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.
sandrine Delon-GuillienCatherine OualianSara Raposo
Commitment: 21st century skills
The current crisis and its impact on the functioning and offerings of our museums have highlighted the need for all professionals to develop skills to face new challenges. It has also...
Mikko MyllykoskiJohn Falk
Based in Corvallis, Oregon, USA, John H. Falk Ph.D is the Director of the Institute for Learning Innovation and Emeritus Sea Grant Professor of Free-Choice Learning at Oregon State University. He is a leading expert on free-choice learning; the...
Jamie BellMatteo MerzagoraSara CalcagniniDennis Schatz
Scientists are learners. They professionally transform their observations into their research, which brings about new questions and therefore new research. But do they apply this 'continuous learner' attitude when they interact with the public?...
Caroline WhiteCaroline WhiteShanmin SultanaAaron ApplebeyHollyann Stewart
Commitment: 21st century skills
How might you reimagine the work of your education and learning team when you can no longer engage in-person? At Science Gallery, human connection and conversation are at the heart of an...
Monika MayerMeie van LaarPaul BonifaceClémentine BricoutMonika Mayer
Museums have for years been trying to reach out to other groups within society, striving to engage them into STEM topics, but during the pandemic the need for engaging a more diverse group of families became more and more relevant. The pandemic...
Was there simply not enough time to network during the day? Or perhaps you were so engrossed in the sessions and our Keynote speaker that there was no time to connect with peers? And for our colleagues in North, Central and South America it was...
Peter ElsaesserPaul Goulet
During this 45 minute session, Paul, also known as Little Ray, takes you on a virtual tour through three live, animal travelling exhibitions currently on display in the USA. Paul explains their vision and why we are aiming to bring Little Ray’s...
Christina ClassenFriederike WawerkaDominik EssingClayton CutajarHarry WhitePaul Orselli
Two ‘old hands’ comment on the next generation’s ideas. NEXT GENERATION refers to different aspects: new content, a new generation of exhibition-makers, modern forms of exhibition design or contemporary educational strategies. We'll consider...
Thierry BrassacMarion SabourdyAnna Gunnarsson
Whether you did (or didn't) attend Part 1, welcome to this book-lovers session. A time to think about and share the best ways to mix books and science together. We'll sit together around a digital campfire (with virtual marshmallows, but REAL...
Patricia VerheydenYuko OkayamaLath CarlsonJulia WillisonAilsa Barry
What are our greatest fears and hopes for the future of our field? How do we see the world evolve, and what will the role of our institutions be? Will science centres and science museums still exist? Moreover, if they are still around what will...
Hillary SpencerAnna AltschwagerAxel EstableHillary Spencer
What happens next? Our lives aren’t the same, our families aren’t the same, our world isn’t the same. As we reopen our museums and re-engage our students, what adjustments need to be made? What risks can we take? The need for empathy and...
Sophie PerryMelati Wijsen
When Youth lead the way
Melati Wijsen is a 20-year-old Indonesian activist and change-maker. She founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags with her younger sister and has been leading the movement driven by youth since 2013. She has...
Pages
