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.
Jamie BellLouise Julie BertrandDominique BotbolMichael Bradke
What would happen if exhibition designers used music as a conceptual trigger and creative constraint? Music and exhibitions share some characteristics: Listening to music and visiting an exhibition happen over time, in varying tempos, in dense...
Research, theory & evaluation
Anneli PaulLim Tit MengRosalia VargasJohn Falk
Although science centres have long asserted their critical role in supporting science engagement, learning and attitudes of the public, comprehensive data to support these claims are limited. This session will describe the International Science...
Explainers & visitor services
Leonardo AlfonsiHerbert MuenderMassimiliano TrevisanLivio Riboli-Sasco
How will science events innovate their content and structure over the next ten years to avoid becoming dinosaurs? After a decade of rapid and constant development worldwide, science events are starting to diversify, focusing on specific science...
Aaike van OordMichele LanzingerFabrice JouvenotVincenzo LipardiNina MöllersDiederik VeermanMao ImaizumiJean-Marie Sani
Humanity and its relationship with the environment is an important topic at the intersection of science centres, civilization museums and natural history museums. To understand this complex relationship, we must use multidisciplinary approaches....
Explainers & visitor services
Museums and science centres often aim to ‘open up’ their spaces to visitors. Join us for a discussion of how to share the wonders of science research, scientific collaboration, and museum development with visitors. Speakers from Netherlands,...
Daniel RosqvistAnnika WaernJohan EckerudDaniel RosqvistLisa Månsson
When the behavior of a target group changes, we need to change with them.
With a gamification project called “The Mission”, Tom Tits Experiment in collaboration with Uppsala University and Expology, seeks to meet the expectations of an...
Explainers & visitor services
Helena JedrzejczakElena MashintsovaPaweł Wójcik
Visitors are taking part in creating exhibitions in science centres around the world. This collaboration can be done in many ways. We will focus on two: First, science centres created mainly through public engagement and, second, projects in...
Mikko MyllykoskiDominique BotbolPäivi GarnerPatricia VerheydenAntonia Caola
Language and translation policies and practices are an easily overlooked sector in the functions of a science centre. Who reads exhibition texts anyway, let alone the different language versions? As far as accessibility is concerned,...
Research, theory & evaluation
Marianne AchiamTessa van SchijndelAmy SeakinsAlexander Moss
“Interest” is a key concept in the field of science education and engagement. Science centres, museum exhibitions, programmes and interventions are designed to stimulate the interest of visitors. But what exactly is interest and how does it...
Explainers & visitor services
Robert WestMikko MyllykoskiIan SimmonsDorothée VatinelMike Bruton
Why and how do science museums engage with sensitive and/or controversial topics in exhibitions and public programmes? Museum locations, governmental relationships, funding sources, political, social and religious environments, and local events...
Penny FidlerLeonardo AlfonsiBarbara StreicherRosalia VargasRobert Firmhofer
Many science communication practitioners engage in regional networks, using the multiplier effect for broader reach. The idea is to engage more people with science and technology more locally and more effectively. How can we set up such networks...
Explainers & visitor services
This session looks at the concept of ‘science capital’ – science-related qualifications, knowledge, literacy and social contacts, which were developed in the ASPIRES project to help understand patterns in young people’s science aspirations...
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