Explainers & visitor services
Claire PillsburyLærke Mygind GrønfeldtJoe MartinJoonas Juutilainen
Emerging mobile and indoor tracking technologies are of great interest for research and interpretation in science museums. As the cost of hardware decreases for indoor wifi, iBeacon, RFID and near field communication, science centres can afford...
Research, theory & evaluation
Margit HoferKatharina HandlerMargit HoferMaite Debry
A substantial element of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) requests the engagement of all societal actors. The change from isolated research to research with shared responsibilities is a long process that requires substantial change of...
Paola RodariAntonio Gomes da CostaMatteo Merzagora
The session explores the importance of a strong involvement of stakeholders (including the so called “public”) in all phases of an exhibition’s life. Three presentations set the scene. Antonio Gomes da Costa will recall how the PLACES...
Exhibit development
Gérard CobutLouise WindfeldtMaria ZоlоtоnоsаJaakko PöyhönenFriso VisserIrena CieślińskaDorothée VatinelAnna Schaefers
There is a lot of science in food, but how do we present it in our exhibitions? Can we build participatory events and activities around food? Many other aspects are also worth investigating: the chemistry and physics of cooking, the digestion...
Exhibit development
Anne SolliCaroline HobkinsonThomas B BergAudrey ChangHannah Sundqvist
In this session we explore the intersection of science communication, graphic design and artistry in exhibitions. We show examples of how complex scientific data and principles can be expressed concisely and effectively through various aspects of...
Exhibit development
Andrea BandelliJennifer SanterLynn ScarffAndy LloydBarbara Streicher
Join a facilitated conversation that will question some of the basic assumptions in the science centre movement, asking whether there are any essential ingredients for making a science centre. Our speakers will first present brief provocations,...
Research, theory & evaluation
Justin DillonDagny StuedahlMette Stentoft TherkildsenMerethe FroylandJulie BønnelyckeCatharina Thiel Sandholdt
The roles of science centres are changing. Exhibitions with right or wrong answers are not enough in today’s complex world, where beauty is in the detail and knowledge is negotiable. Science centres are in a unique position to build bridges...
Erik JacquemynKim Gladstone HerlevMarie-Christine Van der SmanMichiel BuchelVlasta Volak
A science centre is only as good as the people working there. This session will present ways to attract the best people, to train them, to keep them engaged and motivated, to offer them opportunities to grow and incentives to make them feel part...
Exhibit development
Beth StoneIan SimmonsPernille HjortJeroen BruggeKevin Crowley
Learning takes place across galleries and exhibition spaces of a science centre or museum. Still, very often dedicated learning spaces are necessary to augment learning or engage learners in ways that are difficult in galleries. However,...
Exhibit development
Małgorzata Gorgul-TomczykYumi MiyaharaSamuela CaliariGiorgia BellentaniJelena BlankOwain Davies
How early can a child eat a piece of scientific cake? Learning begins with the first sounds reaching a child’s ears even before birth, the first time they open their eyes, the first contact of their senses with the surrounding world. The first...
Collections
Anna OmedesEric DorfmanNoel JacksonAlexina Thorén WilliamsMartin CepekBernhard Kehrer
Natural history museums and science centres both address the wonders of the natural world, the science behind it and the global challenges of the future. But communication approaches can be very different. Which role could interactive experiences...
Equity & Inclusion
Nicolas KösterJessica BradfordMałgorzata Gorgul-TomczykNathalie PuzenatJunko AnsoKaroline von dem Bussche
Nowadays it is common that new exhibitions must be barrier-free and meet high requirements concerning accessibility. Legitimate demands of organizations representing disabled people and official guidelines for accessibility are a major challenge...