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.
Explainers & visitor services
Ronen MirRaffaella SpagnuoloGillian ThomasMiha KosAriel HeimannIan Simmons
How can science centres fuse meaningful collaborations with formal science education across the Globe? How can we contribute to deliver science curricula? This session highlights situations when formal science education calls upon science centres...
Simona CerratoPaola RodariMaissa Azab
All around the world science museums and science centres are experiencing a strong growth. At the same time more and more research institutes develop exhibitions as a major tool to communicate current research, and visitor centres are created...
Explainers & visitor services
Heather KingMarianne AchiamJustin Dillon
In this provocative session three internationally renowned panelists will challenge the audience to think afresh about learning and teaching in informal settings.
You may be familiar with the sector’s most popular texts, but are you...
Explainers & visitor services
Holly HastedElena MashintsovaNathalie Caplet
How does an institution encourage curious minds to connect? How and why does it generate or foster the building of a community? What do the various parties gain from it?
Two cases will be rapidly presented about two different types of...
Explainers & visitor services
Vesna PajićKathrin KöstersDidier LavalTal BermanSven DražanMiha KosPaola Rodari
We all have expertise on how to work with and inspire regular visitors. There are countless studies on how to engage different kinds of audiences. But do we really know how to work with and train our museum staff? Our human interface with the...
Research, theory & evaluation
Margit HoferKatharina HandlerMargit HoferMaite Debry
A substantial element of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) requests the engagement of all societal actors. The change from isolated research to research with shared responsibilities is a long process that requires substantial change of...
Tristram Stuart is an author and campaigner tackling the food waste scandal. Watch a video of his keynote.
Stuart's organisation is called ...
Paola RodariAntonio Gomes da CostaMatteo Merzagora
The session explores the importance of a strong involvement of stakeholders (including the so called “public”) in all phases of an exhibition’s life.
Three presentations set the scene. Antonio Gomes da Costa will recall how the PLACES...
Explainers & visitor services
Claire PillsburyLærke Mygind GrønfeldtJoe MartinJoonas Juutilainen
Emerging mobile and indoor tracking technologies are of great interest for research and interpretation in science museums. As the cost of hardware decreases for indoor wifi, iBeacon, RFID and near field communication, science centres can afford...
Anne SolliCaroline HobkinsonThomas B BergAudrey ChangHannah Sundqvist
In this session we explore the intersection of science communication, graphic design and artistry in exhibitions. We show examples of how complex scientific data and principles can be expressed concisely and effectively through various aspects of...
Gérard CobutLouise WindfeldtMaria ZоlоtоnоsаJaakko PöyhönenFriso VisserIrena CieślińskaDorothée VatinelAnna Schaefers
There is a lot of science in food, but how do we present it in our exhibitions? Can we build participatory events and activities around food? Many other aspects are also worth investigating: the chemistry and physics of cooking, the digestion...
Research, theory & evaluation
Justin DillonDagny StuedahlMette Stentoft TherkildsenMerethe FroylandJulie BønnelyckeCatharina Thiel Sandholdt
The roles of science centres are changing. Exhibitions with right or wrong answers are not enough in today’s complex world, where beauty is in the detail and knowledge is negotiable. Science centres are in a unique position to build bridges...
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