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.
James BellMichel ClaessensMatteo MerzagoraSara CalcagniniAntonio Gomes da Costa
Speakers will each have five minutes to discuss their favourite science centre or museum and share why this place is distinct for them. This session will inspire serious reflection on what makes our institutions memorable. After presentations,...
Widening access to all visitors can be achieved from the start of a project and all along development processes. Making improvements over time will be questioned through case studies of institutions at different stages of addressing access....
Noel JacksonGuido RamelliniMichael BradkeDaniel RamosEd Sobey
Mathematics is an intriguing science yet it is usually dismissed as tool by the numerate and as boring by the rest of the world. But the time is right for maths to take their rightful place in the world of science communication. In this session...
Marketing & communication
Joanna KalinowskaJoanna KalinowskaBrigitte Zana
Time is money. And for most science centres it is time to think about ways of obtaining unrestricted funds. Where do you look for money if your budget is running low? Do you rob a bank? Are you becoming a pickpocketer?
This is a session...
Lars RehnmanLars RehnmanJan WestinGrace Kimble
Having live animals and plants as an active part of your science centre brings many advantages, including: Nature can be a wonderful inspiration for technological innovations that can benefit people and the environment. Nature attracts an...
Miha KosMiha KosAntonio Gomes da CostaHarri "Heko" MontonenLuka VidicMarcin Chydziński
We are living in a time when visitors expect content to be more and more entertaining. Should we focus more on the “show” or on the “science” in order to deliver our message? Written scripts of science shows can help...
Leonardo AlfonsiHerbert MuenderJan Riise
Science events are a highly engaging tool to foster citizen participation in science and technology. Over the past 15 years the number of events increased as well as the variety of profiles that characterise a science event. What’s the...
How can institutions overcome barriers between curatorial and interactive exhibit departments? How can we move beyond ways of thinking that often prevent us from designing exhibitions that combine ‘museum objects’ and ‘interactive exhibits’ in a...
Leonard SonnenscheinAleksandra RynkiewiczRobert WestSheena Laursen
Though the science is clear that anthropogenic actions are creating climatic change throughout the planet at an unprecedented rate compared to normal geological history, there is a need to better inform the public about how lifestyle changes can...
After an overview of the fundamentals of fundraising for museum staff and volunteers, work with other participants to identify your centre or museum’s constituency, and learn how to make your funding community grow. Develop new fundraising ideas...
Anna SchaefersHanne Haack LarsenGunnar BehrensDOROTA KULAWIK
Your worst nightmare: The exhibits are broken, the visitors are frustrated, the museum staff does not know what to do, the creative company is far away. What can we do, before an exhibition is even opened, to avoid such situations and make sure...
Manuel CiraAna NoronhaBruna Valettini
Oceans are today recognized as the fundamental element of life on Earth: for our climates, our life, economy, and our society. The session will showcase how our organisations have successfully formed partnerships with research organisations and...
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