Previous webinars

Outstandingly good – but not from us...

Took place on 17 June

Tired of all those self-congratulatory “look what we did”-sessions? Now it’s time to praise someone else's work! Our speakers will reveal what "foreign" masterpieces inspired them. Sincere affection without affiliation is hard to beat...

In a PechaKucha session, speakers will present their most memorable examples of any exhibition-like format that, somehow, 'just worked', whether from within or outside science organisations – we can learn from everyone and everything! Beyond sharing what inspired them our speakers will, equally important, suggest what all of us might learn.

Session curated and convened by Thomas Hofer, Exhibition Concepts & Didactics Consultant, Curiocation (Winterthur, Switzerland)

Session speakers:

• Claire Pillsbury, Programme Director, Museum Practice, Exploratorium (San Francisco, USA)
• Camilla Rossi-Linnemann, Development - International Partnership Coordinator, Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia 'Leonardo da Vinci' (Milan, Italy)
• Ian Russell, Director, Ian Russell Interactives (High Peak, Derbyshire, UK)
• Harry White, Science Centre Consultant, HW Consult (Winterthur, Switzerland)

Misinformation: research, engagement & reflections
Supported by The Kavli Foundation

Took place on 10 June

On social media, stories can spread like wildfire: from doubts about climate science to anti-vaccine propaganda and, more recently, conspiracy theories around the COVID-19 pandemic. The influence of misinformation poses a clear threat, not only to public trust in science, but to our democracy. The necessity for science engagement is clearer than ever. Science centres and museums have been working together on what approach we need to take, going beyond fact-checking to playing an active role in tackling this phenomenon. This webinar builds on Ecsite's work on the topic, opening up the conversation to the whole network.

To take a stand against misinformation we have to get to grips with the research on why the human brain is so susceptible to it. What do researchers see is going on cognitively when we are exposed to misinformation and how can we engage our audiences in the science behind it?

It's also crucial to explore the sociological factors at play here. How is misinformation produced and circulated, how does it spread through online communities and the media and what are the effects on public perceptions of science and scientists?

In this webinar we will hear from leading researchers and practitioners from our field, as well as opening up the question to you as participants: what is our role in tackling misinformation, and what approach should we be taking?

Curated and convened by Michael Creek, co-founder, Stickydot (Brussels, Belgium)

Session speakers:

• Andrea Frantz-Pittner, Director, NaturErlebnisPark (Graz, Austria)
• Stephan Lewandowsky, Chair in Cognitive Psychology, Cabot Institute for the Environment, University of Bristol (Bristol, UK)
• Catherine Oualian, Trainer, Ecole de la Médiation, Universcience (Paris, France)
• Brian Southwell, Senior Director, Science in the Public Sphere, RTI International (North Carolina, USA)
  

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Creating and enhancing our digital presence

Took place on 3 June

The top-down model of knowledge is largely challenged by the crisis we are currently going through. For many museums and science centres this pandemic, plus the subsequent lockdown, has led to a shift in the way we promote, attract and retain our audiences using digital products and social media. How can we develop this digital offer so that it is coherent, meaningful and faithful to the missions and values of our organisations? Furthermore, how do we survive financially when our audience moves online?
Stephane Berghmans and François Quéré will attempt to tackle three key points: the evolution of our business lines for better science communication, new performance indicators & evaluation tools and how to create sustainable economic models in order to thrive in a new, digital world.

Session convenors:

• Mikko Myllykoski, Heureka (Vantaa, Finland)
• Dorothée Vatinel, Universcience (Paris, France)
  

Session speakers:

• Stephane Berghmans, CEO, Technopolis (Mechelen, Belgium)
• François Quéré, Director of Audience Development and Communication, Universcience (Paris, France)
  

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Equity & diversity: supporting an inclusive response to the corona crisis

Took place on 27 May

As science centres and museums across Europe re-examine their offer, search for financial stability and re-build dismantled teams, our commitment towards diversity, equity and inclusion has never been more important. Access to science for everyone is the work that makes us worthwhile and our sector has an increasingly urgent role and responsibility to support and serve all members of our community. How do we avoid replicating and increasing the inequalities in society as we are forced to move online ? As we struggle to cope financially, how can we attenuate the effect on the diversity of our staff? And with all the insecurities we face, how can we reconcile our need for survival as businesses with our social responsibility?

We invite you to listen, participate and reflect with researchers, practitioners and leaders who will share ideas, challenges, and successful approaches that support an inclusive response to this crisis and beyond. In the effort of readjusting to this 'new normal,' we can seize the opportunities to reform rather than rebuild our practices, emerging as more agile, resilient and equitable organisations.

Session curated by the Equity@Ecsite group and represented by Barbara Streicher, Executive Manager, Science Center Netzwerk Austria (Vienna, Austria), Shaaron Leverment, Deputy CEO, The Association for Science and Discovery Centres (Bristol, UK) and Amparo Leyman-Pino, Principal, Yellow Cow Consulting (San Francisco, USA)

Session speakers:

• Emily Dawson, University College London (London, UK)
• Vanessa Mignan, TRACES (Paris, France)
• David Jones, Centre for Life (Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK)
• Sanne den Adel, VSC, (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
• Matthias Beitl, Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art (Vienna, Austria)
• Sharon Ament, Museum of London (London, UK)
  

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Audience Research & Covid-19: opportunity or obstacle?

Took place on 20 May

Understanding our audiences has never been more important. As our organisations adjust to a new reality, we need audience research to help us develop new models of engaging the public remotely; predict visitor numbers and profiles upon reopening; and rethink our entire physical offer in light of social distancing. However, should we conduct research with populations under lockdown? How reliable and representative will the data be and what are the ethical considerations? This webinar will help organisations develop a strategic and socially responsible approach to audience research during this pandemic.

Session curated by Marie Hobson, Natural History Museum (London, UK)

Session speakers:

• Marie Hobson, Audience Research and Advocacy Manager, Natural History Museum (London, UK)
• Jeremy W. Foutz, Principal, STEAM Workgroup (Indianapolis, USA)
• Volker Schönert, Visitor Research, Museum für Naturkunde (Berlin, Germany)
  

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Decolonising museums and science communication

Took place on 13 May

The debate on how to decolonise our museums, collections and exhibitions is strong and ongoing. This webinar will include presentations to showcase specific projects and involves attendees in polls and an inclusive discussion.
The question of how, if or when objects collected in colonial contexts should be returned to their countries of origin is just one of many. Are our exhibitions too Eurocentric? For exhibitions in formerly colonised countries, how do we include the scientific knowledge and concepts of today’s communities’ ancestors into our communication? What can co-creative projects with source communities or partners in formerly colonised countries look like? When we write and design exhibitions, how can we use language and graphics to reflect critique of power asymmetries and distance ourselves from hegemonic thinking?

Session curated by Amparo Leyman Pino, Principal, Yellow Cow Consulting (San Francisco, USA) and Anna Schäfers, Curator of Education, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (Berlin, Germany)

Session speakers:

• Bärbel Auffermann, Director, Stiftung Neanderthal Museum (Mettmann, Germany)
• Elizabeth Rasekoala, President, African Gong
• Micah Parzen, CEO, San Diego Museum of Man (San Diego, USA)
• Caroline Turré, International Affairs Officer, Universcience (Paris, France)

The curators and speakers of this first webinar held a dedicated Q&A video after the webinar took place, expanding on the topics that were touched on – you can watch it here.

Have an idea for a webinar? Please complete this form with your proposal, as we look into the possibility of a second series of webinars in early 2021.