Research, theory & evaluation
Bernadette SchrandtSiëlle GramserAndrea GironRegan Forrest
We eat for all sorts of reasons: a hurried breakfast meets a physiological need; a leisurely meal with family and friends meets a social and spiritual one. Similarly, visitors to museums and other educational leisure settings come with a variety...
Explainers & visitor services
Ramon SanguesaIrene Lapuente AguilarLaurence HumierMoritz Moritz StefanerSusanne Jaschko
Food can help us learn about science and about food itself. We’ll explore novel methods to engage audiences with a familiar material and to show scientific ideas and processes. This will allow us to: 1. visualise scientific data 2. stimulate...
Explainers & visitor services
Ian SimmonsIan RussellJana BittnerováPeeranut KanhadilokKaterina Ruban
Children’s toys are uniquely successful in attracting and holding children’s interest, stimulating their curiosity, empowering their creativity and inspiring their imagination. Surely, as professional communicators of science, technology,...
Explainers & visitor services
Marjelle van HoornKaren DaviesMarjolein van BreemenNils Petter HauanMarie HobsonSally Collins
How can science museums and centres create memorable experiences that inspire students about science and the natural world and that also support the school curriculum, without any facilitator? What does the perfect self-guided school experience...
Explainers & visitor services
Matteo MerzagoraKamil RogulskiMaria Xanthoudaki
In this reverse session, explainers and other staff responsible for face-to-face interaction on the exhibition floor are invited to reflect on the trends and future challenges of our field. What might be the implications for daily practice, or...
Explainers & visitor services
Weronika ŚliwaThomas KraupeMaciej MuchaAnna ÖstMarc Moutin
Sometimes in a science centre or nearby there is one huge exhibit: a planetarium, hosting at least a few dozen visitors simultaneously. How to treat it? Is it a separate place with distinct aims from the rest of the science centre or does it...
Equity & Inclusion
Louise WindfeldtAiyana HudginsHeidrun SchulzeSpela Godec
Many people think that science is not for people like them: they are not the ‘right’ gender, they do not have the ‘right’ background, or they are perhaps not ‘good enough’ students. In this session, we will highlight why thinking about identities...
Explainers & visitor services
Heather KingEmma PegramJustin DillonHenrik SellIlse van ZeelandPreeti Gupta
Natural history museums are more than simple storehouses – they share a mission of promoting appreciation, understanding and conservation of the natural world. But are we getting this across to our visitors? In this reverse session, round tables...
Explainers & visitor services
Nico PitrelliCarlo MaioliniWiktor GajewskiAnna Darron
New format: in the five first minutes of the session, audience, convenor and speakers decide which goal(s) the panel should reach within the given time.
Many activists use scientific evidence to promote social change. Other pressure groups...
Business & fundraising
Sheena LaursenMaya HalevyJim ShortAliki GiannakopoulouAntonio Gomes da Costa
Working with a variety of partners is the key for advancing our missions and engaging culturally and socio-economically diverse audiences. Partnerships with schools, industry, foundations and public authorities aim to support integration of...
Explainers & visitor services
Sally MontgomeryEkaterina MruchkoOlga ZinovievaAlessandra CrusiJeanette Schuppe-KrahnAlexey ZemkoAxel E. HüttingerIan Russell
Children are the best innovators and inventors! We only need to help them put their amazing imaginations to use, in a stimulating environment, with suitable tools and materials, sensitive guidance and a little coaching. Too often, adults overlook...
Vincenzo LipardiMichele LanzingerSawsan DalaqMijbil AlmutawaRosalia Vargas
Science centres are constantly questioning their strategic plans and repositioning their institutions to answer today’s ever-evolving economic and social context. Have the ingredients of this “nouvelle cuisine” – stakeholders and audiences –...