Written by: 5th World Congress Blogger
6/19/2008 2:22 PM

“Powerful words…strong commitments…and the strength of science centres around the world to fulfil them. Let’s all commit to do so.”

With those words, a visibly emotional Lesley Lewis charged delegates to answer the challenge of the Toronto Declaration, the first-ever collective global statement of beliefs and commitment made by science centres.

The seed of the Toronto Declaration was sown in 2005 at the ECSITE conference in Helsinki, where a lunch meeting was organized and attended by representatives of ECSITE, ASTC and the Fifth Science Centre World Congress International Program Committee. A consensus emerged that future World Congresses should result in the identification of an inspirational agenda that would motivate other organizations to view science centres as an important resource on global issues. It was agreed that such a Declaration should include a statement of the status quo of science centres, a review of the significant issues facing us and the identification of an inspirational agenda to guide our field over the next three years. 

Calling today’s release of the declaration  “a new benchmark”, Ms Lewis thanked five leaders who worked with her on the early drafts: Graham Durant (Australia), Emlyn Koster (USA), Pelle Persson (Finland), Julia Taguena (Mexico) and Tuan Chew (Singapore), noting further reviews by the international programming committee and others involved up to 70 people.  But, she said, future declarations – which will become a feature of all future congresses – should be even more inclusive.

Inclusivity was a theme that arose elsewhere in Ms Lewis’ closing remarks, as she spoke of her disappointment at being unable to assist more delegates from developing countries to attend the 5SCWC. The original hope, she said, had been to gain support from UNESCO, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), but that the first two programs now longer provide support for conference attendance and a congress on science centres did not meet CIDA’s priority criteria.

In the end, the Ontario Science Centre at its own cost provided free registration to six delegates from Central and South America, Eastern Europe, the Philippines and India and hotel accommodation for three delegates. “We regret it wasn’t more,” said Ms Lewis.

But Ms Lewis also spoke of “the amazing experience we have had in the last few days, listening and learning with you to our keynote, plenary and session speakers. We were honoured to host the Congress and to follow in the footsteps of previous hosts. We worked hard to fulfil the Congress theme of Science Centres as Agents of Change – Locally Nationally and Internationally. From your comments, I believe we achieved that goal.”

And with a symbolic exchange of gifts with Ms Lewis, compliments on the “immaculate precision” of the organization of  5SCWC, and a joking promise of  “amiable chaos” at the sixth world congress in Cape Town in 2011, Mike Bruton, head of Cape Town’s MTN Sciencentre, announced the theme for the next world congress would be “Science across Cultures”.

 Mr. Bruton challenged delegates, as they departed for home or Sudbury and Science North, to manifest their own commitment – such as showcasing indigenous knowledge systems – to science across cultures over the next three years. It was a final reference to inclusion – and a fitting end to a world congress that declared itself with a new voice in Toronto. 
 

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