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.
Carmen FenollosaMaria ZоlоtоnоsаMargaret HoneyMaya HalevyAriel Knafo
Despite all the transformation of our society over the past century little has changed in the education system since the 19th century. The pandemic has just put more pressure on an unfit education system: a divide between rich and poor, lack of...
Laura VerbeekGiulia GhezziLorenz KampschulteCatherine OualianEsther GajekKatharina Hof
Commitment: Equity & inclusion
What are seniors’ special needs? Or, if we throw away all our prejudices about being frail or slow, do we find out that they are just like us - longing for a connection, for competence...
Amparo Leyman PinoSteven SchaekenWouter VerbiestMaarten TaborskyAmparo Leyman PinoPaul OrselliMichael FeserAnna Schaefers
Let’s do it again! Share your wildest ideas. In 2019, Experimentarium saw the birth of Ecsite’s very first Idea-Jam session. Many wild ideas were shared, from Rhythmetariums to Flying Science Saucers and Second Childhood Museums. The...
Audrey O'ConnellAgnes RuizFlora PloquinAlanna DavidsonMatthew HeenanSøren SkarbyEmily CroninIlse WachtelaerPeter ElsaesserBettina Deutsch-Dabernig Luísa CannasValentine BaldacchinoCorinne BoungoAurora MoreiraPaolo Russo
A preview of current and upcoming touring science exhibitions across Europe and the world. This fast-paced session will give you a glimpse of a large range of exhibitions on offer, leaving it up to you to make contacts and find out more.
Ryan JenkinsVanessa MignanSebastian MartinMonika MayerSamar D. Kirresh
In this fun and informal social makerspace meeting we’ll provide an opportunity for members of the Ecsite makerspace planning team, Tinkering Workroom participants and Conference attendees to share hands-on projects that they have been working on...
Mairéad HurleySophie PerryAutumn BrownARIS PAPADOPOULOS
Join us in this relaxed session to make your own zine (a small, handmade paper booklet), in which you'll reflect on your experience of the Conference so far! Hosts will lead you through the simple folding process and provide prompts as...
Mikko MyllykoskiRosalia VargasAndres RoldanRobert FirmhoferSawsan Dalaq
"To teach how to live with uncertainty, yet without being paralysed by hesitation, is perhaps the chief thing that philosophy can do." Bertrand Russel
All over the world, instead of thousands of visitors interacting with our...
Annkatrin MeyerNoemie SeiThomas HoferLaura Davidson
Commitment: Climate & biodiversity crisis
Is the contribution to social justice, global equality and planetary wellbeing one of the aims that defines a museum? While the international museum community is still in...
Amito HaarhuisLewis HouColin JohnsonCamille Pisani
Amito Haarhuis convenes this check-in session, where our invited guests Lewis Hou, Colin Johnson and Camille Pisani will each discuss one of three commitments they have been following throughout day one and two of the Conference. Lewis Hou will...
Explainers & visitor services
Catherine MurphyInga SpechtMark SchepTania JohnstonOllie Burton
Guided tours provide a special synergy between our visitors, our exhibits, and our staff. They play an important role in the engagement that occurs in science centres and can provide a personal connection between the visitors and our exhibits. In...
David JonesAlexia Sonnois
Commitment: Equity & inclusion
The Equity@Ecsite workgroup organised a webinar for Ecsite Online called ‘Equity and Diversity: an inclusive response to the corona crisis.’ At the...
Michèle ANTOINEJohn KannenbergMark ReadChristian Rohner
Giving a prominent role to sound is currently a trend amongst museum practitioners. This is unsurprising as our relationship with sound, noise and even silence is fascinating and complex. However, not only is communicating exclusively via sound...
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