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.
“When I first started designing and building exhibits I’d never heard of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Now there isn’t a project that comes up without someone mentioning it, QR, or bar codes! And everyone wants...
Marketing & communication
Denise AmyotNathalie Caplet
Most of our institutions have a Facebook and a Twitter account, and sometimes a blog. But these can be set up to work in different ways: one or several official accounts, a person or two hidden behind anonymous accounts; accounts that are...
milene wendlingJAVIER HIDALGOValentina di SarnoCharles Bishop
How do planetariums integrate with their environment? What are its links with an exibition hall, heritage museum, or scientific workshop room? How do planetariums distinguish themselves and draw audiences? This session will be a discussion about...
Ed SobeyMoeko TABATAVarda Gur Ben Shitrit
The role of science centres is not limited to the four walls of a building. They have the expertise to make their engagement activities work from a distance, to go to where the people are, and to reach wider and new audiences, switching them on...
Eli KuslanskyJosé-Carlos ArnalEli KuslanskyTrent LethcoWalter Staveloz
Legible Cities is a trend where the virtual world of image and data is overlaid on the physical world of environment, structures and vehicles. In Legible Cities, inhabitants, through sensors, displays, visualizations, and installations get access...
Lech NOWICKILAURENT CHICOINEAUMassa Mufti-HamwiLaurence Muller
What can we gain by introducing the humanities to science centres, including philosophy, languages, literature, history, visual arts, music and theater? What goals can we achieve and what can we loose? Can we clothe a philosophical or literature...
Sharon AmentFrancis DuranthonQingjin Meng
Some science centres and many natural history museums run exhibitions about palaeontology and archaeology, using modern methods, exhibits and new technologies to catch public attention. This session will highlight specific examples of how science...
We’ll heat up the stove in this high energy workshop of speed dates, group discussions and one-on-one assignments, participants will analyze cases of smart ICT use (co-created databases, smartphones) and apply it in their own situation on...
Christophe ChaffardonAreti DamalaSofoklis SotiriouPeter SlavenburgIlaria ValotiNathalie Cimino
As smartphones and tablets become more and more popular with visitors, museum professionals face multiple challenges in designing and evaluating interactive mobile experiences around these devices. This workshop will focus on deploying mobile...
Eric Lawrinjeremy martinatNasreddine CHAB
The place of sign language in science museums is an area of concern for deaf and hard of hearing visitors. Using gesture and visual communication, sign language allows special needs visitors access to science exhibits in different ways: through...
Ed SobeyEd SobeyMartin KulhawczukSusanne RehnMarcin ChydzińskiMichael BradkeElin Roberts
Space and time are abstract concepts until they are measured. Children estimate distance and time poorly and have little practice in measuring either one, yet these two issues are fundamental to experiments and understanding science. Immediate...
Jamie BellTanja van der WoudeGabriel PicotPriya Mohabir
Informal science centres are great places to use media in education and training. In this session we will highlight informal science initiatives that promote digital and media competence at different levels of education. Participants will have an...
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