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 KnealeRan PelegMalka YayonJohn SearClaudia SodiniYael Bamberger
Escape games are a popular cultural phenomenon and this phenomenon has not bypassed the Ecsite community and conference: in 2018 the Conference hosted a first Escape room demonstration. Whether you missed it last year or were lucky enough to make...
Would you like to know about an open project looking for partners? About an exhibition that you could host for free? About educational resources that can be grabbed and used with no fee, or even with associated benefits? About a European...
The Ecsite Conference’s MakerSpace is a physical location created by a group of tinkerers and educators from science centres all over the world. It is located on the second floor of Experimantarium. In this inspiring environment full of tools,...
Nathalie PuzenatHenrik HelsgaunMarco MirandaMarta Fikus-KrynskaSami PihkalaSarah de LauneyJesper Rasted
Prototyping is an eye-opening and often essential step in the development of content and interactive exhibits. It is a powerful tool but also complicated, often time-consuming and expensive. In the short introduction to this workshop, each...
Anna StarkeyDidier LavalRosalie WhiteAliki Giannakopoulou
Change is constant. We need to be agile and to continually push the boundaries of our work in order to remain engaging and relevant in ever-evolving cultural landscapes.
What organisational or team boundaries would you like to push, but...
Ronen MirRobert FirmhoferDerek FishLinda ConlonMaya HalevyMaurice BitranNetzach FarbiashKim Gladstone Herlev
Where are science centres headed? In November 2018, 25 science centre leaders convened together with 25 local professionals for a weeklong workshop in Israel, discussing the future of our field. Intense discussions led to the formation of four...
"The blob: a genius without a brain".
Audrey Dussutour is a Researcher at the Research Centre on Animal Cognition of Toulouse University, France. Her unit works on animal cognition, neuroscience, animal behaviour and computational biology...
Laura SmillieÂngela Guimaraes PereiraMalgorzata KossowskaPaula Pérez SobrinoLaura Smillie
To "make the world a better place" we need to understand how political decisions are taken, not just by politicians or civil servants but also by voters. So how do they do this?
This was the question we asked ourselves as the European...
The Ecsite Board is pleased to invite staff of Ecsite member organisations to a members-only breakfast: an opportunity to exchange with board members in a relaxed setting.
Places are free. They will be available onsite on Thursday 6 June...
Hillary SpencerJulie LeclairCarina JaatinenHillary SpencerFrancesca Polo
The act of risk taking is of increasing importance in both our professional and personal lives. This session will ask the following questions: What is risk? Why do we take risks? What is failure? What does risk-taking look like from an...
Marie HobsonLuisa MassaraniMaria XanthoudakiBrooke Smith
Many scientists want to connect with the public, but their efforts to do so are not always easily achieved or effective. Some programmes and institutions are leading the way in identifying the support needed to enable scientists’ connections with...
Ryan JenkinsRannei Solbak Simonsen
In this hands-on workshop for beginners, we’ll take a deep dive into the world of LED fashion. We will make and construct using electronics and simple everyday materials as we hack our conference badges and create personalised wearables to show...
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