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.
The Gala Dinner is an opportunity for all Conference participants to be together at once; a chance to dress up, sit back and be dazzled by the wonderful array of sights and sounds that our 2022 Hosts have created for you. This year's Gala Dinner...
Caitlin SouthwickChristopher GartheChristian SichauMaria João FonsecaRoddy Skinner
The UNESCO Roadmap for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD for 2030) developed the whole-institution approach and identifies corresponding actions to implement sustainability in extracurricular learning institutions. This session will look...
Maria ZоlоtоnоsаMarzia MazzonettoMélanie MarcelRyan Titley
Co-design, co-creation, citizen science, open innovation: some of the buzzwords you might have been hearing a lot recently. But what exactly are they all about? These approaches can be used to achieve societal engagement in...
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...
Andreas MattAndreas MattStefanie HolzheuAlvaro Almeida
Science is open by nature. Researchers share their findings in publications, and each scientist benefits from and builds on top of each other’s work, in a wide, interlinked community. How much of that translates into science communication? In the...
Explainers & visitor services
Join Copernicus Science Center on a journey into astronavigation, from old ways of Vikings to modern methods used by astronauts during missions to the moon. We will dive into old myths of medieval warriors from the north and we will reach stars...
Maria ZоlоtоnоsаJulie BeckerJulia EllrichAudrey KorczynskaANGELA LOMBARDOSebastian MartinInes MontalvaoMarco MirandaGiulio BonanomeMaria ZоlоtоnоsаJulie Becker
This workshop is a celebration of ice breakers, warm-ups, energisers and check-ins: we are convinced that they are the glue that will make your online workshop inclusive, effective and pleasurable.
Meet a team of facilitators whose...
Vanessa MignanSanne den AdelAbi AshtonColleen M. SchmitzDavid JonesAntonia CaolaNikita GerritsenCristina Veiga-Pires
Commitment: Equity & inclusion
This is the second part of the Equity@Ecsite session, whereby the experience of the pioneer institutions will inform and...
Scientists have always travelled to remote places for study and research. In the same way, tourists today travel to remote destinations and want to understand and learn what they see and experience. The scientific tourism initiative focuses on...
Anne LepageTom ZallerLouis BuckleyLaurence Caunézil
Adapting a work (from films or series) into an exhibition is an exciting way to attract a new audience and to update the way some topics are illustrated, but it can be a minefield to cross in terms of contracts and copyright clauses and often...
Henna BhattiKirsi PulkkinenJacob Thorek JensenDafni Konstantinidi Sofrona
We at the Science Museum Group, Finnish Science Centre Association, and Danish Museum of Science and Technology will share what adopting a science capital-based approach means to us and how we work with science capital in our individual local...
ACPC Chair Mikko Myllykoski takes us on a journey to Heilbronn to meet the Hosts of the 2022 Ecsite Conference; experimenta, and to find out more about what we can...
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