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.
Peter ElsaesserPaul Goulet
During this 45 minute session, Paul, also known as Little Ray, takes you on a virtual tour through three live, animal travelling exhibitions currently on display in the USA. Paul explains their vision and why we are aiming to bring Little Ray’s...
Christina ClassenFriederike WawerkaDominik EssingClayton CutajarHarry WhitePaul Orselli
Two ‘old hands’ comment on the next generation’s ideas. NEXT GENERATION refers to different aspects: new content, a new generation of exhibition-makers, modern forms of exhibition design or contemporary educational strategies. We'll consider...
Hillary SpencerAnna AltschwagerAxel EstableHillary Spencer
What happens next? Our lives aren’t the same, our families aren’t the same, our world isn’t the same. As we reopen our museums and re-engage our students, what adjustments need to be made? What risks can we take? The need for empathy and...
Sophie PerryMelati Wijsen
When Youth lead the way
Melati Wijsen is a 20-year-old Indonesian activist and change-maker. She founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags with her younger sister and has been leading the movement driven by youth since 2013. She has...
Lizzy MoriartyMarta MarialvaRafael GalupaMariana Rama Pedro AlvesMassa Mufti-HamwiHanouf Al-Alawi
Commitment: Equity & inclusion
How do you create equitable community engagement programmes to reach underserved communities? Come and explore off-site community engagement activities serving some of the most...
Nikolaj MøllerCamilla Tham
Commitment: Climate & biodiversity crisis
Despite growing global awareness of climate change in recent years, the consequences for human health are not yet broadly understood and addressed. The Natural History Museum...
Audrey O'ConnellDirk DenoyelleAndreas MattCorrado CanoniciMarc GareauAnna ClarkThomas HofbergerPanagiotis KotsanasMichael BradkeLaurent DONDEYOlivier RetoutJoy LatourJoonas JuutilainenDon Lessem
The second of our touring exhibitions slots. 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...
Sharon AmentKaren PetersonJennifer BreslinAnita Krishnamurthi
Commitment: Equity & inclusion
Less than 25% of computer science and engineering students are women and far fewer graduate and pursue careers in those fields (National Science Board, 2018). Women remain drastically...
Maya HalevyBirgit MagerDee HalliganDaniel Charny
In this session, Mariano Gago Ecsite Award winner Maya Halevy explores the topic of service design in museums and education fields with world-class professionals in the field. Service design is a new field that helps choreograph the processes,...
Maren KrumdieckPaul VoogtMohammad RuhaiyemAyman ElsayedAnna Omedes
In this pecha kucha type session new science centres, science museums, exhibitions... that are currently in the start up and/or design phase will be presented. Presenters will give a short overview of their project. What are their goals and...
Research, theory & evaluation
Marie HobsonAlex FairheadLaura DavidsonSiobhan Starrs
There has been increasing recognition of the role museums should play to address the planetary emergency. To incite social change, we need to close the gap between concern and action.
The first step in closing this gap is increasing the...
Laura VerbeekGiulia GhezziLorenz KampschulteCatherine OualianEsther GajekKatharina Hof
Commitment: Equity & inclusion
What are seniors’ special needs? Or, if we throw away all our prejudices about being frail or slow, do we find out that they are just like us - longing for a connection, for competence...
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