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.
Rui QuintaAnna SchaefersInes PRIETOClayton CutajarClaudia AguirreMariana Cardoso
Museums are condensed reality. The fact that reality loses its context when displayed in a museum is compensated by the possibility of creating new narratives with pieces of reality that are normally distant or disconnected in the real world....
Ryan JenkinsJenny CarlssonChristof BörnerAndreas Matt
In this hands-on tinkering session we will explore computational tinkering, a playful open ended approach to digital tools. We’ll try out activities that combine crafting with physical materials with digital tools like block-based programming...
Lizzy MoriartyEnrico TombesiMelanie DaviesEmily SargentBernadette Schrandt
How do we work collaboratively with our audiences, within the walls of our organisations and outside them? This session will present ideas from the forefront of audience engagement which reflect the social value of science centres in their role...
Research, theory & evaluation
Armin DuffSergey MukhametovWolfgang KesselheimSybill EbersNils Petter HauanChristina Brandenberger
The digital era brings new tools for visitor research, for instance the possibility to track visitors and their activities. These methods stretch the boundaries of visitor research into the big data area. Instead of asking visitors about their...
Bronwyn BevanSharon AmentGuy Labine
Institutional priorities and decisions emerge through a broad range of factors. It is rare that all staff members feel that they are shaping institutional directions. But are they supported in contributing to these directions and do they feel...
Kate KnealeJohn SearRan PelegDaniela De AngeliClaudia SodiniMalvina Artheau
Want to reach new audiences ? Got an ignored gallery? Face a tricky problem? Would like to pimp up an event? A good game might just well be the answer you’ve been looking for. Bring your challenge to the GameLab!
The GameLab at the Ecsite...
Gail LordBrad IrwinHelen JonesRosalia Vargas
The value of science centres and museums to society is changing. From depositories for collections, to places to explore, question and understand scientific phenomena – they are now being seen as generators of soft power for their nation around...
Rui QuintaMariana CardosoInes MontalvaoHaydn AntoniwPoul Kattler
Interactivity has always been part of the science centre's DNA and is now common in museums and other science engagement settings. However, it doesn't necessarily take into consideration visitors' emotional journeys. The concept of experience...
Research, theory & evaluation
Bernadette SchrandtPoul KattlerBernadette SchrandtPoul KattlerIain ColemanJose Augusto OcampoCatherine Murphy
It can be expensive and take a lot of time to evaluate your exhibitions. Can we push boundaries for evaluation? Are there options to perform a quick scan and still get valuable insights? How much knowledge can we gain by evaluating more easily?...
Malthe Kouassi BjerregaardFloriane PerotMarius KwintLouise Whiteley
Exhibitions are a slow medium and imply authority, so how can we present knowledge that is still evolving? Science centres and museums have tended to exhibit settled science; histories of great men and great discoveries, or textbook facts brought...
The Farewell Party is the conference's most informal social event: dance, chat, share a drink with other participants...
This year it will be taking place at the Docken, a former salt warehouse reconverted into a cultural venue. Chill by...
Gène BertrandSybill EbersDick de JongAnna SchaefersPatricia VerheydenBaerbel AuffermannGertie Cuijpers
Usually permanent exhibitions have a very long lifetime. But eventually, every museum or science centre has to face the challenge of renewing them. Old presentation techniques, outdated contents, old-fashioned architecture or damages to your...
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