Social inclusion and diversity – from goodwill to institutional change
Find this session's presentations here.
At the 2016 Ecsite Annual Conference our community was challenged by keynote speaker Liz Rasekoala at on how (poorly) science museums and science centres deal with inclusion, diversity and equity issues. An international working group has since been following up the idea of devising a "social inclusion and diversity framework" with measurable indicators for success that could support the development of our field. In this workshop, we want to explore how we can make the leap from goodwill to institutional change, embedding social inclusion, diversity and equity in all aspects and areas of our organisations.
The workshop is aimed at a diversity of participants from any institutional department (management, content development, facilitation, marketing, etc.) who are willing to explore and drive these issues forward.
Institutional change on diversity, equity and inclusion may feel like "eating an elephant". Where to start? The pre-conference day will inspire participants to take up the challenge, providing understanding, confidence and tools. It will be facilitated by members of the working group and invited experts.
A detailed programme is available here.
Session speakers
Vanessa Mignan and Matteo Merzagora (TRACES, France) will introduce a self-evaluation tool that allows participants to assess their institutions´ baseline on inclusion and diversity.
Director of science mediation and education
Vanessa Mignan and Matteo Merzagora (TRACES, France) will introduce a self-evaluation tool that allows participants to assess their institutions´ baseline on inclusion and diversity.
Department of Science Education, University of Copenhagen
Marianne Achiam (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) will address the four levels on which conditions and constraints for science engagement (and the embedded non-/inclusion) originate and manifest itself (see framework on gender developed within the Hypatia project).
African Gong- the Pan-African Network for the Popularisation of Science & Technology, and Science Communication
Liz Rasekoala (African Gong, South Africa) will provide exercises on the content and dynamic of the parameters proposed for the to-be-developed social inclusion and diversity framework, based on the preliminary results of the ongoing working group.
Barbara Streicher (Science Center Network, Austria) will faciliate the wrap-up discussion on how to take the inspiration back to their institutions, build up a support network and start change processes.
Maria Vlachou (Accesso Culturo, Portugal) will act as a discussant, providing an outsider's look inside.
Maria is a Cultural Management and Communications consultant with long-term experience in promoting discussions on accessibility, Executive Director of Access Culture and co-manager of the blog Museums and Migration.
