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.
Malvina ArtheauIsabelle Chabanon-PougetMatthieu VernetMelissa RichardKate KnealeJohn SearDaniel Rosqvist
The GameLab is an informal drop-in space entirely dedicated to gaming.
Want to play some yet-to-come games designed by science centers? Ready to participate in an on-going experiment of collectively designing a game, from idea to...
Raquel da CunhaŁukasz BuryJohn DowneyHélder Ferreira
There is a place for magic shows in science centres and museums.
In this session you'll have a chance to "bust" a series of (what many call) magic tricks. Yes, this is entertainment, but there is a lot of serious science and technology...
Sharon AmentSharon AmentBrad IrwinMaria Xanthoudaki
The first 'Ecsite trial' took place during the 2015 Ecsite Annual Conference, debating the role of competitions for school students. A Judge presided, lawyers presented their arguments, and the jury made the final decision on their place within...
The Nocturne invites you into the Joanneum Quarter and its surrounding courtyards. Spend an inspiring night in the spirit of the "Colours of Cooperation" conference theme. Meet friends and colleagues, stroll around, taste Styrian wine and food,...
Lavinia Del LongoFranziska HütterTalila YehielGerald KastbergerHedinn Gunhildrud
The fascinating and diverse beauty of nature itself is the most powerful exhibit we can show our visitors. Therefore, it should be our main focus to enable our visitors to connect with nature outside, no matter whether we work in science centres...
Elles van VegchelAnnelore ScholtenRaphael ChanayLauren Souter
There is a growing need to bring museum collections closer to the visitor for a more intense experience that better captivates the message an institution wants to convey. Science centres have a long tradition in making hands-on exhibitions.
...
Karen WilkinsonMaria XanthoudakiMaya HalevyCatherine Demarcq
Tinkering is increasingly being adopted by museums as a new way of engaging visitors into creative, highly experiencial, science-oriented, learning-through-construction processes. It is a vision for learning and supports 21st century competences...
Johannes-Geert HagmannAlison BoyleMaarten OkkersenBarry LordMichele LanzingerUlrich KernbachKen ArnoldWalter StavelozClaire Pillsbury
Join leaders from a range of disciplines as they offer a rapid-fire series of visions for the future of science museums and science centres.
Different prospects for museums and science centres have included neutral “third places” for communities...
Explainers & visitor services
Joanna KalinowskaAntonio ParodiFermín Serrano SanzMuki Haklay
Citizen science projects offer a new form for the engagement of citizens in scientific research. In this session we will explore the opportunities and challenges of this emerging area by looking at different case studies covering a wide range of...
Robert FirmhoferMichiel BuchelHerbert MuenderJohn Falk
At science centres, we strive for perfection and innovation. We design learning experiences and raise revenue, manage visitor flows and enhance creativity. We care about toilet cleanliness and scientific accuracy. We employ educators and...
Noel JacksonRuth MurrayIvonne DelgadilloDebora NucciNoel JacksonInês OliveiraRaffaella Spagnuolo
Working in a lab is somehow similar to cooking and lab procedures may look like recipes.
This hands-on session will welcome participants into a familiar kitchen-like environment and offer short experiments and hands-on activities, exploring the...
Explainers & visitor services
Ryan JenkinsJochen HungerJean-michel MolenaarSabina Barcucci
In the past several years, making and tinkering have spread around the globe and we don’t have to explain why it is fun to get our hands dirty from time to time, follow our own curiosity or do things with others in a playful way. We can’t be...
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