In partnership with UNESCO, science centres and museums worldwide celebrated the third edition of the International Science Centre and Science Museum Day (ISCSMD) on 10 November.

In 2018 in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UNESCO has chosen "Science, a Human Right" as a theme to highlight the 27th article that states: “Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.”

This year, ISCSMD was the opportunity for our field to collectively demonstrate impact and promote our missions by showcasing diverse science engagement activities supporting the right for all citizens to be informed, benefit from, debate and co-create science.

This is a joint action of Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), Asia Pacific Network of Science & Technology Centres (ASPAC), North Africa and Middle East Science Centers Network (NAMES), Latin American and Caribbean Network for the Popularization of Science and Technology (RedPop), Southern African Association of Science and Technology Centres (SAASTEC) and Ecsite.

A glimpse of what happened during this third edition

More than 150 science centres and science museums participated in the global event, with a diverse range of special events, programmes, and exhibitions.

"Seizing science as your right" was our motto throughout this day. On Ecsite’s twitter account we shared highlights of the day from Ecsite members, as well as some examples of actions and projects from the Ecsite network that encourage and empower citizens to seize their right to science. Check it out on Twitter or Facebook.

A multi-country webinar was also organized by ASTC and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on the theme “Science Centers and Scientists Working Together to Share with the Public Their Right to Science”.