Congress History
The first Science Centre World Congress (SCWC) was held in 1996 following an initiative by the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) and the European Collaborative for Science, Industry and Technology Exhibitions (ECSITE). It was the first effort to bring together science centres leaders from all over the world to a meeting to discuss collaboration and to provide an opportunity for professional interchange and international networking.
From that first congress, and continuing through the three following world congresses, delegates have come together to discuss the issues facing science centres around the globe and the important role that science centres can play in increasing public engagement in science and technology.
Since its inception the Science Centre World Congress “system” has followed some standard practices which distinguish it. These include:
- Science Centre World Congresses are held every three years in alternating continents and are open to science centre and museum professionals from all over the world. The congress organisation consists of a local Organising Committee, set up by the host institution, and an International Program Committee, set up by the various science centre networks as detailed below.
- The local Organising Committee is responsible for practical arrangements of the congress (logistics, arrangements) and its finances.
- An International Program Committee works with the host institution and is responsible for the contents and program of the congress. The committee takes decisions on themes and subject areas of the program, session formats, speakers, and invites guest speakers within the congress budget or resources made available to it by the Organising Committee.
- The International Program Committee consists of the head of the host institution as Chair of the Committee, the previous congress Chair and three representatives designated each by the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the European Collaborative for Science, Industry and Technology Exhibitions, and two representatives each designated by the Red-Pop network and the Asia-Pacific Association of Science Centres. In addition to this, one representative from China, India and Africa is to be designated by appropriate bodies or invited by the Committee.
- The International Program Committee selects the venue of the next congress. The committee defines the criteria for selecting a venue in the invitation to compete. The selection procedure is open and invitations are limited to one region at a time for a particular conference.
- Parallel Sessions include representatives from at least three continents
- Ample time is provided between sessions and in the evenings for delegates to connect informally
Science Centre World Congresses
14-18 June 1996: 1st Science Centre World Congress, Vantaa, Finland
Heureka - The Finnish Science Centre
Learning for Tomorrow
11-15 January 1999: 2nd Science Centre World Congress, Calcutta, India
Indian National Council of Science Museums, Science Centres and Science City
Catalysts for a Better Tomorrow
10-14 February 2002: 3rd Science Centre World Congress, Canberra, Australia
Questacon, Australia's National Science and Technology Centre
Science Centres Inspiring a New Generation
10-14 April 2005: 4th Science Centre World Congress, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/FIOCRUZ) and the Museu da Vida (Museum of Life)
Science Centres: Breaking Barriers, Engaging Citizens
15-20 June 2008: 5th Science Centre World Congress, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ontario Science Centre, with optional one day program at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario
Science Centres as Agents of Change – Locally, Nationally and Internationally
March 2011: 6th Science Centre World Congress, Cape Town, South Africa
MTN Sciencentre