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.
Carlos Catalao AlvesFederica RosettaYlann SchemmErrin RileyGiselle Cory
With the media emphasising the promise of big data and AI in predicting everything and deriving groundbreaking insights, the public is facing a surge of hard-to-grasp claims. Public interest in sound science and evidence needs to be supported by...
In this session, eight participants will appear in pairs on four subtopics of Designing Life phenomena:
Tissue Engineering: working with living materials
Humans/non-humans: understanding other living beings
Designing Humans...
Linda GalléWiebke RössigIris OttAlex Fairhead
How should spaces for interaction and open science be designed in order to welcome, encourage and engage visitors? Many major museums across Europe are undergoing major rebuilding processes in order to create spaces for communication, interaction...
Maria ZоlоtоnоsаWiktor GajewskiAnna StarkeyFrank KupperCarmen Fenollosa
XXI century skills, co-creation, science communication… there are certain terms, concepts and buzzwords in science engagement vocabulary that are repeated in all aspects of our world. Are you tired of this jargon? You are not alone! Our speakers...
Špela Petrič is a Ljubljana and Amsterdam based new media artist who has been trained in the natural sciences and holds a PhD in biology. Her artistic practice combines the natural sciences, wet biomedia practices, performance, and critically...
Magne HognestadMarco MirandaJørn HafverKim Ludwig-PetschMarta Fikus-KrynskaFredrik Motland KirkemoHenrik Helsgaun
Picture the scene: In 15 minutes, our speakers set up a pop-up science centre in a local cafe, armed with only the items they have in their pockets and backpacks!
The introduction will begin at the conference centre and then participants...
Steven SchaekenJustin DillonGillian ThomasVicky CaveJuanita Schläpfer-Miller
The challenges we’re facing in the Anthropocene can be overwhelming but look at it this way: we are alive, flooding is not a constant issue (yet) and the next generation are ingenious, creative, loaded-with-21st-century-skills kids - they can fix...
Anne PrugnonMark ReadPascal GoblotStefan FahrngruberJörg Ehtreiber
How to predict, imagine and communicate what the future of our planet or society might look like to our audience? How can we use science to explore uncharted territories without falling into the issue of being too kitsch, too doom and gloom, too...
Mark WinterbottomMaria XanthoudakiInka de PijperGrace D'ArcyMathieu Mahve-Beydokhti
Tinkering has the potential to strengthen engagement with STEM. Furthermore, research has found that tinkering could be particularly beneficial for students facing social, economic or cultural disadvantage. Museums across Europe have been...
All detailed information about this workshop can be found here.
Research, theory & evaluation
Mette SkovChristian JantzenMarianne LykkeMette Stentoft Therkildsen
The concept of experience is ‘hot’ in the field of museums and science centres. Our organisations are part of the experience economy and as such platforms for experiences. Science centres and museums design user experiences. But what essentially...
Experience the most beautiful oasis of the city, the Botanical Garden, on a guided tour through the largest living plant collection in Denmark. In summer, the gardens are in full flower and during the tour you will be shown plants at their most...
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