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.
Kate KnealeDaniela De AngeliJohn SearRan PelegMalvina ArtheauRannei Solbak SimonsenClaudia Sodini
Let’s investigate and reinterpret the Experimentarium science centre, venue of this Ecsite Conference, through the lens of a fun and inspiring two-day workshop. Inspired by the Museomix...
Joanna KalinowskaJulie BeckerMikko MyllykoskiRaphael Chanay
As Ecsite and its conference turn 30, what can our professional community be proud of having achieved? What legacy can we build on and what boundaries do we need to stretch in order to address future challenges? When peers attending the 60th...
Henrik SellCarole PalecoThomas B BergMarianne AchiamBrian Degn MårtenssonJuliette FritschStefan Leiner
How do we ignite action among our visitors and make them reflect on causes and effects?
The world is facing major challenges in terms of local and global environmental problems. These are problems that worry many people and can seem...
Join us for light yoga on the roof of Experimentarium.
Get ready for the conference day with a short yoga workout on the roof before sessions begin.
All you need to bring is clothes you can comfortably move in.
Patricia VerheydenMikko MyllykoskiAntonio Gomes da CostaAndrea DurhamTom RockwellMarilena Pace
What is the future of science engagement? Will science centres stay relevant in engaging the public with science? Or should we focus on programmes and outreach activities? Will artificial intelligence take over from human educators or is virtual...
Christelle GuiraudAnna RiethusNathalie Puzenat
A blindfolded experience to grasp visual accessibility requirements.
During the whole workshop you become visually impaired, being blindfolded or wearing special glasses. In this situation, you will discover how to go from the entrance of...
Ida Marie BøeJen DeWittAnna SandvenMeie van LaarCybèle Robichaud
This session will address the thorny question of how to juggle the multiple demands placed on tinkering spaces. For instance, how can we create rewarding experiences for visitors but also high-performance, durable and easy-to-operate spaces? How...
Ryan JenkinsSamar D. KirreshYihsuan Lin
In this conversation corner session, we’ll focus on thinking together how immersive exhibitions, videos, stories, pop-up environments and well curated themes can support tinkering activities in a science centre or museum. These contexts for...
Thierry BrassacAnne LandJo BowlerMatteo Merzagora
Science centres and universities differ in many respects: policies, objectives, commitment to dissemination, organisation, speed, flexibility, partners, dedicated budgets... Both types of organisations have their own complexities, but are they...
Ana NoronhaMarc MoutinMaría Menéndez
Bringing Space “down to Earth” is a priority for the Space sector. Space is a vantage point for monitoring our ever-changing planet – from floods and forest fires to changes in ice cover and rising sea levels. Europe plays a leading role in this...
Dobrivoje Lale EricPaola RodariAndreja PeratKristina DuvnjakKrešimir ČanićDobrivoje Lale EricVessela GertchevaThanassis Kontonikolaou
In most of Europe, changes in EU paradigms and novel funding structures have a strong impact on science communication practice. However − in sharp contrast with their EU peers − professionals and organisations in the Southeastern Europe (SEE)...
Research, theory & evaluation
Kate KnealeDaniela De Angeli
As the Ecsite Conference draws to a close and with it the 2019 edition of the GameLab, time to look back, wrap up and look ahead!
There are two sides to this session:
- Selfish. It's all about us. We want the...
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