Annual Conference sessions
Browse all conference sessions since 2010
Science ♥ society
2019
"The blob: a genius without a brain".
2019
"Mathematics as Material Play"
Equity & Inclusion
2019
A blindfolded experience to grasp visual accessibility requirements.
Business & fundraising
2019
The session explores different models for financing our institutions and tackling the biggest challenges we face in the search for a diversified and balanced model.
Strategy & vision
2019
The Supreme Court of the Ecsite Conference will decide whether virtual reality (VR) in museums and science centres is visceral reality providing vital reactions, or just virtually rudimentary and very rubbish.
Research, theory & evaluation
2018
James Beacham is a particle physicist involved in the ATLAS experiment at CERN. Watch a video of his keynote.
Science ♥ society
2018
“Go forth and collide, Multiply and create” is the motto of our Science Assembly. Inspired by religious revival meetings, we will offer you songs, laughter, inspiration, and meaning.
Exhibit development
2018
Are you facilitating creative team processes? Tired of always using the same old tricks? Interested in the wider potential of creative techniques? This session is for you.
Strategy & vision
2018
What is the future of science centre exhibitions? Do we need to stick to scientific phenomena, or focus on high tech and current science? Do we concentrate on objects or interaction? Or are physical exhibitions becoming obsolete in the digital era?
Research, theory & evaluation
2017
Professor Alice Roberts is an anthropologist, author and broadcaster, and Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham. Watch a video of her keynote.
Science ♥ society
2017
Nina Simon has been described as a “museum visionary” by Smithsonian Magazine for her audience-centred approach to design. Watch a video of her keynote.
Research, theory & evaluation
2016
Dr. Frans de Waal is a Dutch-American biologist and primatologist known for his work on the behaviour and social cognition of primates. Speech title: Prosocial Primates: The Cooperative Background of Our Species
Equity & Inclusion
2016
Dr. Elizabeth Rasekoala is the President of African Gong – the Pan-African Network for the Popularisation of Science & Technology, and Science Communication. Watch a video of her keynote.
2015
Andrea Illy is the Chairman and CEO of illycaffè S.p.A., a family coffee business founded more than 80 years ago. Watch his speech on Ecsite's YouTube channel.
Strategy & vision
2014
Professor Ian Goldin is Director of the Oxford Martin School and Professor of Globalisation and Development at Oxford University. He delivered a speech entitled "Individual and Collective Wisdom and Failure".
Science ♥ society
2014
Ahmet Üzümcü is the Director general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The OPCW is the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2013.
Strategy & vision
2013
Dominique Pestre is a social and political historian.Hos speech was entitled "What kind of innovation for the Anthropocene?". Watch the keynote on the Ecsite YouTube channel.
Strategy & vision
2013
Susan Greenfield is a neuroscientist at the University of Oxford and delivered a speech entitled “ The neuroscience of creativity – Making the most of 21st century technology”. Watch the keynote on the Ecsite YouTube channel.
Strategy & vision
2012
Martin Rees, Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge, gave a speech entitled "Space exploration, life and the cosmos".
Strategy & vision
2012
Carlo Ratti, Professor at the MIT, gave a talk entitled "Future Cities - The real-time city is now real!"
Science ♥ society
2011
Derrick de Kerckhove, Professor at the Department of French and former Director of the McLuhan Program in Culture and Technology at the University of Toronto, gave a speech entitled "Navigating among the shoals and reefs of social, state and business controls in science and technology".
Strategy & vision
2011
Michael Jones Chief Technology Advocate, Google, gave a speech entitled "The Billionth Visitor".
The first Ecsite Conference took place in 1989. Here you can browse all Conference sessions since 2010. Use the search engine to look for people, topics...
Looking for an older session? Our digital records start in 2007, with programme pdfs attached to each conference page.
Dorothée VatinelAntonio Gomes da CostaNathanael Jeune
Misinformation, mistrust in science and pseudoscience are among the most difficult and pressing challenges for science communicators. Indeed the role of research, of scientific knowledge and of logical reasoning is far from making part of...
Dacha AtienzaCaroline BreunesseIrena CieslinskaJavier Hidalgo Gil
The renovation of a museum or permanent exhibition is one of the most complex processes for a museologist. It is not easy to know when, how or what to renew or change. In this roundtable, different museums that have undergone major renovations of...
Research, theory & evaluation
Joe CookElsa BaileyJuliana RestrepoClaudia Gorr
Making a choice about the methods and tools to use to evaluate your exhibition can be a challenge.
Knowledge around evaluating learning at exhibits is important for educators, exhibit builders and researchers. In this interactive session,...
Christina RühlmannChristof BörnerMeie van LaarKim Ludwig-PetschCecilia EkstrandAlexandra Lang
In this session we will discuss the value of mobile devices for the exhibition context. We believe that “Bring your own device” is far from obsolete! The fear of infection through loan devices has risen sharply; fortunately, visitors have their...
The Gala Dinner is an opportunity for all Conference participants to be together at once; a chance to dress up, sit back and be dazzled by the wonderful array of sights and sounds that our 2022 Hosts have created for you. This year's Gala Dinner...
Spela GodecLouise Archer Kirsi PulkkinenMariana Rama Pedro AlvesRafael GalupaAmanda ColbourneMicaela BalzerAngela Calabrese BartonSanne den AdelAmparo Leyman Pino
Equity is a key focus of informal science learning. This session will introduce a new tool, the Equity Compass, co-produced in an international research-practice partnership to help practitioners reflect on and develop equitable practice. The...
Marta IglewskaSzymon FilipowiczMarilena PaceDes Zerafa CiniPatrik Claes
How do we talk to our audiences about climate change? The world of science has used many different techniques for this purpose: lectures, workshops, publications, exhibitions ... Understanding the mechanisms of this phenomenon is necessary to...
Maria ZоlоtоnоsаMarzia MazzonettoMélanie MarcelRyan Titley
Co-design, co-creation, citizen science, open innovation: some of the buzzwords you might have been hearing a lot recently. But what exactly are they all about? These approaches can be used to achieve societal engagement in...
Khalil ThirlawayBarbara StreicherSheena LaursenKhalil Thirlaway
An ideation workshop focusing on creative approaches to engaging audiences with topics that might be considered controversial or challenging, such as the social/political/economic aspects of our relationships with nature, health and technology....
Catherine OualianDorothée VatinelNathanael Jeune
Participants will imagine concrete ways to implement the research recommendation to develop visitors’ critical thinking skills. For example, research has identified the conditions for a constructive debate, the risks linked to a simple awareness...
Sheena LaursenElin Ravndal BellClaire Förster
Can we attract people we don’t usually reach and are there different ways to be accessible? This session will bring examples of different approaches and ways of reaching out to families, young people and children who don’t usually visit our...
Mikko MyllykoskiANA MARIA NAVAS IANNINIJussi KahlosErminia Pedretti
This workshop session will cover the topics of scientific literacy, science communication and science exhibition typologies. Through the exploration of a controversial science exhibit about mental health we will invite participants to reflect...
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