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.
Marketing & communication
Clara LimLim Tit MengDorothée VatinelSean Clarke
Pop culture is by definition popular – so why not use it to convert potential audiences? Popular recognizable characters can act as a hook for attracting new audiences by providing a face and voice. Universcience, for example, shares their...
Explainers & visitor services
Jane DowdenKayte McSweeneyJohn DowneyKathrin Kösters
Games can give a real sense of fun, playfulness and excitement to motivate and engage teenagers. Games encourage interaction, participation and discussion. Games can simulate real life scenarios by testing our willingness to take risks in a safe...
Explainers & visitor services
Maya HalevyVarda Gur Ben ShitritSally CollinsBrian Levine
How can science centres inspire a new generation of scientists? We present three programs that are exposing youth to science, scientists, and research methods and skills: A school-visit program, an intense week of work with scientists, and a...
Preview current and upcoming travelling science exhibitions across Europe. This fast-paced session will give you a glimpse of the enormous range of exhibitions on offer, leaving it up to you to make contacts and find out more.
Explainers & visitor services
Maarten OkkersenLAURENT CHICOINEAUMonika MayerLeonel AlegreIan BrunswickSherry MarshallAndy Lloyd
The first museums were, in a way, a consequence of the Enlightenment movement and the liberal ideals of the French Revolution. The first science museums were perhaps part of the Industrial Revolution. The world kept spinning since then and new (...
Explainers & visitor services
Jon HaavieSabina BarcucciGène BertrandIan SimmonsJon HaaviePatricia Verheyden
Maker Faire is the world’s greatest festival for creativity and making. This is where technology, art and science meet. It is a festival where inventors, artists, hackers, enthusiasts, geeks, craftsmen and tinkerers – can show others what they...
Antonio Gomes da CostaAndrea BandelliLeo SchenkElisabetta Tola
Many activists use scientific evidence to promote social change. Other pressure groups deny or distort scientific evidence to support irrational or religious beliefs.
As experts in science communication, where do science centres and museums stand...
Our planet is our home. However, it is a finite world which will have to satisfy the needs of 12 billion people by 2100.
How can we foster innovation so as to help make our planet a better place to live for all? How can we generate new...
Norbert Steinhausilse MarschalekMaria ZоlоtоnоsаMelanie SmallmanMarzia Mazzonetto
Are we successful at involving different stakeholders in the debate on emerging technologies? At what stage of the research process should stakeholders be involved? These issues are part of the new European challenge of Responsible Research and...
Explainers & visitor services
Cláudia FariaAna Alexandra Valente RodriguesInês OliveiraMarianne AchiamNils Petter HauanJen DeWitt
How can informal learning sites provide optimal learning experiences without placing demands on teachers? This session will move beyond familiar conversations about how to encourage/force/support teachers toward desired behaviours. Instead,...
Marketing & communication
Harrie SchlechtriemCathrine Strøm NøstvoldElina VesanenCecilia Ekstrand
Teachers in primary and secondary schools are one of the science center’s most important target groups. In this session, Heureka (Finland), Tom Tits Experiment (Sweden), VilVite (Norway) and Continium – Discovery Center Kerkrad (...
Alexandre QuintanilhaMao ImaizumiSophie BougéCarmen GuerraLeonel Alegre
When developing a new exhibition most science centres rely on scientists and scientific institutions. But what do we expect from them? Expertise and skill, validation and acknowledgment, creativity and inspiration, or even money? In this session...
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