February 2022

#74

Scicomm ecosystems

FEATURES

LOOKOUT

Science centres and research: part of the same ecosystem?

LOOKOUT

RETHINKing science communication

PORTFOLIO

New exhibitions by Emily Cronin

COLUMN

The Conference: what's in it for you? by Brad Irwin

From the Ecsite office
Ecsite Conference
From Ecsite European Collaborations
Good reads and resources
Opportunities

Spokes is edited by Ecsite, the European network of science centres and museums.

Science centres and research: part of the same ecosystem?

Lookout

Can science centres and museums really contribute to cutting-edge research? Matteo Merzagora investigates.

Science centres and research: part of the same ecosystem?

Ken Arnold

Michael John Gorman

Asma Steinhausser

Camille Zamant

Matteo Merzagora

RETHINKing science communication

Lookout

A dive into the work that the EU project has undertaken over the last three years, and in the recent Workrooms idea-thon.

RETHINKing science communication

Tessa Roedema

Frank Kupper

Stephanos Cherouvis

New exhibitions

Portfolio

A browse through new exhibitions taking place across the world

The Conference: what's in it for you?

Column

Brad Irwin, Chair of the Conference Programme Committee, shares all the reasons why the Conference this June is the place to be.

The Conference: what's in it for you?

Brad Irwin

From the Ecsite office

Ecsite's new opportunity for in-depth learning will take place in March. Register here.

Some of the keynote speakers during the Sharing Space Workroom, which took place in Nov-Dec 2021

Call for candidates - Ecsite Board

Four positions are open this year - the deadline is 15 March.

Ecsite is hiring!

A Communications Manager is needed to join our small, dynamic team.

We are hiring!

New to the Editorial Committee

We welcome two new members to our committee; Alex Fairhead and Marta Trzeciak.

Alex and Marta are our newest committee members. Credit Małgorzata Werchowicz (Marta's photo)

Welcome Roman and Roxanne!

Roman is our new Events Intern and Roxanne our new Comms & Events Intern who will both be working with us until June!

New Ecsite Interns Roman and Roxanne

Dates for this year's diary

March-May: Workrooms
2-4 June: Ecsite Conference, Heilbronn, Germany
November: Directors Forum

Ecsite Conference

Registration is open!

experimenta building: Heilbronn Marketing GmbH/Christoph Düpper

Meet the keynote

We are delighted to share with you our first keynote speaker: Sinéad Burke, Founder and CEO of Tilting the Lens, a consultancy that brings visibility to inaccessibility.

Headshot of Sinéad Burke, Founder and CEO of Tilting the Lens

Discover the programme

We know that you have all been waiting patiently; you can now take a look at all the sessions and social events!

New for #ecsite2022 - hospitality grants

Thanks to the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, the Conference hosts are offering free accommodation to young professionals. Deadline 23 February.

A view of the Neckar river in Heilbronn, Germany. Picture credit: Heilbronn Marketing GmbH/Roland Schweizer

Call for showcase sessions

The call opens on 16 February for pitches for What's new in travelling exhibitions, Project showcase and the Grand Bazaar. First-come, first-served!

Showcase session during the 2019 Ecsite Conference. Copyright Ecsite / Experimentarium

Book your place to stay

There are a wide range of accommodation options this year, from hotels, to hostels, to staying with an experimenta colleague!

Business Bistro 60% full

There are still some exhibition booths remaining for the Conference's trade fair. Check out our offers.

Have you considered a booth at the Business Bistro?

Questions?

We know that these are uncertain times and you may have questions. Check out our FAQs, designed to reassure you and keep you updated.

Call for hosts for 2024 and 2025

Ecsite Full members have until 30 April to submit an application to host a future Conference.

From Ecsite European collaborations

Join the RETHINK final policy event

On the future of public trust in times of uncertainty. Takes place on 21 and 22 March.

Join the event on 21 and 22 March

Watch the final EU-Citizen.Science event

A handy resource with videos of the four sessions that took place during the event.

Museum digitalisation survey

DOORS has developed a survey aimed at getting a comprehensive understanding of the museum sector and its digital needs. Share your thoughts & experience.

Start your public engagement journey

As part of the GRACE project, training has been held for the staff of the project partners. Videos and worksheets are now available here.

Good reads and resources

Webb telescope at its new home

The observatory has arrived at its home; near a gravitationally special spot called L2.

Image of the Webb Space Telescope on an Ariane 5. Copyright ESA/ D. Ducros

Online events and their future

An article from MuseumNext on what the future holds for online offerings, and whether they will stick around.

Inclusive science storytelling

An online guide from Lifeology to help scientists and other experts learn about inclusive storytelling in science.

Discover the course from Lifeology

Check out the #UofGEngage podcast

The podcast from the University of Glasgow explores current issues in public and community engagement.

Are scicomm audiences becoming more critical?

A SAGE journal article tackles the question based on Swiss panel data.

The online information environment

Understanding how the internet shapes people’s engagement with scientific information from the Royal Society.

SciPEP's new path in public engagement

The science public engagement partnership have created a prospectus as a roadmap for their vision and future work.

The audience experience of science storytelling

A JCOM article on a study that sought to systematically explore underlying patterns in the subjective experience of live shows.

Evaluation methods based on immersive VR

Developing and assessing a non-obtrusive method to evaluate science communication projects in science centres.

News from Blooloop

Our partner in the attractions sector has news on the NHM's new Chair and info on new museums set to open in 2022.

Opportunities

Apply for the Short & Crisp Award

For exciting multimedia contributions in English, or foreign-language contributions with English subtitles. Deadline 20 February and a prize fund of €3,000.

ICOM launches CIMUSET award

To celebrate and highlight outstanding, innovative practice within science and technology museums and science centres.

Teo announces Teo Live!

Taking place online on 17 March - see you there!

Join Teo’s touring exhibitions online event, designed to support the international touring exhibitions community

Apply for EMYA 2023

Submit your applications for the European Museum of the Year and you could be joining Naturalis and Rijksmuseum Boerhaave in winning this prestigious award.

Attend the greenloop conference

Blooloop's sustainability conference takes place on 19 and 20 April. Early bird tickets are now on sale!

ALLEA General Assembly

Transforming science - pathways towards sustainability and trustworthiness takes place on 11 and 12 May in Brussels.

Future of scicomm conference

The conference will bring together researchers and practitioners of science communication during a one-day event in Brussels on 26 April.

Ecsite thanks the writers who have generously contributed to this issue of Spokes. Have an idea for Spokes? Check out the contributors' guide and get in touch.

Spokes is the monthly digital magazine of Ecsite, the European network of science centres and museums. It is put together by the Spokes Editorial Committee:

Maria Xanthoudaki, Head of Education and International Relations, Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci, Milan, Italy – Chairperson
Helen Wilks, Communications Manager, Ecsite, Brussels, Belgium – Editor
Michèle Antoine, Director of Exhibitions, Universcience, Paris, France
Andrea Bandelli, Executive Director, Science Gallery International, Dublin, Ireland
Emily Cronin, Partnerships Manager, Cultural & Commercial Partnerships, Science Museum Group, London, UK
Raquel da Cunha, Communications and Events Manager, Ecsite, Brussels, Belgium
Alex Fairhead, Group Head of Exhibition Services, Science Museum Group, London, UK
Roxanne Gillon, Communications and Events Intern, Ecsite, Brussels, Belgium
Frank Kupper, Assistant Professor of Science Communication, Athena Institute - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Matteo Merzagora, Director, TRACES, Paris, France
Marta Trzeciak, Specialist in Science Events and Programmes, Experyment Science Centre, Gdynia, Poland

Responsible editor: Catherine Franche, Executive Director for Association européenne des expositions scientifiques, techniques et industrielles, aisbl

Frequency: monthly since April 2015 and quarterly from January 2021 - issue 74, February 2022