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.
This poster session will focus on the use of dialogue and of enquiry-based activities in science centres and museums. Several science centres and science museums will present posters with practical examples, thus providing an overview of such...
Teachers are some of the most important people in attracting young visitors in large quantities to a science centre. If teachers are convinced of the value of your science centre, they become ambassadors by booking your programmes and taking...
It is now 10 years since a number of science centres were set up in the UK and elsewhere in Europe to celebrate the new millennium. Their arrival was controversial and was not greeted with enthusiasm by many existing centres. The newcomers had...
Research, theory & evaluation
In this interactive poster session, we will show several good practice examples of how teaching laboratories can be setup and run in a science centre environment. We will focus on budget issues, staff requirements, choice of topics for workshops...
Networking & Partnerships
When looking into the future, there is always the temptation of asking the more experienced for insights and advice. This session, however, will try to convey the boldness and daring of the younger ones, collecting their ideas, foresights and...
In general: What is the difference between the popularization of human sciences and hard science? How do you show human science in an interactive way? What are the subjects in human sciences which are unexplored by exhibit designers?In detail:...
Networking & Partnerships
The opening event of the Ecsite Annual Conference 2010.
The session will present cases from science centres/museums dealing with the topic of occupational safety, a topic strictly linked with science and technology. DASA pursues the aim of incorporating the concept of occupational safety and health...
As we celebrate the theory of natural selection, are we actually encouraging unnatural selection by promoting the constant protection of biodiversity at all costs? Nature-related topics such as climate change, biodiversity, health, sustainable...
We will confront ideas and practices about the topic of risk and danger and the challenge of engaging people – especially youngsters – and foster the safety culture. Through three case studies, we will discuss how to be effective in...
There are as many exhibition development processes as exhibitions out there. Meanwhile, projects are getting more and more complicated, requiring a variety of input from content experts to technical experts. This session looks at the approach of...
Art and neuroscience share associative aspects of perception, which can transfer into new experiences for the general public. When art meets neuroscience, a stimulating breeding ground is created, which involves more than a work of art simply...
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