I am experience director at Heureka, the Finnish science centre. My background is in history and classical philology, which both keep inspiring me through my life and times in science engagement. I think that in our profession we are, in fact, dramaturgists and storytellers. Besides science communication, I have a broad interest in nature, cultures and languages – and especially in building bridges between them. – To live and to mix.
As the Head of Scientific Area at the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona, my main duty is to set the strategic direction of the Museum's scientific activities. I am helping the scientific team demonstrate measurable outcomes and impact of our research, not only in terms of high impact scientific publications but also in terms of engagement with society, making our scientists active players in our public activities. I’m also in charge of our main citizen science project, BioBlitzBcn, a long term project (ten years now) that involves citizens and specialists to create an urban biodiversity list. Finally, I’m actively involved in the Museum's gender group and also part of a working group of women in science and technology that started as an advisory group to the Catalonian government and has evolved into a lobby group. I joined the Ecsite Conference's Programme Committee as an expert in summer 2019.
I’ve been working at the CPN in Belgrade since 2011. My main focus nowadays is on the development of a multidisciplinary approach and response to climate issues and artificial intelligence, as two defining and determining challenges and opportunities of our time. I’ve also been working on multiple national and European projects and initiatives dealing with research policies, STE(A)M education and art & science practices.
My background is in Art History (at least formally) and I previously worked at the Museum of Science and Technology and Mod’Art High School, both in Belgrade, after getting diverse experiences in modern architecture research, publishing, translation and advertising. I’m also, quite proudly, a member of the Future Studies Programme Committee of the Belgrade Open School.
I joined the Programme Committee of the Ecsite Conference in autumn 2019.
National Centre "Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine"
I am a Project coordinator at the National Centre "Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine" (Kyiv, Ukraine), focusing on establishing a science centre in Kyiv. I am also an Affiliate Director of the "Destination Imagination" Ukraine programme (Destination Imagination is the world's largest creative problem-solving programme) and at the same time I collaborate with Polish educational organisations. My background is in law and international relations. I studied in Ukraine and Poland. I hold a Ph.D. in political science and wrote my dissertation on the political culture of young people in Ukraine and Poland. My research focuses on science education in science centres and science museums and science communication. I am interested in political culture, citizenship and education as objects of research too.
Interim Executive Coordinator / Head of Communication
Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto
With a background in animal biology and biology teaching and a PhD in science education and communication, I am currently Interim Executive Coordinator and Head of Communication at the Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto. I am in charge of general administration and of coordinating and promoting science communication and outreach activities. I have been involved in the design and evaluation of formal and informal educational activities, teacher training, and outreach initiatives for all sorts of audiences. Also, I am currently part of the team responsible for the reconstruction of the Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto.
I’m Head of Research & Learning at Science Gallery Dublin. I hold a PhD in Astronomy and have experience in the formal education system as a teacher of science and mathematics. In my current role, I oversee the development of transdisciplinary art-science educational programmes at Science Gallery Dublin, as well as lead a team of researchers and practitioners who are investigating the intersection between art and science in informal education settings, and the learning that happens in these spaces. I’m the Principal Investigator of the European Commission-funded project SySTEM 2020 which is examining science learning outside the classroom in more than 20 countries across Europe. I joined the Ecsite Conference’s Programme Committee as an expert in summer 2019.
I have spent my career in informal learning institutions championing educational programmes for various audiences. I have been at the Natural History Museum since 2008, previously leading the face-to-face teams including the Science Educators, Volunteers and their associated management. I am now responsible for international partnerships and global diplomacy. I have previously worked as a schoolteacher; art interpreter and university lecturer, and am a published author having written a children’s book on contemporary art as well as articles on informal learning. I have a MEd and am currently completing my doctorate in museology at King’s College London.
I am Executive Manager of the Austrian Association Science Center-Network which I co-initiated in 2005. I have been working in science communication since completing my PhD at the University of Vienna as a molecular biologist. Enabling joyful learning in open and engaging settings is what I cherish within the network and in science center activities for various publics. I am an advocate for social inclusion and diversity and was a Noyce leadership fellow in 2013/14.
I am Curator of the Exhibitions division, Exhibitions projects department, Cité des sciences et de l’industrie (Universcience), Paris, France. Originally an expert in children's exhibitions with a science background, I am now working on travelling shows and European projects. I am on the lookout for all kinds of museographical proposals, in science centres of course but also in art and societal museums. I advocate for the intellectual and cognitive comfort of all visitors, whether experts or novices.
Programme Manager - International Relations and Learning
Experimentarium
Inspiring and motivating especially children and young people to engage in the world of science and engineering has been a major part of my career. As Programme Manager at Experimentarium my main focus of work has been strategically managing a portfolio of European projects and I have as such been in charge of many science learning projects and international relations. Furthermore, I have been involved in several initiatives aiming to motivate young people to engage in STEM with a specific focus towards engaging women. I am a passionate advocate of gender inclusion and member of the diversity interest group under Ecsite. Being a member of the ACPC committee since 2015 I have appreciated inspiring and thought provoking insights and discussions.
I am an art director at Kersnikova Institute and a senior curator at Kapelica Gallery Ljubljana incepted in 1995. Kersnikova Institute is art space where Kapelica is a gallery for contemporary investigative art, Rampa technology creative collisions and getting experiences through the hands-on workshops thematising cohabitation of humans, animals plants and technology.
I have been the Marketing Manager at Jærmuseet since 2009 and have an overall responsibility for the museum's marketing and communication activities. I am also responsible for our sponsorships, and always on the look-out for new and creative partnerships and income sources.
I graduated at La Trobe University, Australia, with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism. Before my current position, I worked as a project manager for an international event.
Jærmuseet will, together with the Norwegian Petroleum museum, welcome the Ecsite family to Stavanger for the 2021 edition of the Ecsite Conference. I am therefore a host representative in the Conference's Programme Committee.
I am Head of Department at the Norwegian Petroleum Museum/Norsk Oljemuseum. My background is from hotel, but I have worked at the Petroleum Museum since 2005. I am interested in how we as a museum welcome our guests, and the importance of working together with other museums, science centres and the travel industry.
The Norwegian Petroleum museum will, together with Jærmuseet, welcome the Ecsite family to Stavanger for the 2021 edition of the Ecsite Conference. I am therefore a host representative in the Conference's Programme Committee.
I am the Executive Director of Ecsite. Under my leadership, the Ecsite Conference has grown to become the largest science engagement event in Europe and Ecsite has firmly established itself as a trend setting platform and as a key stakeholder on the European stage. Before I joined Ecsite in 2006, I was working for the Office de Coopération et d’Information Muséographiques (OCIM, France) as a Training coordinator. From 1992 to 1994, I was Professional development coordinator and then Executive director of the Société des Musées Québécois. I have also worked in architecture and art museums in Canada and managed cultural events such as jazz festivals. I hold an MBA in cultural management from HEC Montréal (Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales).
My first Ecsite Conference was in Trento, Italy, and I will never forget this first encounter with science engagement family - bright, warm, familiar and so much fun!
I'm Ecsite's Communications and Events Manager since January 2020 but I have been in Ecsite’s communications team since March 2015. Before Ecsite, I was a doctoral researcher in Neurobiology and I founded and organised Patients Meet Scientists, a platform to bring researchers and patients together.