On 27 May 2020, the third webinar in the #EcsiteOnline series discussed inclusion and diversity during a challenging period for the network.

As science centres and museums across Europe re-examine their offer, search for financial stability and re-build dismantled teams, our commitment towards diversity, equity and inclusion has never been more important. Access to science for everyone is the work that makes us worthwhile and our sector has an increasingly urgent role and responsibility to support and serve all members of our community. How do we avoid replicating and increasing the inequalities in society as we are forced to move online ? As we struggle to cope financially, how can we attenuate the effect on the diversity of our staff? And with all the insecurities we face, how can we reconcile our need for survival as businesses with our social responsibility?

We invite you to listen and reflect with researchers, practitioners and leaders who will share ideas, challenges, and successful approaches that support an inclusive response to this crisis and beyond. In the effort of readjusting to this 'new normal,' we can seize the opportunities to reform rather than rebuild our practices, emerging as more agile, resilient and equitable organisations.

Session curated by the Equity@Ecsite group and represented by Barbara Streicher, Executive Manager, Science Center Netzwerk Austria (Vienna, Austria), Shaaron Leverment, Deputy CEO, The Association for Science and Discovery Centres (Bristol, UK) and Amparo Leyman-Pino, Principal, Yellow Cow Consulting (San Francisco, USA)

Session speakers:

Emily Dawson, University College London (London, UK)
Vanessa Mignan, TRACES (Paris, France)
David Jones, Centre for Life (Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK)
Sanne den Adel, VSC, (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Matthias Beitl, Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art (Vienna, Austria)
Sharon Ament, Museum of London (London, UK)