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.
Raphael ChanayJulia PittsRoger MayouAnne Prugnon
Sorry, this session has been cancelled.
Storytelling is a powerful tool. How are today's curators and designers taking advantage of it in exhibitions? A story can help make collections relevant, but a story told in the...
Guillaume TrapIoannis MiaoulisAndres JuurNicolas GodinotNadia Battello
Mix a liter of physics and a cup of chemistry, add a handful of biology and a pinch of mathematics, stir and serve! We cook and eat on a daily basis without questioning the underlying science too much. Yet, could there be any tastier way to...
Samuel LagierAdria LeBoeufCristina SorianoSamuel LagierAdria LeBoeufCristina Soriano
Metaphors are more than sophisticated poetic embellishments – they shape our everyday lives in the way we speak, understand and act. A metaphor is a gateway between a known concept and a new dimension: it is this collision between disparate ideas...
Audrey O'ConnellSharon AmentGretchen BakerBronwyn BevanAnn Follin
An improved gender balance in the leadership of our field is an exciting and formidable objective, and interests many of us no matter what our gender. This session focuses on creating an inclusive organisational culture. Through a series of...
The Ecsite MakerSpace is a physical location at the conference centre curated by a group of tinkerers and educators from all over the world. In this inspiring environment full of tools, materials and demonstrations, we’ll present hands-on...
Marianne AchiamSara TougaardYuri MattemanAnne LandLuke CurrallKatarzyna Potega vel Zabik
Museums are jam-packed with objects and artefacts with scientific significance and have a long tradition of making these objects relevant to visitors. In this session, we dig deeper into object-based education practices.
First, we present...
Ana NoronhaMarc MoutinMaría MenéndezClaude NicollierMaria ZоlоtоnоsаPierre-Yves FreiInes PRIETOGuido SchwarzRosa MartíMichel MayorFrancesco PepeStéphane PaltaniAntoine PommerolTania JohnstonThomas Beck
Since life on Earth is so common and resistant to extreme environments and since its chemical building blocks are found everywhere in the universe, several past and current missions have been searching for primitive life or conditions for life,...
Fabrice JouvenotIsabelle Chabanon-PougetMelissa RichardMalvina ArtheauJohn SearRadhika BeaumeAymeric FaucherIsabelle Chabanon-PougetMelissa RichardMalvina ArtheauFabrice JouvenotJohn SearRadhika BeaumeAymeric Faucher
Positioned at the crossroads of theatre, games and personal experiences, live action games (LARPs) are powerful tools for social inclusion, decision taking and content communication. Fully immersed and emotionally engaged, players are "pushed"...
Exclusive for Ecsite members.
The Ecsite Board is pleased to invite staff of Ecsite member organisations to a members-only breakfast: an opportunity to exchange with board members in a relaxed setting. Places can be...
Pre-booking information coming soon.
At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. They use the world's largest and most complex...
Henrik SellCarole PalecoThomas B BergYuri MattemanMichelle PriceAndré AbreuStefaan Blancke
Science centres and natural history museums are increasingly involved in debates between natural sciences and more belief-driven views. In this whole-day pre-conference workshop we will unpin this issue and explore possible routes for the future...
Research, theory & evaluation
Marjelle van HoornJen DeWittRoy SchedlerIlona Iłowiecka-TańskaNils Petter HauanColin Johnson
There is a lot happening in evaluation and research. How can you find your way around it all?
The first day of this two-day in-depth workshops offers an introduction and a refresher. Small group activities and inspiring talks will help...
Pages
