Keynote Speech: Kris De Meyer

How neuroscience can help science engagement deal constructively with controversy and polarisation

Hear from neuroscientist, science communicator, and Director of the Climate Action Unit at University College London, Kris De Meyer, in a special keynote address.

What should we do as science communication and engagement professionals when scientific findings clash with people’s interest and values? Kris De Meyer answers this question and more by sharing insights from neuroscience and psychology that can help us understand the controversy and polarisation that emerges around big societal problems like climate change, biodiversity loss, vaccine safety and the like. Join him in this Keynote as he proposes that in order to deal with controversial topics more effectively, we'll need a Copernican Revolution in how we think about how science and science engagement can help us to deal with these big problems.

Keynote Speech: Mary Flanagan

Unusual encounters: Playful exploration in speculative museums

Hear from award-winning artist, game designer, writer and scholar, Mary Flanagan, in a special Keynote address.

In this talk, Mary Flanagan introduces the concept of a “speculative museum,” emphasising its focus on imagining futures, possibilities, and alternative realities rather than simply displaying historical artifacts or current knowledge. Blending research from her games for impact laboratory and the concept of speculative design, the speculative museum furthers these concepts by the adoption of critical play as a central component. Join her in this Keynote as she answers how we might transform museum spaces into dynamic social platforms that serve as critical forums for civic engagement and how we can use playful approaches and ludic methods for thoughtful reflection.

See the Programme for the 2025 Ecsite Conference here