Ecsite & NEMO Science Museum welcome Directors and senior managers from Ecsite member organisations to join the Directors Forum in Amsterdam 17-18 November
The Ecsite Directors Forum is the ideal opportunity to build relationships and network with your peers from across Europe. This 2 day forum offers a confidential platform to share expertise, debate and exchange knowledge with one another. Tours are included in the programme as well as the option to stay on until 19 November for additional visits.
1. About
What important external trends are impacting work in the science engagement community?
Science centres, museums and other science engagement institutions and professionals want and should have an impact on the society of today and tomorrow. Our roles to engage our audiences and citizens also change with external trends and the needs of society. Our institutions should also serve as role models in responding to current societal and environmental challenges.
What are the current external trends, and how are we responding to them? Are we addressing them? If not, why not? Can we afford not to?
These issues will be explored through two days of keynotes, seminars, discussions, peer learning, networking and site visits.
2. Programme
17 November | |
10.00-11.00 | On-site registration |
11.00-12.30 | Opening & keynote speech:
Farid Tabarki, founder Studio Zeitgeist |
13.30-14.00 | Optional: NEMO visit or Ecsite EU projects presentation |
14.00-15.45 | Taking a stand: science engagement institutions and climate crisis |
15.45–16.00 |
Information session: Ecsite Statutes revision |
16.30-21.30 | Hermitage Amsterdam visit including Q&A with the Director, Annabelle Birnie and dinner |
21.30-23.00 | Boat tour through Amsterdam |
18 November | |
8.30-10.30 |
Interactive seminar on Future Literacy Loes Damhof, UNESCO Chair Futures Literacy - Hanze University of Applied Sciences |
10.30-11.30 | Tour of the Energy Junkies exhibition |
11:30-12:30 |
Working session on the International Directors Forum 2023 |
12.30-13.00 | Close - Afterwards there will be a lunch available |
19 November | Optional site visits to Naturalis, Leiden and Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, Leiden |
Discover the full programme here.
3. Additional information
HOTELS - We recommend staying the Movenpick but the NEMO team also recommends the following hotels. Book in good time as Amsterdam can get very booked up.
OFFSET YOUR EMISSIONS - Flying to the event? Consider donating to climate protection projects to offset your CO₂ emissions.
COVID - Ecsite follows the Covid restrictions of the country where an event is held. Keep up to date with the current Dutch regulations here.
QUESTIONS - For any questions, please contact Ecsite's Event Manager Wiktor.
PHOTOS - Take a look at photos from previous Directors Forums via this link to get an idea of what to expect.
4. When You Arrive
ARRIVAL TIME - On-site registration opens at 10:00am for an 11:00am start.
FINDING NEMO - The venue address is Oosterdok 2, 1011 VX Amsterdam and is within walking distance from Centraal Train Station. From Schiphol Airport: Take the train to Centraal Station. Trains depart every few minutes throughout the day. Walking from Centraal Station: 15 minutes’ walk, exit from the main exit (centre side) of Centraal Station and turn left. Bus from Centraal Station: Take the 22 bus and get off at the Kadijksplein stop. Passengers can pay with contactless credit/debit cards onboard. N.B. Roadworks around Centraal Station may mean that bus journeys take slightly longer and that using a local route planner is likely to be more accurate than GoogleMaps. By car: The venue is easily accessible by car, however parking costs in central Amsterdam are high. Information about parking garages can be found on the NEMO website.
LOCAL INFORMATION - The basics: The local currency is the Euro and the dialing code for the Netherlands is +31. Dutch is spoken in Amsterdam, however locals will most likely be happy to converse with you in English. Things to do: a list of the top 20 things to do can be found on the local tourist information website.