Science centres and museums: past-present-future
What makes the specificity of science centres and museums? What is their role and mission, and where are they headed to? Articles gathered in this Spokes collection unpack the history, identity and role of science centres and museums and look ahead: how should they involve to keep serving the societies they are rooted in? You'll also find reflections on Ecsite as a network here: its historic roots and future perspectives.
Feature articles
Feature article by Marie Hobson - Nikolaj Møller - Annesofie Norn - Camilla Tham published in Spokes #71, April 2021
How museums are leveraging the behavioural sciences and culture for impact-focused public engagements.Estimated reading time: 16 minutes.
Category: Education & learning
Feature article by Dr Fiona Cameron published in Spokes #68, November 2020
As youth mobilisations around climate change continue growing, how can science centres work with youth in alliances that support broad scale action?| Estimated reading time: 25 minutes
Feature article by Yves Winkin published in Spokes #64, June 2020
The former Director of the Musée des Arts et Métiers discusses ways in which museums must perform in a rapidly-changing and unforeseen environmentEstimated reading time | 18 minutes
Feature article by Alexandre Vanautgaerden published in Spokes ,
How librarians went from being possessors to acting as custodians - and how it can inspire us| Estimated reading time: 17 minutes
Category: Education & learning
Interviews published in Spokes #74, February 2022
Can science centres and museums really contribute to cutting-edge research? Matteo Merzagora investigates.Estimated reading time: 24 minutes
Feature article by Marianne Achiam, PhD - Jan Sølberg, PhD published in Spokes #15, January 2016
Practices of today and visions of tomorrow. Two academics put Ecsite conference sessions under a magnifying glass - and found some new museum functions at work| Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
Category: Education & learning, EU and governance
Feature article by Tapio Koivu - Mikko Myllykoski published in Spokes #14, December 2015
Can Heureka’s vision help your own organisation further?| Estimated reading time: 15 minutes
Category: EU and governance
Interviews published in Spokes #49, February 2019
Five interviews to celebrate our achievements - and look ahead| Estimated reading time: 27 minutes (4-5 min per interview)
Feature article by Herbert Münder published in Spokes #47, December 2018
With the #Ecsite30 season we invite the Ecsite science engagement community to celebrate, reflect and act
Interviews published in Spokes #55, September 2019
Extending the discussion to scientific collections| Estimated reading time: 30 minutes (5 min per interview).
Interviews published in Spokes #69, December 2020
Five institutions share tried and tested ways of re-imagining our science centres and museums, while ensuring they remain Covid-secure.Estimated reading time: 16 minutes
Category: Education & learning
Interviews published in Spokes #60, February 2020
A look at how art&science has changed over the last decade| Estimated reading time: 20 minutes (3-5 minutes per interview)
Category: Education & learning
Feature article by Robert Firmhofer published in Spokes #36, December 2017
Science Centre World Summit: a global vision for the field
Feature article by Pere Viladot - Erik Stengler - Guillermo Fernandez published in Spokes #13, November 2015
An opinion paper warning science centres and museums against the shortcomings of “fun science” and arguing for a “seductive science” alternative| Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
Category: Education & learning, Topics in science
Interviews published in Spokes #27, February 2017
What do 2017 trends mean for science engagement? From open science to post-truth and tinkering to augmented reality| Estimated reading time: 20 minutes (4-5 min per interview)
Category: Education & learning, EU and governance
Interviews published in Spokes #52, May 2019
A futurist and three museum professionals on futures thinking methods & exhibitions| Estimated reading time: 24 minutes (4-7 minutes per interview)
Category: Education & learning
Feature article by Julie Becker published in Spokes #5, October 2014
A glimpse of the European science engagement landscape
Interviews published in Spokes #58, December 2019
New and supplementary business models| Estimated reading time: 15 minutes (5 min per interview).
Feature article by Professor Per-Edvin Persson published in Spokes #9, June 2015
Need to prove (potential) impact and argue the case science centres and museums with stakeholders and decision makers? This review is exactly what you were looking for: Persson summarizes scientific and professional literature on the impact of science centres| Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
Category: Education & learning, EU and governance
Feature article by John H. Falk - Lynn D. Dierking - Mark Needham - Lisa Pendergast published in Spokes #3, May 2014
The social impact of science centres around the world is not yet fully understood
Feature article by René Fransen published in Spokes #4, July 2014
It is about giving young people a place in the story of science
Interviews published in Spokes #25, December 2016
Can museums themselves become laboratories and testbeds for innovation? Should they?| Estimated reading time: 14 minutes (2-4 min per interview)
Category: Education & learning, EU and governance