Museums as brokers of participation: how visitors view the emerging role of European science centres and museums in policy

In this article published in the Science Museum Group Journal's Spring 2015 issue, Bandelli and Konijn investigate "how two levels of participation – the participation of museums in policy, and the participation of visitors in museums – are related in seven European science centres and museums. The results suggest that science centres and museums are regarded by their visitors as potential platforms to facilitate public participation in policy". Read the article online.

Highlighting the value of evidence-based education: pushing back on demands for 'impact'

In this paper, King et al. "discuss the value and place of evaluation amidst increasing demands for impact." They highlight the possiblerole of museums and science centres "to design and conduct site-specific evaluation protocols that result in valuable and useful insights to inform ongoing and future practice." Read the paper online. 

Museum education today: creative synergies and pedagogic innovations in multicultural contexts

This volume's series of articles focusses "on the strategies, cross-institutional synergies and pedagogic innovations pursued by a variety of museum and gallery types" in "today’s multicultural landscape". Includes an article by Maria Xanthoudaki and a case study from the American Museum of Natural History. March 2015 issue of "Museum and society" published by Leicester University's Museum Studeis School (Volume 13, No 2) - see full volume online.

Designing Public-Centric Forms of Public Engagement with Research 

"What happens if we put ‘the public’ at the centre of our efforts to conceptualise, conduct and evaluate publicly engaged research?" This is what Nick Mahony asks in this pamphlet published at The Open University (Milton Keynes). Download the article. 

Studiolab “What has been learned” - How can we create better platforms for interactions between science and art?

This book edited by The Science Gallery (Dublin) promises "a fascinating record of the sucessful collabrative science and art projects supported by Europe from 2011 to 2014." Order it online. 

Tapping the unrealized potential of citizen science for biodiversity research

Spotted in the ECSA newsletter: Theobald et al. (2015) conducted a large quantitative review of biodiversity-related Citizen Science activities to study the use of Citizen Science data in biodiversity research. They find that over a million volunteers participate in the 388 sampled CS projects which accounts for an equivalent of $ 2.5 billion in annual in-kind contributions to research. However, according to the authors, this vast potential remains largely unused as only 12% of the projects under consideration publish their results in peer-reviewed articles. The authors conclude by highlighting the importance of linking professional researchers to volunteers better and emphasize the role of Citizen Science associations in this context. E.J. Theobald et al., "Global change and local solutions: Tapping the unrealized potential of citizen science for biodiversity research", Biological Conservation, Volume 181, January 2015, Pages 236-244. Read the article online. 

H2020 group stresses economic benefits of cultural heritage

"A Horizon 2020 expert group has highlighted the multiple economic benefits of cultural heritage and stressed the need for greater action to reap such advantages," reports the Horizon 2020 Projects website (includes link the report). 

Latest issue of Attractions Management magazine out

Mikael Holgren from Robetoy, Gold sponsor of the 2015 Ecsite Annual Conference, signs the science centre column, explaining how crucial attenging the conference's Business Bistro is to his company.  The issue also includes a beautifully illustrated tour of the newly re-opened Wellcome Collection in London (an Ecsite member); an overview of the brand-new  Biomuseu biodiversity Museum in Panama, a $100 M project designed by Frank Gehry;  and an interview with Piero Galli, Milan 2015 Expo Manager touching on the agriculture, sustainability and food expo themes.

These articles are suggested as part of a media partnership with Attractions Management.

Picks from latest issue of International Innovation - innovation deficit, digital skills gap, Internet of things and peer review sexism

Read up on Europe's digital skills and innovation deficits,  catch up on Internet of things develomments thanks to a summit round up and hear a researcher's point on view on sexism in peer review.  

These articles are suggested as part of a media partnership with International Innovation.