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2012 - 2013 Noyce Fellowships announced: Five leaders from Ecsite member institutions chosen
February 22 2012 / Ecsite

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Noyce Foundation, in collaboration with the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), today announced the participants in a fifth round of yearlong sponsored fellowships, as well as plans to recruit more leaders in the following year, with the aim of increasing the public impact of science centers, museums, and related institutions. The Noyce Leadership Institute (NLI) brings together leaders in informal science education from around the world to act as change agents at the crossroads of societal trends, global issues, and the cutting edge of science.

See attachment below for full list of past and current Noyce Fellows who are Ecsite members.

Through their NLI Fellowship experience, 18 senior-level executives from science centers, children’s museums, natural history museums, and field-based institutions will gain access to knowledge, tools, promising practices, and professional networks that increase their capacity to lead effectively and to advance innovation in their own institutions, in their home communities, and in the broader field. These remarkable leaders were selected because they are well-positioned to influence other senior executives in their institutions and communities.

“The NLI Fellowship will help to prepare the next generation of leaders to extend the impact of science centers and museums deeper into their local communities and to increase understanding and excitement about science,” said Dr. Geno Schnell, NLI program director.

NLI envisions an essential and transformative role for science centers and other institutions in the engagement of citizens of every age in understanding crucial science-related issues. Leaders of such innovative hubs are supported and challenged by the Noyce Leadership Institute to make the individual, organizational, and community changes required to realize this vision. From 2008 to 2011, 70 Fellows have participated in NLI. These individuals represent 59 institutions from 21 nations.

The 2012–2013 Noyce Leadership Fellows were selected through a competitive process by a committee composed of professionals representing the fields of informal science education and executive leadership. The Fellowship program provides an action-learning framework via a mix of face-to-face sessions, executive coaching, peer learning, audio conferencing, and other learning strategies over a year, followed by ongoing Fellow alumni activities.

The 18 Noyce Fellows and their Strategic Initiative Sponsors are:

Accokeek Foundation, Maryland

  • Fellow: Lisa Hayes, President & CEO
  • Sponsor: Wilton C. Corkern, Senior Adviser
  • Strategic Initiative: Create a national model in Piscataway Park for connecting people to the environment through interpretation of the indigenous cultural landscape of the Piscataway people.

American Museum of Natural History, New York

  • Fellow: Lauri Halderman, Senior Director, Exhibition Interpretation
  • Co-Sponsor: David Harvey, Senior Vice President for Exhibition
  • Co-Sponsor: Lisa J. Gugenheim, Senior Vice President, Institutional Advancement, Strategic Planning & Education
  • Strategic Initiative: Develop a clear understanding of the interests, wants, and needs of our visitors, including underserved audiences, to inform the museum’s decision-making on major temporary exhibits.

Boston Children’s Museum, Massachusetts

  • Fellow: Tim Porter, Project Director, Education
  • Sponsor: Leslie Swartz, Senior Vice President of Research and Program Planning
  • Strategic Initiative: Explore uses of current technology to better serve our audience, and create new and sustained connections between the museum and our local community through accessible technologies.

Copernicus Science Center, Poland – Ecsite member

  • Fellow: Irena Cieślińska, Deputy Director
  • Sponsor: Robert Firmhofer, CEO
  • Strategic Initiative: Create a space that encourages adult visitors to become engaged, building a sense of commonality and respect for different viewpoints, and stimulating discussion about the vision for Poland’s future development.

Lawrence Hall of Science; University of California, Berkeley

  • Fellow: Gretchen Walker, Public Science Center Interim Director
  • Sponsor: Elizabeth Stage, Director, Lawrence Hall of Science
  • Strategic Initiative: Make increased service to three local school districts with large underserved populations central to a new strategic and business plan for the Lawrence Hall of Science.

Madison Children’s Museum, Wisconsin

  • Fellow: Brenda Baker, Director of Exhibits
  • Sponsor: Ruth Shelly, Executive Director
  • Strategic Initiative: Create a community-based partnership that increases opportunities for children to use design thinking and digital media, not as passive participants, but as investigators, citizen scientists, storytellers, and cultural change agents.

Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC

  • Fellow: Erika Shugart, Deputy Director
  • Sponsor: Patrice Legro, Director
  • Strategic Initiative: Transform the Koshland Science Musuem’s online presence from a unidirectional provider of information to a community that helps people use science to solve problems.

Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

  • Fellow: Patricia Ward, Director, Science and Technology
  • Sponsor: Kurt Haunfelner, Vice President, Exhibits and Collections
  • Strategic Initiative: Develop an exhibit-based Energy Simulation and integrated curriculum that positions MSI as a convener for Chicago-area students, the public, and energy experts supporting the ongoing education of the community.

Museum of Science, Boston

  • Fellow: Christine Reich, Director of Research and Evaluation
  • Co-Sponsor: Wayne Bouchard, Chief Operating Officer
  • Co-Sponsor: Britton O’Brien, Vice President, Human Resources
  • Strategic Initiative: Establish policies, practices, and procedures that support sustained and continuous improvement toward greater inclusion for people with disabilities at the Museum of Science, Boston.

National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation / Miraikan, Japan – Ecsite member

  • Fellow: Yasushi Ikebe, Principal Investigator of Science Communication
  • Sponsor: Mamoru Mohri, CEO
  • Strategic Initiative: Establish an initial profile of a new research center for science communication.

Natural History Museum, London – Ecsite member

  • Fellow: Ian Jenkinson, Museum Manager
  • Co-Sponsor: Ailsa Barry, Head of Interactive Media
  • Co-Sponsor: Andy Polaszek, Keeper of Entomology
  • Strategic Initiative: Provide and test three community engagement initiatives for the Natural History Museum focusing on social media and virtual visitor forums, a citizen panel, and models for engaging international partner communities.

Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Netherlands – Ecsite member

  • Fellow: Paul Voogt, Director, Public Programs
  • Sponsor: Edwin van Huis, CEO
  • Strategic Initiative: Reinvent Naturalis as a network museum, which means not only working for or with community, but incorporating community into the primary process.

New York Hall of Science, Queens, New York – Ecsite member

  • Fellow: David Kanter, Director, SciPlay, Center for Play, Science & Technology Learning
  • Sponsor: Margaret Honey, President & CEO
  • Strategic Initiative: Collaboratively develop and test programmatic models with school district partners that support Queens middle grades science teachers using play-based instruction to bridge the science center to their classrooms.

Science Museum of Minnesota

  • Fellow: Bob Breck, Director of Marketing & Membership
  • Sponsor: Paul Martin, Senior Vice President of Science Learning
  • Strategic Initiative: Create partnerships between the museum and community organizations to provide a “science-based” sounding board for political policy discussion.

Science Museum Oklahoma

  • Fellow: Sherry Marshall, Director of the Oklahoma Museum Network
  • Sponsor: Don Otto, CEO
  • Strategic Initiative: Through a statewide partnership, foster meaningful community connections by promoting a culture of open exploration and inquiry in five unique museum settings.

Thanksgiving Point Institute, Utah

  • Fellow: Blake Wigdahl, Vice President, Design and Programming
  • Sponsor: Mike Washburn, President & CEO
  • Strategic Initiative: Become Utah’s center for developing sustainable ways to grow and connect with food by building a local community food network that leverages the story and resources at Thanksgiving Point.

The Franklin Institute Science Museum, Pennsylvania

  • Fellow: Dale McCreedy, Director, Gender & Family Learning Programs
  • Sponsor: Frederic Bertley, Vice President, Science and Innovation
  • Strategic Initiative: Envision and create structures that facilitate ongoing community and museum communication and integration, with a fundamental goal of establishing a coalition of cross-community expertise for collaborative science learning.

Universeum, Sweden – Ecsite member

  • Fellow: Carina Halvord, Deputy Managing Director & Head of Development
  • Sponsor: Lars Rehnman, CEO
  • Strategic Initiative: Create an Entrepreneurial Learning Center through partnerships with key stakeholders for training pre-school and compulsory schoolteachers, providing them with tools ensuring students the best possible educational experience.

The Noyce Foundation and its partners are proud to announce a sixth NLI Fellowship in 2013-14. Senior-level leaders who are interested in learning more about the application process should visit www.noycefdn.org.

The Institute bears the name of Robert Noyce, co-founder of Intel and inventor of the integrated circuit. His work in leading science, engineering, and technology to a whole new level of innovation — as well as the creation of new industries — is legendary. Known for his integrity, authenticity, character, inclusiveness, and continuous innovation, Noyce’s legacy continues to serve as a standard for leaders today.

ASTC is a global nonprofit organization of science centers and museums committed to raising public understanding of science’s role in solving critical societal issues and its value in igniting and nurturing the innovative spirit that people of all ages need for success in today’s world. Through strategic alliances and global partnerships, ASTC strives to increase awareness of the valuable contributions its science center members make to their communities and the field of informal science learning. Founded in 1973, ASTC now numbers nearly 600 members in 45 countries, and its members include not only science centers and museums, but also nature centers, aquariums, planetariums, zoos, botanical gardens, and natural history and children’s museums, as well as companies, consultants, and other organizations that share an interest in informal science education.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development.

Primary funding for the Noyce Leadership Institute comes from the Noyce Foundation, with additional support to date from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the David & Lucile Packard Foundation.

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NLI Fellows Press Release
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Ecsite's past and current Noyce Fellows
News
Latest issue of Ecsite Quarterly Newsletter available online
February 21 2012 / Ecsite
Ecsite issue 89 - New Technologies

Maarten Okkersen (Museon, The Hague, Netherlands) is the Guest Editor of this diverse issue on New technologies.

These days, science museums and science centres are increasingly acting as knowledge brokers, promoting and facilitating enquiry-based learning and citizen science in the information society of today. We operate right at the cutting edge of these fields and are important intermediaries in the process of transformation.

Together with our visitors, we seek to gauge the significance of new technologies, define our relationship to technology and shape our human identity. Technology is constantly changing and doing so at an ever-increasing pace;nevertheless, it will remain more than ever an inherent part of the human condition.

Read more in the full PDF version, available here: www.ecsite.eu/news_and_events/quarterly_newsletters/new-technologies

News
Science centres and museums advocating at Planet Under Pressure (PuP) conference
February 21 2012 / Ecsite

Margit Fischer, First Lady of Austria and President of Austria’s ScienceCenter-Network, will make the case for a science centre and museum partnership with the United Nations when she speaks at the PuP conference, 29 March, 10:15 am, in London, UK.

Science centres and museums are on the front lines of public engagement about sustainable development and linkages must be made at the highest level to facilitate the best public knowledge. She will speak during the session, “High-level responses from policy, major groups and society.” www.planetunderpressure2012.net/programme.asp Ecsite is a partner in the preparation of Mrs. Fischer’s speech.

Mrs. Fischer’s presentation will feature the Road to Rio Google map which shows science centres and museums who engage the public with environmental topics.

Add your centre or museum to the map today:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=21505672…

News
Ecsite seeking Project Officer: Apply by 4 March
February 20 2012 / Ecsite

The Project Officer is responsible for the implementation of the activities related to the projects to ensure they are carried out consistently and successfully in accordance with the project’s rules and workplan. S/he will monitor all aspects for clear goals, objectives and timelines; liaise with the Consortium raising critical issues as appropriate; ensure priorities and objectives are met; and maintain the content of the project’s web sites.

Place in the organization

The Projects Officer will coordinate the workpackages led by Ecsite in various European funded projects related to science communication). S/he will collaborate with the other Ecsite Projects’ Officers and may also be providing assistance to the Executive Director.

Tasks

  • Coordinate the workpackages of Ecsite for the projects.
  • Ensure a clear delivery of project activities and deliverables throughout the entire duration of the project.
  • Disseminate pro-actively the projects’ results.
  • Work on the concept and implementation of the dissemination plan and activities (news, workshops, events).
  • Contribute and perform various EU Projects presentations, meetings, agendas etc
  • Provide and feed-in content for web pages on the projects.
  • Draft project implementation reports (coordinating the input from the Consortium; format and layout of the report; preparing the submission of the report).
  • Under the supervision of the accountant, estimate expenses and oversee budget expenditures
  • Coordinate and organize meetings with Project partners and stakeholders, ensuring that the meetings achieve expected project outcomes and results and preparing meeting reports
  • Produce background documents for meetings
  • Communicate effectively in English both in speaking and writing with variety of partners of diverse backgrounds from academia to the Ecsite members and the European Commission
  • Serve as primary contact person for project participants, diplomatically responding to queries and resolving problems.
  • Contribute actively to the life of the organization.

Requirements

  • Native-like spoken / written English; other languages a plus.
  • University degree.
  • Excellent communication skills including the ability to prepare reports, analyze research, make presentations and communicate clearly to various audiences.
  • Good software (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint ) skills, Internet and social media skills
  • Hard-working, autonomous.
  • Experience in project management; Experience with European institutions and/or grants management a plus.
  • Interest and ability in working in science communication , non-profit and international environment.
  • Strong organizational skills ;strong analytical skills.
  • Good sense of initiative, ability to set priorities.
  • Good level of political maturity, personal initiative and creativity.
  • Ability to provide inputs for conceptualizing strategies and designing work plans.
  • Ability to build and maintain broad networks of partners, excellent interpersonal skills

Terms and conditions

  • Attractive conditions are offered and will be adapted depending on experience;
  • Applicants must be able to legally live and work in Brussels. The contract will be a temporary one and subject to Belgian social security and taxes
  • Ecsite offers an opportunity of gaining broad experience within an innovative, multinational association with broad and challenging responsibilities and the opportunity to work within a highly motivated and professional team.
  • Ecsite is committed to providing an equal opportunities work environment.
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Project Officer job description
News
Celebrating the PSC 10th Anniversary
February 19 2012 / Bibliotheca Alexandrina ALEXploratorium
Director, Eng. Hoda Elmikaty, and the Deputy, Eng. Ayman ElSayed
during the festivity
two participants speaking sign language
discussions between participants and staff members
discussions between participants and staff members
discussions between participants and staff members
presentations by participants
presentations by participants

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Planetarium Science Center opening, in 2002, the Center has organizeed a festivity titled “Celebrating The Future”, to celebrate all those who contributed to the promotion of scientific activities of this edifice, and to discuss the views and experiences of all the center participants.
The workshop hosted a group of students who had participated in various activities at the Centre, and have represented Egypt in regional and international competitions. It also hosted a number of esteemed teachers and professors who always have believed in the Center message, and have effectively contributed to helping the students in various aspects at the center. This was in presence of a number of outstanding volunteers, who have always helped spreading the message of science and knowledge.
The aim of the day was to shed light on the activities of the PSC and their impact on the decisions of participating students, in the selection of the fields of their undergraduate study. It also aimed to monitor various views of how to develop the Center activities to attract more students, and access to the largest base of school and university students Pursuant to the Center motto “Science for All”. The event aimed to create a sustainable cycle that links between the center and the active participants involved in its activities. All this was accomplished through interactive activities and non-traditional discussions , as the theme of the workshop was to improve the transparency level of activities, in order to maintain the Center leadership in the field of informal education.

News
PSC Mid - Year Program
February 16 2012 / Bibliotheca Alexandrina ALEXploratorium
Mid Year Program - Nutrition...What to Eat Workshop
Mid Year Pprogram - Pop Corn Science Workshop
Mid Year Program - Writing Tools in the Arab World
Planetarium Science Center - Fun For Everyone
Mid Year Program - Design It Workshop

like each year, during the mid-year school vacation, the Planetarium Science Center has presented its mid-year program to school students of ages 6 – 16 years. The program comprises a unique assortment of various scientific activities; scientific workshops, planetarium shows, two-and three-dimensional documentary movies, guided tours in the center’s Alexploratorium , and a number of scientific lectures, all designed carefully to suit the ages of school students, divided into three groups; the first group for ages 6 to 9 years old, and the second group for ages 9 to 12 years, and the third group of 12 to 16 years, for our faith in the Center slogan “Science for All”.
This program lasted from January 29 till February 9, 2012, aiming to present scientific knowledge in a practical and entertaining approach, The number of participants this year was 450 students from all grades. Being so popular, it is repeated, on a wider scale, during the summer holiday.

News
PSC Newsletter latest issue
February 14 2012 / Bibliotheca Alexandrina ALEXploratorium
prevous issue
prevous issue
prevous issue
prevous issue

The Planetarium Science Center issues a scientific newsletter, on quarterly basis. each issue has a scientific theme, to which all the included articles are dedicated. The newsletter has an attractive layout, through the colorful pages, the simple language, and the various illustrations, and is issued in 2 languages; Arabic and English, aiming to encourage the public to read about science. The PSC distributes this Newsletter for free on Clubs, Schools, Universities, and all social gathering points, to ensure Scientific knowledge dessimination among various society sectors. The PSC Newsletter latest issue can be viewed at: http://www.bibalex.org/en/PSC//Attachment/Attachment//201201091151079061…

News
Sustainable Energy Europe Awards Competition: Apply by 29 February
February 14 2012 / Ecsite

Ecsite, The European network of science centres and museums and the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) Secretariat are pleased to invite you to participate in the forthcoming Sustainable Energy Europe Awards Competition.

The Sustainable Energy Europe Awards were launched by the European Commission in 2005 and provide an invaluable opportunity to highlight the successes of the most outstanding and innovative projects in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy. For this 6th edition, projects can be submitted in five categories:

  • Communicating: Projects in this category include all types of communication activities that create awareness and aim at changing the perception and behaviour of stakeholders and citizens.
  • Consuming: Projects in this category refer to a more efficient energy management aiming at reducing energy consumption from both production and end-user side.
  • Learning: Projects in this category are carried out to improve knowledge and skills related to energy efficiency and renewables. They are usually carried out by official training and education bodies, such as schools, universities, training centres, etc.
  • Living: Projects aiming at making buildings more energy-efficient or integrating the on-site generation of renewable energy.
  • Travelling: Projects in this category are related to sustainable mobility, clean transport and fossil-fuel free initiatives from public authorities or transport companies.

As a member of Ecsite we would be honoured to have you on board. Presenting a project will help promote your organisation’s commitment towards a cleaner environment and a more sustainable Europe, receive EU institutional recognition and gain greater visibility and media attention.

To aid your application, the Awards secretariat offers personalised assistance. We would be pleased to answer your questions and assist you in completing your application form. To apply please visit: http://www.eusew.eu/awards-competition. The deadline to apply is 29 February 2011.

The Awards ceremony will take place on 19 June 2012 in Brussels in the framework of the European Union sustainable Energy Week and will be hosted by energy Commissioner Mr. Günther H. Oettinger (tbc).

News
Ecsite seeking Events and Fundraising Manager: Apply by 27 February
February 13 2012 / Ecsite

Events and Fundraising Manager

Ecsite, the European network of science centres and museums, is a non-profit international association with 400 institutional members. The common thread uniting these institutions is a commitment to public engagement by communicating science through accessible, interactive exhibits and programmes. Ecsite connects member institutions through projects and activities and facilitates the exchange of ideas and best practices on current issues. To this end, Ecsite offers different services to its members, is involved in numerous collaborative projects – many of which are co-financed by the European Commission. Ecsite organises an Annual Conference which is the largest science communication conference in Europe. Ecsite also organises an Annual Directors Forum, and a number of trainings and workshops. Ecsite is recruiting an Events and Fundraising Manager who will be responsible for organising the Ecsite Annual Conference, the Directors’ Forum and all other Ecsite events, and to attract sponsorship to the Annual Conference.

Ecsite Annual Conference and Directors Forum organisation

The Annual Conference is co-organised by Ecsite and by a local host. While Ecsite is responsible for the content of the event, the host is responsible for the social programme and the on-site logistics, under the supervision of Ecsite. An Annual Conference Programme Committee (ACPC) oversees the content in close collaboration with the Events Manager. Ecsite is responsible for the promotion of the event. The Annual Conference consists of two pre-conference days with 7-9 Pre-Conference workshops that attract around 250 participants, followed by three main conference days with 75 sessions, more than 300 speakers and 1,000 science communication professionals. An exhibition space presents the products and services of 50 companies. This area is called the Business Bistro and is to be further developed in the coming years.

The Directors Forum brings together 40 directors of the main European science centres and museums, all of whom are Full Members of Ecsite. The event is co-organised by Ecsite and by the local host who helps Ecsite select four to five keynote speakers and coordinates the social programme under Ecsite’s supervision.

While both events have been going on for a number of years, fundraising is a new function at Ecsite and the Events and Fundraising Manager will define and set the parameters of the position.

Main responsibilities

Reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with the Ecsite team and Committees, the Events and Fundraising Manager is responsible for the development and organization of the Ecsite Annual Conference and Business Bistro, the Directors Forum and other Ecsite meetings, conferences and workshops. S/he is also responsible for developing and implementing a fundraising strategy connected with the Ecsite Annual Conference. Other assignments, such as assistance with Ecsite’s European projects may also be required.

Place in the organization

The Events and Fundraising Manager works within a team of eight full-time employees. S/he reports to the Executive Director, works closely with the rest of the team, but is solely responsible for the organisation of events. The position is service-oriented and impacts most of Ecsite’s activities.

The working environment is an open space area. The candidate should feel comfortable working in a small, flexible, association-type structure. The Ecsite office is located very close to the Central Station in Brussels. The working language of Ecsite is English. The position involves quite a bit of travel during the year.

Main tasks

A. Planning and scheduling

  • Establish a work plan and deadlines for the promotion, registration and organization of the events. Liaise with speakers, participants, the local host, suppliers, designers and with the Ecsite team to adapt to their needs and respect deadlines.
  • Establish the schedule of the events.

B. Promotion and registration

  • In close collaboration with Ecsite’s Communications Officer, define and implement the promotional strategy of the event, write and edit the promotional texts.
  • Supervise the production of the promotional tools: announcements, programmes, website.
  • Increase media coverage of the Annual Conference and collect coverage for archives.
  • Organize and oversee the online and on-site registration and payment system for the Ecsite Annual Conference and organize the registration and payments for all other events.

C. Budget and contracts

  • Propose a budget and control the approved budget.
  • Negotiate contracts with various companies involved in the events.

D. Logistics and venue

  • Participate to the selection of the venues, allocate spaces, and specify requirements.
  • Ensure the dismantling and the clearing of the venues.
  • Define and supervise IT requirements.

E. Content and social programme

  • Elaborate programme objectives when necessary, find and brief speakers and facilitators.
  • Assist the Annual Conference Programme Committee (ACPC) in its work, notably during the selection of the sessions proposals. Establish the agenda, write the minutes and ensure the follow-up of meetings.
  • Secure keynote speakers and special guests arrangements and welcome.
  • Supervise and organize the social events.

F. Business Bistro of the Annual Conference

  • Define and produce an exhibitors package.
  • Promote the Business Bistro to European and worldwide companies, increasing significantly the number of exhibitors and the financial results. Rent booths to the exhibitors.
  • Follow-up with the exhibitors before the event, on site and after the event.

G.Evaluation and Improvement

  • Perform and compile an evaluation for each event.
  • Improve the quality, the relevance and the attractiveness of the events by using the results of the evaluations and by generating new ideas.

H. Fundraising

  • Develop and implement a fundraising plan for the Annual Conference
  • Identify companies, foundations and other potential sponsors and build a database of information.
  • Contact and negotiate with the sponsors in collaboration with the Host.
  • Maintain sponsors relationships, including Ecsite’s Corporate Partners.
  • Monitor the progress of the fundraising plan, evaluate results and suggest improvements.

Requirements

  • Native level spoken and written English; other languages are a plus.
  • University degree or diploma related to events management.
  • Very good experience in organizing events and in fundraising.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Excellent time management and organisational skills, experience of budget management.
  • Good software skills (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint ), Internet and social media skills
  • Ability to work independently and to set priorities.
  • Good level of social maturity, personal initiative and creativity.
  • Ability to adapt to different cultural situations and work within a multicultural team.
  • Ability to provide inputs for conceptualizing strategies and designing work plans.
  • Ability to build and maintain broad networks of partners, excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Flexible and adaptable working style.
  • Customer-focused, service oriented.
  • Knowledge and interest in sales and marketing; commercial aptitudes.
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects at a time.
  • Sincere commitment to working collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, boardmembers, sponsors, programme participants.
  • Interest and ability in working in science communication in a non-profit environment.

Terms and conditions

Attractive conditions are offered and will be adapted depending on experience;
Applicants must be able to legally live and work in Brussels. The permanent contract will be subject to Belgian social security and taxes.

Ecsite offers an opportunity of gaining broad experience within an innovative, multinational association with broad and challenging responsibilities and the opportunity to work within a highly motivated and professional team.

Ecsite is committed to providing an equal opportunities work environment.

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Ecsite Events Manager
News
Earth Debate on measuring progress, 22 February, 19:00 GMT
February 8 2012 / Natural History Museum

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a universal but crude measure of a country’s economic activity and output.

Watch the next Earth Debate on 22 February 2012

But it takes no account of the appreciation or deprecation of a country’s building infrastructure, or of the condition of its natural capital (land, soils, the diversity of plants, animals and life) and the ecosystem services provided by the environment (such as crop pollination).

Furthermore, GDP is no measure of the health, wealth, or wellbeing of a country’s population, or how these are distributed across society.

While GDP remains the most important measure for international financing, alternative measures are needed for sustainable development. What alternatives account for the wellbeing of the environment and local people, providing indicators for investing in a green economy?

What do you think?
Your questions and comments will form an important part of the debate. Share your thoughts and leave a comment below.

Watch the debate
A panel of leading experts chaired by Richard Black, the BBC’s environment correspondent, will discuss the issues and answer some of your questions.

Watch the live debate online on 22 February 2012 at 19:00 GMT

The panel

  • Emily Benson, a project manager for the Green Economy Coalition
  • Hannah Ryder, a senior economist for DFID (Department for International Development) advising on low-carbon and climate-resilient economic growth in developing countries
  • Andrew Simms, author and Fellow of the New Economics Foundation
    Paul Simpson, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Carbon Disclosure Project
    .
News
MICROLIFE opening in Madrid in march 2012
February 7 2012 / Expografic
Microlife

“MICROLIFE” is a new exhibition produced by Expografic, an extraordinary journey to the universe of minuscule beings beyond the limits of our sight. A series of beautiful images taken through the dark-field microscope technique, are the focal point for visitors to understand concepts such as zoom and scale and how their increase will discover surprising worlds in each of the exhibition’s areas and interactive exhibits. Optical technology, biology and art are combined in this exhibition designed for all ages.
Microlife was produced by Expografic with the collaboration of Cosmocaixa.

More information about the exhibition, the activities and materials: http://catalogo.expografic.es/en/microvida/

See you at ECSITE 2012 in booth number 28!

News
Open Science Resources launches Best Educational Pathway contest
January 30 2012 / Ecsite

The consortium of Open Science Resources is launching a contest for the best educational pathways of the OSR portal. Sixteen pathways in total have been chosen by the consortium to be part of this contest based on the quality of their content. The 8 pathways that are most highly evaluated by the users will be recognized as the best pathways of the OSR portal and their authors will receive a “Best Pathway” certificate.

Evaluation

All users are invited to evaluate the selected pathways by using the social tagging tool and the rating system. The evaluation of the pathways will be mainly based on the social tags and especially on the educational objectives tags that will be added by the users. The star rating and the comments of the users will also be taken into consideration.

While voting for the Best OSR pathways please consider:

- Content Quality – Adequacy of Supporting materials – Topic originality and author inventveness – The degree to which the educational objectives posted by the contributor are met.

In order to evaluate a pathway please add the educational objectives you believe it serves using the “Add your tags” tool you will find in the node page of each pathway.

Read more about the contest here: www.osrportal.eu/en/node/96281

The contest will end on the 29th of February and the results will be announced in the beginning of March.

News
Watch the first Earth Debate, "Can we put a price on nature?" now online
January 20 2012 / Natural History Museum

The first of four webcast Earth Debates in advance of Rio+20 will happened at 19.00 on Wednesday 25 January. The Earth Debates are an initiative of the Natural History Museum, London, UK

View the first Earth Debate in its entirety online: www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/message/16557#16557

Visit the Earth Debates website for more:
www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/biodiversity/earth-debates//

Ecosystem services – can we put a price on nature? was chaired by BBC Environment correspondent Richard Black.

The panellists were:

  • Prof Sir Robert Watson FRS, Chief Scientific Adviser For Defra and former science advisor to the World Bank
  • Claire Brown was a senior scientist at UNEP-WCMC who coordinated the UK National Ecosystem Assessment development
  • Will Evison, an environmental economist with leading consultants PwC was the editor of the TEEB for Business report.
  • Ian Dickie, a Director of the city business Aldersgate group which lobbies for better business engagement in the green economy.
News
Open Science Resources Summer School, Crete, Greece, 6-7 July 2012
January 12 2012 / Ecsite

The “Open Science Resources” summer school aims to offer to teachers from all over Europe the chance to get acquainted with open educational resources repositories and be trained to use existing materials and relevant tools so as to design top quality educational activities that may be easily retrievable and available at anytime from anywhere.

Participation in this event is funded by the European Commission through the Comenius and Grundtvig programmes: therefore interested teachers or trainers can simply contact their relevant National Agency. Learn more about the summer school and grants here: www.ecsite.eu/activities_and_resources/trainings/open-science-resources-…

A list of eligible countries (EU nations, plus Turkey, Croatia, FYROM) and the contact details of the National Agencies can be found here: http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc1208_en.htm .

The deadline for applications is January 16th, 2012.

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Sponsorship and Business Bistro opportunities at Ecsite 2012
December 6 2011 / Ecsite

Book a booth in our Business Bistro or choose one of our Sponsorship packages and show everyone what your company has to offer the world of exhibitions, technology, services and all other things related to modern science communication. The Ecsite Annual Conference runs from 31 May to 2 June 2012 in Toulouse, France.

We promise an engaging conference, with a busy pre-conference with 250 delegates, a main conference with more than 900 participants, and an exciting Business Bistro with 55 booths available on the exhibition floor. Use this opportunity to meet the decision-makers of science centres and museums one-on-one.

For more information about Sponsorship packages and/or to book your Business Bistro booth, read the PDF documents at the end of this page:
www.ecsite.eu/annual_conference/business-bistro Annual Conference website

See you soon in Toulouse, France!

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‘Sex, wot’s the big deal?’, love and sex explained to pre-teens: now in Technopolis
November 29 2011 / Technopolis, the Flemish Science Center

‘Sex, wot’s the big deal?’ is the themed exhibition for adolescents between 10 to 14 years old where they discover everything about being in love, their changing bodies and sex in a playful and responsible way.

From 5 October 2011 until 1 May 2012 at Technopolis

Love and sex explained to pre-teens…
It’s not an easy task. And yet it is essential! During the teenage years things start to change, puberty begins and infatuation appears with blushing cheeks.

How does it feel to be in love? Why do I get pimples during puberty? How do I kiss someone? And where do babies come from?

There are more than enough questions, but where can adolescents between 10 and 14 years old find the answers?
For the first time ever an exhibition explains in a fun, interactive and tactful way everything concerning body changes, feelings, love and making babies. The exhibition also focuses on essential values like respect, mutual agreement, tolerance and equality.
The themed exhibition ‘Sex, wot’s the big deal?’ offers an answer to the curiosity of pre-teens by using the animation characters Titeuf and Nadia.

In addition to the exhibition, the public can enjoy the science show ‘Zonder blikken of blozen’ (Without a blush) and the demo ‘Hartenjagen’ (Play hearts). Only available in Dutch.
There is a teacher file available explaining the how and why of relational and sexual education. It also gives advice about handling this subject in class. This file also contains a key to the worksheet provided for the exhibition.
The worksheet is a guide for 10 to 12 year olds during their visit to the themed exhibition, with amusing questions, great facts, funny cartoons and tailor-made information.

Technopolis worked in conjunction with Sensoa, the Flemish foundation specializing in sexual health, concerning wording, the scientific content, the teacher file and the worksheet. The show and demo were developed together with Sensoa and Jeugd en Seksualiteit vzw (‘Youth and Sexuality’ npo) .

More information about the exhibition, the activities and materials: www.technopolis.be > eng

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Bloomfield Science Museum Jerusalem leads new ENGINEER project
November 22 2011 / Ecsite

ENGINEER will support the widespread adoption in Europe of innovative methods of science teaching and provide extensive teacher training on inquiry-based methods.

ENGINEER will develop 10 engineering design challenge units suited to European environments using EiE‘s Engineering Design Plan model. Each unit will focus on one engineering field and will use inexpensive materials for student-led design problem-solving. Science museums will lead the outreach effort that targets schools, teachers and science museums. ENGINEER‘s consortium, lead by Bloomfield Science Museum Jerusalem, features 10 science museums and 10 schools, as well as universities and other organizations that will contribute expertise to project tasks.

The project began in October 2011 and runs for 36 months. As a consortium partner of this project, Ecsite is responsible to lead the advocacy efforts in Engineer. www.ecsite.eu/activities_and_resources/projects/engineer

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Save on flights to the Ecsite Annual Conference via Air France and KLM Global Meetings
November 17 2011 / Ecsite

Come to the 2012 conference and benefit from discounted flights by booking online via Air France and KLM Global Meetings. If you buy your ticket via the Air France & KLM Global Meetings website, your electronic ticket will carry a special mention which justifies the application of the preferential fares.

Visit www.airfranceklm-globalmeetings.com to: access preferential fares granted for this event, make your online reservation, issue your electronic ticket, select your seat and print your boarding card. Use these references:

  • Event: Ecsite Annual Conference 2012
  • Event ID: 14142AF
  • Valid for travel from 24/05/2012 to 7/6/2012
  • Event location: Toulouse, France

Discounts are applied to a wide range of airfares on all Air France and KLM flights worldwide if passengers are travelling on the following classes of travel: Espace Affaires [Business] and Economique [Coach]. A -10% rebate is applied on published non-restrictive public fares. A reduction of -5% is granted on restrictive-discounted fares. Should you prefer to process your reservations and ticket-purchase directly with an Air France and KLM sales outlet, you must use this document as a reference to qualify for the special fares. Keep this document with you when you travel to the conference.

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Open Science Resources project wins Opal Award for Learning Contexts
November 16 2011 / Ecsite

Open Science Resources has been selected by an international jury as winner of the 2011 Open Educational Quality (OPAL) Awards for Learning Contexts.

The “Open Educational Quality Initiative” is an international network to promote innovation and improved quality in education and training through the use of open educational resources. OPAL has been established through international organisations including UNESCO, ICDE and EFQUEL in order to establish a forum which works to build greater trust in using and promoting open educational resources. The project is part funded by the European Commission Education and Training Lifelong Learning Programme (http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc78_en.htm).

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Gender Issue of the Ecsite Quarterly Newsletter now available
November 14 2011 / Ecsite
Future scientists at opening of TWIST exhibit, Exploratorium, Copenhagen, Denmark

In this issue of the Ecsite Quarterly Newsletter, find out how Experimentarium in San Francisco, California, successfully integrated research on gender equity in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), into a geometry exhibition.Hear from two science centre directors who are both tackling the gender issue in their institutions and follow the evolution of the Towards Women in Science and Technology (TWIST) as it challenges visitors across Europe to reconsider their gender biases about women in science.

www.ecsite.eu/news_and_events/quarterly_newsletters/gender-issue

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PCST 2012 and Ecsite 2012: The perfect pair, each 10% off
October 27 2011 / Ecsite

The 12th International Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST 2012) conference heads to Florence, Italy, 18-20 April, 2012. Ecsite’s Annual Conference (Ecsite 2012) takes place May 31 to June 2, 2012, in Toulouse, France. This offers an unprecedented opportunity for exchange between the academic and practical science communication communities of Europe.

PCST and Ecsite are each offering a 10% full conference fee discount for those attending PCST 2012 and the Ecsite Annual Conference 2012, 31 May – 2 June in Toulouse, France.

How can you take advantage of this one-time opportunity?

You will have the chance to declare your attendance at Ecsite 2012 when registering online for PCST 2012. From here, you will be issued a promotion code.

When Ecsite Annual Conference registration opens in February 2012, you will be offered the chance to declare your attendance at PCST 2012.

Please retain your receipts as a proof of registration for both events and present them on site at both conferences.

Conditions

For Ecsite 2012, the discount is only applicable to a three-day Full Conference registration for Members and non-members (Students, Newcomer Members, one-day registrants and those attending only Pre-Conference Workshops are not eligible for this discount.)

For PCST 2012, the discount applies only to the Full Registration fee.

Attending the two biggest science communication conferences in Europe of 2012 just got a little easier. See you soon in Florence and Toulouse!

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Canadian Association of Science Centres Annual Conference: Proposals due 18 November 2011
October 27 2011 / Ecsite

Energy @ the Centre

Energy lies at the heart of so much of what we do at our science centres and museums—from the energy we invest in developing ideas and building exhibitions, to our energetic engagement with visitors. With limited resources and so much to do, however, how can we direct this energy towards achieving maximum results? How are we meeting the internal demands of our organizations? How

do we ensure that our visitors are energized by their contact with us? We invite you to join us at the 2012 Canadian Association of Science Centres’ Conference. This 10th Annual Conference, hosted by the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation, is expected to welcome more than 120 delegates. This three-day conference features a pre-conference activity, more than twenty learning sessions, a keynote speaker, and events that include a welcome reception, a tradeshow (Friday, May 4), and our national awards gala (Saturday, May 6).

Plugging into Generations: Our audiences are changing. As the population ages and family sizes decrease, science centres and museums can no longer rely solely on family audiences. Older adults and teens are becoming important new audiences for our organizations. How are you reaching out to new audiences? Have you developed content specifically to attract new visitors? The program committee is interested in sessions that address content development, as well as marketing strategies designed to attract a changing audience.

Charged Up and Plugged In: Science centres and museums are communities—whether this means the staff teams that develop, deliver, promote and fund activities; the networks and partners we activate with our programming; or the audiences with which we engage. Communities lie at the heart of what we do. What are the programming trends that enable these connections? What is the role of social media? How are we recruiting, inspiring, and retaining our workforce? The program committee is interested in sessions that address collaboration, partnerships, innovative programming, audience development, team development and social media.

Management of Resources: From dealing with competing demands for resources, to the challenges of changing demographics and a realignment of priorities, the process of deciding where to devote your energies is a challenging one. What are best practices in resource management? How can we learn from other’s mistakes and successes? The program committee is interested in sessions that address planning strategies, program and project management models, and best practices.

Current Science: Science centres and museums share a common mission: to promote the science literacy of visitors, and to engage visitors with current science and technology. How do we involve and engage visitors in discussions? How do we keep our science and technology exhibits and programs responsive to current science? Tell us about the mechanisms you have in place for changing exhibits and programs at your centre. How is technology helping you to keep science current at your centre? The program committee is interested in sessions that explore innovative ways of engaging visitors in discussion and discovery around the role of science and technology in society.

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Grundtvig Grant available for attending the Ecsite AC2012
October 6 2011 / Ecsite

For those of you who are interested to attend the Pre Conference training ‘Equipping the explainer’ and the main annual conference or the pre conference workshop ‘Researching and Evaluating your institution’ and the main annual conference, the European Commission (EC) offers a grant opportunity in order to cover your fees.

Through Grundtvig, the EC provides funding to promote exchanges of experiences and the development of a European dimension in all sectors of adult education. The Ecsite Annual Conference is officially accredited as one of the training opportunities for individuals that are involved in adult education.

If you are interested to apply for the Grant you need to contact your National Agency (http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc1208_en.htm). For more information on the grant, see the Comenis Grundtvig database (http://ec.europa.eu/education/trainingdatabase/search.cfm).

The code for the course is: BE-2012-197-001. You need to apply via the scheme Visits and exchanges for adult education staff

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Public Communication of Science Conference (PCST) proposal deadline extended to 14 October 2011
October 3 2011 / Ecsite

The deadline for proposals submission for the next international Public Communication of Science Conference (Florence, 18-20 april 2012) has been extended to 14th October, 2011.

Please see www.pcst2012.org for more news updates and information on programme highlights, registration, accommodation, social and cultural programme.

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President of Ecsite meets European Commissioner for Education
October 3 2011 / Ecsite

Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth and Jan Truszczyński, Director General for Education, Training, Culture and Youth met with Ecsite President Robert Firmhofer at the Copernicus Science Centre on 26 and 27 September 2011.

The role of Ecsite in informal education, science literacy and life-long learning in Europe has been discussed during the meeting. In order to further explore the perspectives for cooperation schedule of working appointments with Commission representatives has been determined.

Both guests visited the Copernicus Science Center as participants of “Marie Curie Actions” symposium of young scientists from across the world, one of key events of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

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Ecsite's President signs Cape Town Declaration at 6th Science Centre World Congress
September 12 2011 / Technopolis, the Flemish Science Center
Robert Firmhofer, President of Ecsite, signs the Cape Town Declaration during the 6th Science Centre World Congress

At the 6th Science Centre World Congress convened in Cape Town, South Africa, from 4-8 September 2011, 416 delegates from 56 countries assessed the impact of science centres worldwide and formulated plans that will ensure that they continue to play a constructive role in addressing global issues at the interface between science and society. Robert Firmhofer, President of Ecsite, signed the Cape Town Declaration – a document meant to map the social role of science centres.

View the full Cape Town Declaration, attached below in PDF form.

View the event’s media gallery, featuring video interviews with participants, here: www.inventafrica.co.za/6SCWCGallery.aspx

Ecsite is a partner of the Science Centre World Congress. The next Congress, whose official name will be the 7th Science Centre World Summit, will be held in 2014 at Technopolis, The Flemish Science Centre, in Mechelen, Belgium.

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Cape Town Declaration, 6SCWC 2011
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Closing Ceremony for the PSC Summer Program
July 25 2011 / Bibliotheca Alexandrina ALEXploratorium

The Planetarium Science Center is celebrating the Closing Ceremony for the ongoing Summer Program on Monday 12 September 2011. The Ceremony will be a cultural event, including a movie presenting the students achievements during the Program, in addition to the PSC unique Super Science Show that is so entertaining for children as well as adults. Also, the ceremony will be hosting a few eminent speakers and honoring distinguished participants.

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The PSC Newsletter
July 25 2011 / Bibliotheca Alexandrina ALEXploratorium

The Planetarium Science Center issues a Newsletter on quarterly basis. The newsletter is distributed to the public in both languages; English and Arabic.The PSC has issued the first PSC Newsletter in 2007. The main aim of the newsletter is to outreach the public with simple scientific knowledge and inform them of the PSC latest programs and events. The PSC Newsletter can be downloaded directly from the link: http://www.bibalex.org/PSC/Attachment/Attachment/PSC.newsletter(SUMMER2011)-EN-website(1).pdf , or it could be downloaded by logging onto the PSC website: http://www.bibalex.org/en/PSC/home/index.aspx , then clicking on the “Newsletter” link.

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Open Science Resources wins another international award
July 22 2011 / Ecsite

Representatives from the OSR project traveled to Athens, Georgia, USA, to present the project at the 11th IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies, 6-8 July 2011. The project picked up the award for Best Paper in the Poster category: www.ask4research.info/icalt/2011/.

OSR also won a Silver Award at the Learning Impact Awards in Long Beach, California, USA, in May 2011.

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Ecsite Annual Conference 2012 proposals due 25 October 2011
July 15 2011 / Ecsite

The Call for Proposals is now open. Visit the conference website for insight into building your session and then fill in the session proposal form.

The Conference will be held at Cité de l’espace, Toulouse, France, 31 May- 2 June 2012.

Deadline for proposals: 25 October 2011

Visit www.ecsite.eu/annual_conference for helpful guidelines on the Call for Proposals and further information on how to submit your session proposal.

If you have an idea about a session theme but have not yet found all the partners you need to organise your session, use the Session Ideas page located under Call for Proposals. Have a look at what others are proposing, leave your comments, and get in touch.

www.ecsite.eu/annual_conference/call-for-proposal