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.
Experience the atmospheric Zoological Museum on a guided tour. The tour will take you to a range of the Museum’s highlights, including Denmark's only real giant dinosaur, “Misty”, and the famous Whale Cellar, which is usually closed to the public...
Malvina ArtheauRaquel da CunhaWiktor GajewskiAlejandro MancillaVesna Pajić
Occupational burnout occurs in all professions and ours is no exception. Many in our line of work root their motivation in values, a sense of mission and the people they serve. But sometimes we...
Manuel CiraFrancisco Franco del AmoAnne-Marie BruyasWalter StavelozPeter de HaanCarole PalecoRosalia VargasHenrik Helsgaun
In 2009 we were in Copenhagen for COP15, representing science centres and museums in the fight against climate change. Ten years later, we find ourselves back in the same city. And this time, it’s for crisis talks. The IPCC’s latest report was...
Bronwyn BevanBronwyn BevanPeter WardripHeather King
One of the shared aims of Tinkering is to help immerse people in a learning experience that can be highly inclusive. This session “theorises” Tinkering and MakerSpaces, demonstrating how different theoretical lenses reveal different aspects of...
Thierry BrassacAnna GunnarssonMalvina ArtheauPieter Loots
Following the “Having fun with the periodic table of the elements” session, take the time to play a new board game connecting sustainability issues with the periodic table, try to fill up the...
Marjolein van BreemenAlexandra BurchMaren KrumdieckAnnemarie van Eekeren
Museums and science centres have well-established business models and forms of delivery – and whilst these have been successful, we must remain alert to changes within the societies in which we operate and which we intend to serve. As we look to...
Nathalie PuzenatHenrik HelsgaunMarco MirandaMarta Fikus-KrynskaSami PihkalaSarah de LauneyJesper Rasted
Prototyping is an eye-opening and often essential step in the development of content and interactive exhibits. It is a powerful tool but also complicated, often time-consuming and expensive. In the short introduction to this workshop, each...
Leonel AlegreJaap HoogstratenJuliette FritschKatrina Nilsson
Dinosaurs have the power to reach audiences other collections cannot reach – how is this being harnessed as a catalyst for change? Find out how moving dinosaurs, whether within a museum context or on tour, can act as a signal for large-scale...
Explainers & visitor services
Eamonn O'NeillAnnette LeinYihsuan LinAndré SeirafiJack Gelsthorpe
Developing an app takes a lot of time and effort. It has to have an effective design, be simple to use, and most importantly provide relevant, timely and engaging content for the user. Yet, despite all the work we put into planning, developing...
Ryan JenkinsVanessa MignanElizabeth McGregor JacobidesNikola Köhler-Kroath
Constructing buildings out of cardboard is a low stakes and familiar way to explore materials and to express personally meaningful ideas. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll build representations of our current or ideal space for making and...
Luisa MassaraniJessica Norberto RochaChristelle GuiraudAndres RoldanAnna Riethus
In 2017 RedPOP, Ecsite's sister organisation in Latin America, undertook a survey among the region’s science centres to understand how they tackle accessibility in respect to different kinds of disabilities. Studied factors spanned communicative...
Frank KupperJantien SchuijerPatrizia FamàMarianne Pouget
Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) stresses that societal engagement is essential for steering research and innovation towards acceptable ends. The idea is that carefully facilitated interactions between societal actors (dialogues or co-...
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