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.
Welcome to the conference's official start. Meet our hosts for the next few days.
Annette KlinkertWiktor GajewskiVesna PajićSamuela CaliariHeidrun SchulzeLeonardo AlfonsiAnita Fuchs
Science centres and museums are moving part of their activities out of their premises. These outdoor activities enable science centres to communicate and promote science with wider and more diverse audiences.
What can we accomplish by...
Tomas RehacekRonald GöbelVincenzo LipardiFriso VisserVanessa MignanCarmen FenollosaAyşe HACIOĞLUStratos Bacalis
This is the second of two back-to-back sessions on the topic of science centres and museums and the refugee situation. After a first part focusing on the strategic rationale for engagement taking...
Thorsten-D. KünnemannTobias WolffPhil WinfieldLuka VidicAlbrecht BeutelspacherYvonne Simon
As a science centre or museum we all rely on functioning exhibits. This is a key aspect for visitor satisfaction and the organisation's reputation. For a demanding audience only a few broken or malfunctioning exhibits may already leave the...
Research, theory & evaluation
Heather KingAndrea BandelliSarah DaviesAntonio Gomes da Costa
Science centres are often described as ideal sites for the public to participate in conversations and discussions related to scientific knowledge. But to what extent can and do visitors participate? How can science centres and museums design...
Jörg EhtreiberJohannes RamslEd Sobey
What does "inventing something" mean for a pre-school child? With every object they are holding in their hands for the very first time, young children invent something for themselves. How can we support this process and make them enthusiastic...
Kate KnealeIsabelle Chabanon-PougetMatthieu VernetMelissa RichardMalvina Artheau
The GameLab is an informal drop-in space entirely dedicated to gaming.
Want to play some yet-to-come games designed by science centers? Ready to participate in an on-going experiment of collectively designing a game, from idea to...
Christelle GuiraudThorsten-D. KünnemannAnne PrugnonOwain Davies
Designing and producing interactive exhibit is a complex process, involving many steps and variables. How do we keep a trace of this processs in order not to re-invent the wheel or repeat the same mistakes over and over?
How do we record...
Heather KingPetra KatzensteinShireen SabaneghRick HallEnrico M. BalliLee Skolnick, FAIAGeorge PehlivanidesFederica ManzoliLiliana CoriJohan BellmanMaja SandeKate PhillipsAurora Moreira
In this session, speakers have exactly four minutes on stage and a video projector at their disposal to share experiences, epiphanies, projects, opinions etc with other participants - as long as they are related to children…
This session...
Jamie BellAudrey ChangSarah DurcanBrad MacDonald
Cultural/ educational institutions frequently seek to reinvent their galleries and programmes to enhance visitor experience. Ever-evolving audience expectations and established practices are among the challenges faced during this critical...
Vesna PajićWendy SadlerIan RussellSilindile Mthembu
This session explores engaging diverse audiences to communicate global issues, drive development and cross cultural boundaries.
Examples from South Africa, Wales and Australia will illustrate how science show techniques can break down...
Maya HalevySheena LaursenDea BrokmanAliki GiannakopoulouMarjolein van BreemenMarisa Borges
European projects can be very attractive for science centres, museums or schools. These projects add to the variety of science engagement initiatives and activities that we can offer to the public and/or to schools. These projects help us...
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