Update - June 25, 2007
Dear Friends:
Last week I was very aware that in exactly one year the 5SCWC will be taking place in Toronto. I look forward to welcoming you for what I promise will be a very stimulating and rewarding four days.
A lot is happening in planning for the Congress. Immediately following the ECSITE conference in Lisbon two weeks ago, the International Program Committee (IPC) met for two days. Our agenda was very busy. Amongst other things, we reviewed 94 session proposals from colleagues around the world. If you submitted a proposal you will hear from us with in the next few weeks. The Committee will meet again, in Toronto, in October.
In Lisbon, we also reviewed bids to host the 6SCWC in 2011 (yes, the planning is that far in advance). An earlier decision had been made that the World Congress in 2011 would be held in Africa and requests for bids were sent to all African Science Centres in February. I am pleased to announce that the host of the 2011 6th World Congress of Science Centres will be the MTN Sciencentre in Cape Town.
The conference will be held in late August 2011 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The Chair of the Local Organizing Committee is Mike Bruton and the bid had the full support of the Southern African Association of Science & Technology Centres (SAASTEC) and the South African Department of Science & Technology. This is the first time the World Congress will be held in Africa.
I want to take the opportunity to thank the IPC members for their commitment to working with us to develop a terrific program for the Congress. The IPC includes representatives from each of the science centre regional associations internationally. The institutions with members on the IPC all support the work of the Congress by supporting travel to five planning meetings of the Committee plus preparatory work. This time our meetings have been held in Rio de Janeiro (at the time of the 4SCWC); in Richmond, Virginia, USA (following the 2005 ASTC conference); in Richards Bay, South Africa (before the SAASTEC conference); in Lisbon, Portugal (following ECSITE); and soon in Toronto (following the ASTC conference in Los Angeles). For a list of IPC members, visit the Congress website www.5scwc.org.
One of the things you will have seen on our website is that we are working for a Green Congress. This is impacting all of our planning. As you will already have seen, our communication with you is virtually all electronic (with the exception of our initial brochure). But there are many other aspects to hosting a green Congress. For example, all of the hotels we have selected have strong environmental policies and aggressive waste and energy reduction strategies. There will also be a carbon offset charge added to all conference registrations. We will be minimizing the use of coaches and anticipate that most of the "travel" once you arrive in Toronto will be by foot or on our public transit system.
There will be a number of important additions to our website over the coming months. Within a few weeks we anticipate announcing keynote speakers for two of the three days. Details on many of the parallel sessions will also be added prior to registration beginning in October of this year. There will be an early bird rate for those of you who plan ahead.
In planning to visit Toronto, you should be aware that June is a month with a lot happening. This year Luminato, a new festival of Arts and Creativity was launched. Visit their website at www.luminato.com to see this year's program. In June 2008, Luminato will occur June 5-15 so if you arrive in Toronto early you can participate.
We are all working hard to present a stimulating and engaging 5SCWC. We look forward to welcoming delegates from around the world.
Yours,
Lesley Lewis
Chair, 5SCWC Organising Committee
CEO, Ontario Science Centre
Read Lesley Lewis' other Congress updates: