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.
Maarten OkkersenHarry WhiteClaudia SchleyerMichel JungeIan RussellElena Mashintsova
Once again, in the ever-popular, entertaining and thought-provoking Pecha Kucha session, each speaker will present 20 slides. Each slide will be automatically advanced after 20 seconds while the speaker follows. The subject is interactive...
Frank DittmannSarah KellbergOtmar MoritschTina KubotÅsa LindgrenSuzy Antoniw
Developing and designing an exhibition is a challenging and creative process. Visitors, and often colleagues, only get to see the final results. The idea of this session is to illuminate the process of creating an exhibition. What was the...
We have seen science centres become dependent on large financial contributors. But if this contributor fails, centres suddenly miss a large amount of their normal income. Therefore, a science centre should diversify and stand on at least three or...
Sally DuensingMichiel BuchelRobert FirmhoferAndrea BandelliAntonio Gomes da Costa
Policy making is often associated with bureaucratic and boring decision-making processes, where citizens are nothing but the victims of a system outside of their direct control. And yet, policy making (and having an impact there) is now the...
Marketing & communication
Joanna KalinowskaBlanka FijolekDave Patten
Partnerships with business are something we all dream about. But is it possible? How can we turn sponsorship into partnership and what do we base it on? The aim of this session is to present cooperation with business from the perspective of...
Natural History Museums are often imagined to be traditional repositories of historical collections. They continue to draw millions of visitors each year and are family favorites owing to the weird and wonderful collections. These museums remain...
Filip NicolaisenMichaela LivingstonePål Brekke
The last decade has opened outer space up to mankind, both scientifically and to the public, in a way that hasn’t been witnessed since the Space race of the 1960s. Mars-rovers, exoplanets, public space flights and a digital infrastructure...
Alex VerkadeJen WongMark DingemanseBas Haring
Innovation starts with dreaming. So, to innovate, we need good dreamers. Who are the best dreamers we know? Kids. Artists. Philosophers, maybe. People less confined by the shackles of scientific knowledge. On the other hand, who is more likely to...
laura ronzonJohannes-Geert HagmannMaarten Okkersen
This new session format is seeking to leave the comfort zone of science centres and museums, opening the debate on a controversial subject: do science centres need objects to increase their impact, to be innovative and relevant, and to meet their...
Marzia MazzonettoJosh GutwillTessa van SchijndelVesna PajićMarjelle van HoornHeather King
How can science centres and museums encourage parents to facilitate their child’s science learning and engagement? Families are among the most important museum and science centre audiences. Parents can play a key role in the success or...
CEO-Board interaction is a key factor in organizational success. A positive Board-CEO relationship creates synergies that will support fundraising and leverage existing relationships between Board members, science centre interests and personal...
Tim PorterTim PorterDavid Kanter
Many science centers are struggling to innovate in the broad realm of digital media, recognizing that their institution’s future depends on connecting with their audiences in new ways. How do we balance quality hands-on experiences with an...
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