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.
Research, theory & evaluation
Over the last years, the development of technological tools for bridging the gap between science education, communication and frontier research has had a profound impact on the process of learning. In this session, we will introduce advanced...
We’re in the century of networks: energy networks, communication networks, information networks… and networks of museums and science centres! How do we ensure these are truly mature networks, rather than isolated, unconnected nodes?...
Networking & Partnerships
Science centres and museums are increasingly active in lobbying on a European and international level. Work done with the Commission through European projects, Ecsite’s Parliament Event in February 2009, the presence of Ecsite and the World Ocean...
Museum objects have many stories to tell, but scientific and technological objects do not always readily reveal their stories to visitors. New media interfaces provide an opportunity to interpret objects in more depth, but there are risks in...
Theory of science communication
How do we communicate science and involve citizens in the latest developments of scientific research? Theatrical science communication, participation techniques, mobile bus laboratories and science circus are presented – live and in action...
Explainers & visitor services
Many science centres and museums work with real scientists as a source of knowledge for developing exhibitions, interactive activities and public meetings with visitors. Scientists have a detailed knowledge of their field, they know about the...
Eco-designing an exhibition means factoring in the ecological footprint of the exhibition’s manufacture, from its creation through to recycling. In this session, we will try to provide pointers on the additional constraint of eco-designing...
Efficient planning of resources in science centres is very important, certainly in times of economic crisis. Visitor numbers have the biggest influence on the use of resources. Forecasting of visitor numbers is thus crucial. The presenters in...
What is the value of intellectual property in the science centre industry? What are the risks of buying copies of exhibits? What are the risks for fabricators of going “open source”? If we acknowledge the source of an exhibit idea, is...
Today’s popular and academic literature is filled with a broad spectrum of opinions about how technology is changing our culture. The implications for museums are potentially wide-ranging and profound. This session will investigate how trends in...
Many science centre managers feel like “kamikaze pilots” trying to manoeuvre in the rugged waters of science centre management, facing risks and uncertainties from early planning throughout financing and into implementation. Risk and uncertainty...
Looking to rent or buy travelling exhibitions? This year, we take another look at travelling exhibitions on science, available now and coming soon across Europe. This rapid-fire session will give you a glimpse of the huge range of exhibitions on...
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