Explainers & visitor services
The sheer number of science shows performed at science centres can lead to lower quality presentations. There are several reasons for this, for example routine performances, performers who lack skills as well as too little time for quality...
Marketing & communication
In this session, speakers from institutions that excel in fundraising will explain how they achieve their goals and take part in an open discussion about future directions. This session is aimed at fundraising for smaller and mid-sized...
The Project Buffet is an open poster session organized by Ecsite to enable conference participatns to present their collaborative, not-for-profit projects. Session participants are invited to put up their poster at the beginning of the conference...
Exhibit development
Participation is an increasing focus among science centres and museums. If once it was mainly connected to visitors’ points of view and opinions on ‘hot topics’ and their dialogue with scientists and experts, today’s participation is more varied...
Operations & finance
Science centres and museums experience increased pressure during times of financial cuts and growing competition for public support and fundraising. Additionally, rising operational costs and the need to invest capital funds in renewal and...
Science in Society
The production of contemporary scientific knowledge is changing, it is more influenced by factors and actors outside specific disciplines and more embedded in society; or, at least, many people work to engage new voices in science. Post-academic...
Exhibit development
The process of designing interactive exhibits requires open-minded thinking and plenty of creativity. After its launch, the exhibition should be evaluated and a discussion of lessons learned should take place. The ideal method of reviewing a...
Collections
Panelists will present their own digital platforms and open source projects to show how digital resources can be used by science centres and museums to reach across cultural and institutional borders and build connections with onsite and online...
Science in Society
“Understanding”, “engagement”, “participation” – these are common words associated with citizen involvement in science and technology issues. An increasing number of debates, consultation processes and conferences address science in society...
Science in Society
Science centres can be gathering places where people contribute to the design of a future society. Visitors can be asked to exercise their creativity to shape a world in which they would like to live and express views on future scenarios that...
Science in Society
Volunteer contributions to science centre activities are more important than ever. The worldwide economic crisis has led to funding cuts in areas related to culture and scientific research. As a result, many special activities or programmes are...
Exhibit development
How can science centres compete in a world where information is so readily available from many different directions? Can we structure our exhibitions in a non-linear way and use mediation tools to successfully capture and captivate 21st century...