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.
Dealing with several entities, tiptoeing around politicians and taking into account sponsors' ideas while staying true to your science communication calling can be a challenge.
Sometimes we have to adapt to sponsors' and governments' ideas...
Alain COINEEvanthia IoannidouCarina JaatinenFriso VisserAlain COINE
Step one: we have an idea.
Step two : we design a project that could be an exhibition, a science festival or dissemination programme.
Step three: struggling to it, we look for sponsorship.
What if the reverse happens: a...
Lizzy MoriartyHanouf Al-Alawi Ana Crespo-BlancShireen SabaneghAndrew Wood-Walker
Do European science exhibitions reflect the rich diversity of the cultures that have contributed to science? How is science communicated in other cultures? Professionals from Europe and the Middle East will discuss how to make science relevant to...
Caroline BreunesseSjan JanssenIsabelle Du FourJavier Hidalgo Gil
Traditionally, museums of natural history collect stuffed animals. In exhibitions these objects are used to illustrate stories about biology, ecology, biodiversity and species. In order to explain the behaviour of animals, museums often use films...
Samar D. KirreshYihsuan LinMay Sabbah
Tear apart some old boxes and bring your ideas to life. In this session, we will be experimenting with the amazing material cardboard and create pathways for marbles to travel down. We will reflect on the value of building marble runs and think...
Nena WeilerRonen MirNoel JacksonPedro PomboLorenz Kampschulte
In this session we present four practical examples of activities and tools connecting formal and informal education on different levels. Case studies include a national programme connecting science centres and school, a science club run in...
The Natural History Museum of Geneva is pleased to invite those participants who will be around on Tuesday 5 June to an exhibition opening at the History of Science Museum, the second museum venue it is running, located on the banks of Lake...
Vesna PajićLuka VidicDidier LavalBob Friedhoffer
Using the terms and tools of magic, metaphysics, superstition, alternative truth, healing, miracles in science communication can spur our audience's imagination and make them wonder what it is they have just seen and how it happened. Surprising...
Marketing & communication
Roy SchedlerJoanna KalinowskaMaarten OkkersenHeli AinoaRoy SchedlerElin Ravndal Bell
In this session, professionals from different science centres and museums will share how they use empirical customer insights in their marketing-communication. They will explain how they learn about their visitors’ needs, expectations and wishes...
Research, theory & evaluation
Maria ZоlоtоnоsаRose JonesSuzana Filipecki MartinsNils Petter HauanArtur Kalinowski
This session explores the methodological explosion that has been quietly unfolding in museums during the last decade. As the boundaries between Evaluation and Research are being reconfigured so are the disciplinary borders and theoretical...
Christina RühlmannIrena CieślińskaRonan GermanHeidrun SchulzeGunnar Behrens
Through the digital revolution, our learning and working conditions have changed fundamentally. Knowledge workers today have to be able to use complex systems and to differentiate themselves from robots at the same time, relying on genuine human...
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