of exhibitions on offer, leaving it up to you to make contacts and find out more.
...
Catherine FrancheMichiel BuchelCristin DorgeloMichael John GormanJoanna Kalinowska
When looking for partners or for funding, we’re advocating, using our brand to find a common ground, demonstrating we can contribute to their mission or agenda. Advocating for the engagement of citizens in science and technology used to be good...
Julie LeclairAlanna DavidsonMaren KrumdieckChristina SchwartzIgnasi Miró
Developing a travelling exhibition can be costly, time consuming and staff intensive. Factor in the added pressure of finding funding or content partners and you have yourself a major project on your hands.
This interactive panel session...
Bernadette SchrandtJose Augusto OcampoJoonas JuutilainenGunnar BehrensSteven SchaekenAlisson BoiffardEric Mika
“If museum exhibitions are to survive the major irreversible social changes brought on by technological advances, globalisation, and shifting consumer expectations, we will need to radically evolve our practices over the coming years.” -...
Open to all pre- and main conference speakers and convenors. Receive a warm municipal welcome in the Technical Museum of Slovenia. Slovenia’s award-winning and largest museum is located 20km away from Ljubljana, in a former Carthusian monastery....
Research, theory & evaluation
Bernadette SchrandtJuliana RestrepoJana HawigCarina BammesbergerBernadette Decristoforo
Conservation of nature, life and death and the time span of human evolution - three different exhibition topics that are hard to display, yet what impact do they actually have? Exhibition makers use a vast amount of resources and choose different...
Maria ZоlоtоnоsаEva DurallMairéad HurleyGène BertrandCarmen FenollosaMatteo MerzagoraWill Hunter
Travel grants available!
Are you convinced about the benefits of co-design but too afraid to let go? We hear you!
That is why we are inviting...
Sebastian MartinArmin DuffKatherine OzawaChristof BörnerCristina Riesen
How do we make computational thinking practices and concepts engaging and relevant? Making and tinkering skills are crucial for the next generation to succeed in a digital world; even a basic understanding of these concepts is important for...
Raphael DUPINVanessa MignanSebastian MartinMarion REALMarianne Pouget
Fablabs appeared over a decade ago, embodying for some, the potentialities of a new industrial revolution. Since then, these Fablabs have spread everywhere within the science engagement field. Surprisingly, these tools have emerged as a...
A preview of current and upcoming touring science exhibitions across Europe and the world. This fast-paced session will give you a glimpse of a large range of exhibitions on offer, leaving it up to you to make contacts and find out more.
...
Andrea VeldkampWouter VerbiestMaarten TaborskyAmparo Leyman PinoPaul OrselliAnna SchaefersMichael Feser
The idea-jam session lets you open your mind as far as possible and allows you to come up with wild concepts that challenge what we think is possible within the field of science engagement. The idea-jam session will reopen its doors this year for...
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