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.
Lizzy BakkerStefan FahrngruberWouter van der ZouweMaarten Taborsky
Climate change is a defining challenge of our time and it is happening more quickly than we feared. Limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030, reaching net-zero by 2050. This sounds like a race we cannot win. But we are far from...
Barbara StreicherAutumn BrownLewis HouMavis Ramazani
Researchers from two projects focusing on the needs, interests, and wellbeing of migrants and refugees share their work alongside participants from each project. Tech Scéal, an Irish initiative, explores issues of algorithmic justice with...
Research, theory & evaluation
Erik StenglerMiruna AmzaJavier Hidalgo Gil
These last two years of pandemic have led to an exponential increase of online modes of engagement. This has in turn reinforced the need for evaluation of digital projects in science centres and museums, not only as summative assessment but also...
An overview of five projects, all commended by the Ecsite Awards jury during their decision-making process for the Responsible and Responsive Award. The work undertaken and the lessons learned in how these organisations were bold, innovative and...
Marianne BenningAmparo Leyman PinoFrank KupperMenno TummersAnna Schaefers
Enter our space where you cannot see the others around you. Anonymised seating. Eye masks. Music playing in the background. Voices speak up to confess personal professional sins; doubts about their institutions and dubious things we do as a...
Emmi HuhtaniemiMaarten OkkersenLorenz KampschulteKati Tyystjärvi
Today, science centres and museums are committed to serving new audiences, promoting social justice in society. Is science capital a useful tool or not? A common situation in our institutions is that visitors seem to have high science capital...
Antonia CaolaLuisa MassaraniSabrina Vitting-Seerup
Emotions are central components of the learning process and are at the heart of (formal and informal) education and communication. Emotions shape cognition, memory, motivation, interest, engagement, attitudes, and decision-making in relation to...
Open to all pre- and main Conference speakers and convenors, upon advance online registration. Receive a warm welcome to Heilbronn, and enjoy a drink and snack and mingle with other speakers.
Christina RühlmannDominik EssingJulia EllrichArmin DuffEsther HamstraTomas Nilsson
With this session we want to encourage other science engagement organisations to make a big move - a move outside! Given the pandemic, this seems like a logical step, but there are challenges when planning and constructing outdoor exhibits....
Michèle ANTOINEVincent BlechFlora PloquinGwenaël AllanMichael Schoeppl
How would a science centre look if it had been designed using all our senses? In the age of digital media, museums and science centres around the world are struggling to attract young and diverse audiences. Some science organisations have...
Angela Calabrese BartonMicaela BalzerDay GreenbergSpela GodecLouise Archer
This interactive session provides an opportunity for participants to explore a toolset in support of equitable pedagogies for Informal STEM learning (ISL). This toolset, co-created by researchers and educators in both the USA and the UK, provides...
Inka de PijperSophie PerryChristopher WhitbySusana CabralTanja Adnađević
Science and its relationship with society have been crucial in the recognition of climate change and biodiversity loss, and remains so as we now navigate necessary personal and societal transitions. This session explores the role of the science...
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