C11 - Panel
New Ways of Interacting/Engagement
Social Responsibility and Science Centres
14:00 in Room 206B
Science centers worldwide continuously try to build new audiences and address a wide array of very specific target groups: small children, underprivileged audiences, seniors, girls, teenagers, teachers, women, … So new ways of engaging the public are crucial to keep attracting existing audiences and to reach new ones that are - for some reason -underserved.
Each target group has specific needs, expectations, capacities. So there is a constant search for new models and ways of engaging these specific target groups in the process of science communication. Some centers have found successful and original ways of achieving this.
Examples of a very different nature will be given: from the use of mobile phones to engage teenagers, over a worldwide network of science centers sharing programmes and materials, to a 'girls only' technique club.
| Luigi Amodio, Fondazione IDIS-Città della Scienza, Naples, Italy |
| Linda Conlon, Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom |
| Derek Fish, Unizul Science Centre, Richards Bay, South Africa |
| Grant Troop, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto, Canada |
| Jorge Padilla, Centro de Ciencias EXPLORA, León, Mexico |
| Doug King, Saint Louis Science Center, Saint Louis, USA |
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C12 - Panel
From Web Site to Web Presence: Using the New Internet to Enhance Visitor Engagement
Social Responsibility and Science Centres
14:00 in Room 206A
It's been more than a decade since science centres began to develop online educational resources. Facing a variety of technical, educational, conceptual and design opportunities and challenges science centres strove to develop compelling web destinations for visitors.
Now, an array of new communicative and collaborative tools - known collectively as the Web 2.0 - represent the most dramatic shift in Internet technology since the invention of the World Wide Web. Perhaps the most striking development is the re-emergence of the grand concept that anyone can publish, communicate, and collaborate on the Web. Blogs, community sites, podcasts, and other decentralized technologies are defining this new era. Science centres are just beginning to explore these new technologies and their larger implications.
In this forum discussion we'll explore how museums and science centres are experimenting and venturing beyond their 'home' sites to enter public spaces such as YouTube, Flickr, SecondLife and many others.
| Andrea Bandelli, Independent Consultant, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Geoff Crane, Questacon, Canberra, Australia |
| Liza Pryor, Science Museum of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA |
| Kevin von Appen, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto, Canada |
| Nina Simon, Museum 2.0, Washington, USA |
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C13 - Panel
Paradigms and Quantum Leap Thinking
Social Responsibility and Science Centres
13:30 in Room 104B
A paradigm is defined as a filter through which reality and options are perceived, interpreted and understood. When a breakthrough to a new paradigm is achieved, there is the potential for a quantum leap in performance. Cirque de Soleil, which has transformed the perception and success of the circus, is a celebrated example. In the science center world, surely our core purpose is to combine engagement, popularity and usefulness to ensure financial viability and external value? However many institutions seem focused on maximization of box office revenue than on brand-building around maximization of their external relevance to pressing societal and environmental issues. As our field innovates with new models, it is instructive to probe the assumptions that are guiding transformational thinking, both in theory and in practice. It is also important to take stock of audience research that encourages us to boldly present contemporary issues that some constituencies may view as controversial.
| Fiona Cameron, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia |
| Chew Tuan Chiong, Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, Singapore |
| Emlyn Koster, Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, USA |
| Molly Loomis, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, USA |
| Silvia Singer, Museo Interactivo de Economia, Mexico City, Mexico |
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C14 - Panel
Science Centres - Linking Communities and Driving Debate
Social Responsibility and Science Centres
14:00 in Room 206D
Take a Science Centre, add a generous mix of science tonic, a splash of passion, and shake vigorously!
Science Centres are an integral part of a broad, dynamic and creative ecosystem, playing a role with others in the creative economy. Post-secondary institutions and their direct links to industry represent formidable “engines of innovation”. They offer a breadth and depth of knowledge, skills and talents and openness to new ideas and diversity. How do we inspire and actively engage our visitors by leveraging our connections to scientists?
The key lies in developing better strategies to harness the passion and expertise of working scientists using a variety of Science Centre experience platforms. In this session you will hear about a number of initiatives including scientists in residence, taking scientists to parliament and online science news services. Representatives from Ontario Science Centre (Canada), Scitech (Western Australia) and Heureka (Finland) will discuss their unique operating environments and how they are making the most of their local science communities.
| Paul Nicholls, SciTech, Perth, Australia |
| Hannu Salmi, Heureka, The Finnish Science Centre, Helsinki-Vantaa, Finland |
| Rich Vieira, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto, Canada |
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E08 - Panel
Earth Issues Urgency for Awareness: Climate Change
Living On, Changing and Sustaining Planet Earth: The Role of Science
14:00 in Room 206E
Science centres are increasingly under obligation and pressure to create public awareness and generate people's action on the threat of global warming and its consequences on climate change as it is going to affect everything and everyone on Earth. Science centres across the globe need to remove prevalent misconceptions and educate masses on issues concerning global warming and make them aware of realistic global issues concerning our planet and generate action locally at individual level. It is also necessary to emphasize that issues are no more local but have global consequences. Therefore, actions need to be local with global perspective. We need to create a national and international movement to generate thinking for a tangible action by the stakeholders.
Here, science centres could be leaders by initiating debates, dialogues etc. by conducting public programmes, travelling exhibitions, etc. and engaging citizens, scientists, industries and decision makers in such forums about global climatic issues. This will help eventually, in bridging the gap between people's knowledge and their consequent actions. Thus, science centres as public institutions can play a pro-active role to save our planet. This session will deal with various initiatives, approaches, share local experiences and give perspective to our dealing with issues concerning planet Earth. The session shall also aspire to establish international collaborations, joint programmes and exchange of exhibitions for mutual benefit.
| Asger Hoeg, Experimentarium, Hellerup, Denmark |
| Daniel Tan Teck Meng, Signapore Science Centre, Singapore, Singapore |
| Clare Wilson, Otago Museum, Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Erika Shugart, Koshland Science Museum, Washington, DC, USA |
| Ganga Rautela, Science City, Kolkata, India |
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E10 - Panel
The ABC's of Green: Science Centres as Agents of Environmental Change
Living On, Changing and Sustaining Planet Earth: The Role of Science
14:00 in Room 104C
Museum directors and leaders involved with green science centre projects will explore the ABC's of Green: Acquiring Green; Being Green; and catalyzing Green. Many museums want to be green, but the process is less clear and the benefits need to be quantified and better understood. This panel session explores how a science centre can take a leadership role in environmental conservation, while also increasing its core mission effectiveness and its bottom line. By example, by program choices, by engaging citizens, and by reporting on our environment, we can lead toward more positive relationships with the planet we share. The movement is global with each region's innovations of interest to all. New funding sources are joining traditional museum capital sources to bring much-needed capital to more efficient infrastructure-this is not about new buildings; any existing organization can 'Go Green.'
| Joaquin Fargas, Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Interactivo Exploratorio, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| John Jacobsen, White Oak Associates, Inc., Marblehead, USA |
| Jennifer Martin, TELUS World of Science - Creative Kids Museum, Calgary, Canada |
| Paul Pearson, Brooklyn Children's Museum, Brooklyn, USA |
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E11 - Panel
Forging Stronger Linkages Between Scientists and Science Centres: Making a Difference Through True Partnerships
Living On, Changing and Sustaining Planet Earth: The Role of Science
14:00 in Room 203CD
Effectively engaging the public with science and technology affecting the health of our planet requires true partnerships with working scientists and engineers. Science centres can serve as agents of change through actively facilitating the dissolution of cultural barriers between the public and working scientists. While most science centres work with scientists in some capacity, there is a scarcity of information regarding the wide range of opportunities for true partnerships. More importantly, questions abound regarding how other science centres have successfully mediated mutually beneficial communications and activities amongst the public and scientists.
In this session, speakers will address these issues through illustrative possibilities of partnerships, from five unique perspectives on four continents, and will highlight the science centre's role in bridging the gap between the public's experiences and the scientists' visions with a focus on the specific roles played by collaborating science centre personnel and scientists and engineers.
| Julie Bowen, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto, Canada |
| Marcelo Knobel, Museu Exploratoria de Ciencias de Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil |
| Eric Marshall, New York Hall of Science, Queens, USA |
| Jo Quinton-Tulloch, Science Museum, London, United Kigdom |
| Mamoru Mohri, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Toyko, Japan |
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R14 - Panel
Tailoring Outreach to the Needs of the Community
Creating the Future
14:00 in Room 104D
Science centres and museums attract thousands to their centres worldwide, but how can we reach the majority of people in our regions who stay away? Who are these audiences and why do they not visit?
How can we reach the audiences that need us the most? How can we widen our reach by providing a service to communities that is tailored to their needs and which reaches groups of people who are disadvantaged by distance?
To widen our reach we must deliver quality motivational science experiences across our region by using different media that will suit and appeal to communities in that region. To realize this aim, huge logistic challenges must be met and a highly strategic but realistic plan must be put in place. What are the challenges? How will the outreach be tailored to the communities' needs? How will the outreach be delivered to all communities?
| Pilar Contreras, Museo de la Luz de la Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico |
| Graham Durant, Questacon, Canberra, Australia |
| Dennis Schatz, Pacific Science Center, Seattle, USA |
| Peter Trevitt, Techniquest, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
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R15 - Panel and Workshop
Valuing Science Centers as Future Leaders in Generating Knowledge Societies
Creating the Future
14:00 in Room 206C NOTE: This is a double session
What does a Science Center know? How do we place value on 'knowledge-creating' and 'knowledge-sharing' processes of a Science Center with its community? These questions are at the heart of the recent UNESCO document, Towards Knowledge Societies which insists we work to build knowledge societies that are 'the source of human and sustainable development for all.'
We propose to address this by taking seriously the concepts of Intellectual Capital. A panel of experts on intellectual capital together with Science Center CEO's will connect ideas of Intellectual Capital to Science Centers. We then invite all participants to a World Café to focus on questions of enacting practices that appreciate intellectual capital for creating our future Science Centers. This activity will address science centers at the crossroads between formal education, free choice learning, industry/technology and civil society from different cultural perspectives.
| Matthews Hamabata, Kohala Center, Kona, USA |
| Wit Ostrenko, Museum of Science and Industry, Tampa, USA |
| Per-Edvin Persson, Heureka, Helsinki-Vantaa, Finland |
| Samantha Tan, Harvard University/Singapore, Singapore, Singapore |
| Jan Taug, Telenor/Norwegian School of Management, Oslo, Norway |
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R16 - Panel
Beyond the Curriculum - Building New Relationships with Old Friends
Creating the Future
14:00 in Room 206F
Traditionally, teachers, with their students, are an essential visitor group for science centres. While teachers’ motivations for visiting vary, it is most often tightly tied to the way in which science centres can support their classroom teaching of the science curriculum. The greater the real or perceived value of this to the teacher, the greater their motivation to visit, and revisit. Does reliance on this motivation put science centres at risk? Can science centres establish a new association with these professionals and the school system that will still align with the science centres’ missions and business models? This session will examine possible new forms of engagement with this important market to not only ensure financial stability and sustainability, but to deepen and extend this traditional relationship.
| Brenton Honeyman, Questacon-The National Science and Technology Centre, Canberra, Australia |
| Lotta Johansson, Navet, Boras, Sweden |
| Catherine Paisley, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto, Canada |
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Gretchen Walker, Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, USA
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Wednesday, June 18
16:00 to 17:30
C15 - Panel
Crossing Boundaries of Science for Social Inclusion: New Museological Practices in Science Centres
Social Responsibility and Science Centres
16:00 in Room 104D
Science and Technology are changing our world with unprecedented speed and magnitude. Scientists & Technologists in R & D Institutions across the world are focusing on innovating new processes and products for the betterment of mankind.
However, common people do not get sufficient opportunities to involve in such development and interact and share information, experiences and knowledge with scientists researching in R & D institutions. An invisible gap exists between the experts and common man.
Science Centres all over the world are playing an important role to bridge this gap. They are providing user-friendly platforms and environment through suitable exhibits and programmes for necessary interaction of expert scientists with common people to share each other’s experiences, views & knowledge.
‘Science Exposition Programmes’ organised by National Council of Science Museums in India are among several such efforts to involve society. During the Science Expos, scientists from R & D institutions & Industries through multiple interactions showcase their current R & D work and explain how it impacts & influences the society.
During session this session, it is aimed to discuss various similar practices followed by different science centres/museums all over the world and share experiences with each other.
| Nohora Elizabeth Hoyos, , Maloka, Colombia |
| Terry J. Hutter, CESLA, Augusta, USA |
| Anil Manekar, Nehru Science Centre, National Council of Science Museums, Mumbai, India |
| Otsile Ntsoane, Department of Science and Technology, Pretoria, South Africa |
| Shimrath Paul, Otago Museum, Dunedin, New Zealand |
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C16 - Panel
Engagement in Science Centers: Past & Future
Social Responsibility and Science Centres
16:00 in Room 104C
The recent drive towards 'citizen science' and 'public engagement' in science centers mirrors longstanding debates in the science museum community about the relationship between creation of scientific knowledge, dissemination of that knowledge, and engagement with social issues that visitors bring to the museum. This panel will provide glimpses at historical changes in the balance between research, display, and engagement. The speakers will highlight how these changes provide a base for discussion among the panel and audience about how science centers might more effectively understand their multiple roles and, from those understandings, imagine new ways to engage their diverse stakeholders.
| John Durant, MIT Museum, Cambridge, USA |
| Derek Fish, Unizul Science Center, Richards Bay, South Africa |
| Marcelo Knobel, Museu Exploratorio de Ciencias de Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil |
| Bruce Lewenstein, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA |
| Karen Rader, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA |
| Johannes Vogel, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom |
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C17 - Panel
Science Communication and Engagement - Research from Four Cultures and Contexts
Social Responsibility and Science Centres
16:00 in Room 206F
Science communication with the general public has undergone some important changes over the past five years. A new vision has emerged of sharing knowledge, of dialogue, and of providing access to new technologies. In this session the panel will review these changes and their implications for the international community of science centres. The overall role of science centres for different audiences in different cultural environments will be critically reviewed. Provoking visitors to think beyond the science to the attitudes, values and opinions that underlie critical and challenging issues can be one of the science centre's greatest strengths in cultivating an informed public and research in this area is beginning to yield interesting outcomes. The panel will therefore examine ways to use the unique environment of a science centre to promote socially equitable, collaborative explorations of issues among scientists, social scientists, and various publics.
| Vaike Fors, Lulea University of Technology, Lulea, Sweden |
| Thanakorn Palachai, Deputy Director, Thai National Science Museum, Bangkok, Thailand |
| Ellen McCallie, The Center for the Advancement of Informal Science Education, St Louis, USA |
| Léonie Rennie, Curtin University, Perth, Australia |
| Sue Stocklmayer, Center for the Public Awareness of Science, Canberra, Australia |
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C18 - Panel
Science Centres and World Events
Social Responsibility and Science Centres
16:00 in Room 206D
This session will explore what our field can gain from a better coordination of our strategies and policies with important world events such as: world championship of soccer or Olympic Games, etc. We think there are great opportunities for our field to address science education questions differently, speak to different audiences and increase our visibility in the media amongst other benefits of such a partnership.
Prof. Mike Bruton will give the overview presentation about what we have seen so far and what the expected benefits and downsides are. Jorge Wagensberg will illustrate his exhibition created for the Olympic Games in 1994. Mia Hanak will speak about her partnership with UNEP for the UN World Environment Day. On June 5, she will launch the exhibition "Moving Towards a Balanced Earth - Kick the Carbon Habit" in New Zealand.
The discussion with the audience should result in recommendations on what we could do for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and Shanghai World Expo in order to position our field as valuable partners.
| Mike Bruton, MTe Studios, Cape Town, South Africa |
| Walter Staveloz, ASTC - Association of Science Technology Centres, Washington, USA |
| Mia Hanak, Natural World Museum, San Francisco, USA |
| Jorge Wagensberg, "La Caixa" Foundation, Barcelona, Spain |
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R17 - Panel
Evolving Evaluation Standards
Creating the Future
16:00 in Room 203CD
Whatever their sources of public or private funding, science centers face an ever-increasing challenge of making the case to sustain their funding. When stated goals include 'fostering interest' and other aspirations which are important but difficult to measure, how do we define, evaluate and communicate success? How can science centers measure impacts and demonstrate the benefits they deliver to their communities? How much public value do we contribute? To what extent are we making a difference to school science curriculum outcomes, to public science literacy, to the uptake of science-based careers, to social and economic well-being? How can we quantify and attribute our part to demonstrate the return on investment that science centers deliver? This session will consider ideas and approaches to improving evaluation standards utilising objective, measurable criteria to support science centers in preparing business cases for funding.
| Kim Cavendish, Museum of Discovery & Science, Fort Lauderdale, USA |
| Brigitte Coutant, Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie, Paris, France |
| John Fraser, Wildlife Conservation Society & Institute for Learning Innovation, New York, USA |
| Colin Johnson, British Association for the Advancement of Science, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
| Yumiko Kinoshita, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), Tokyo, Japan |
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R18 - Panel
Learning Research in Museums: Current Studies and Connections to Practice
Creating the Future
16:00 in Room 104B
The field of informal learning research is rapidly expanding and is generating important studies about learning and teaching in informal science institutions. Research can help inform key institutional concerns, such as successful programming, exhibit design, institution philosophy, and reaching diverse audiences. This interactive, panel discussion aims to provide a discussion forum for understanding and for applying informal science education research in science centers. The first part is an introduction to the different types of museum research and a discussion about how to locate and to make sense of educational research studies. The second part focuses on current science center research, presented by an international panel of educational researchers. The third part focuses on how research can be beneficial to institutions. Participants will discuss specific applications for research in their science centers, including any questions or concerns with using research.
| Anne Karh-Hojland, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark |
| Molly Loomis, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, USA |
| Martha Marandino, Faculty of Education of University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil |
| Mele Wheaton, University of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, USA |
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R19 - Panel
The Culturally Diverse Museum - a critical dimension of global sustainability
Creating the Future
16:00 in Room 206A
One of the greatest institutional risks in the 21st century is to omit cultural diversity from discussions on sustainability. The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa has a framework for ensuring the indigenous Maori voice is accounted for in all thinking, planning, and programming. Te Papa incorporates and celebrates the Maori world view in a well defined bicultural framework that calls for respect internally and externally. Miami’s new Museum of Science is building and expanding on its long term programmatic approach to ensuring cultural diversity in both visitors and staff, representative of Miami’s rich mix of people. While Miami is perceived as predominantly Hispanic, this in itself is not a uniform culture. In addition, the population has significant numbers of a wide range of other cultural groups. The Natural History Museum in London is sited in one of the most diverse cities in the world. Its collections numbering some 70 million specimens are truly international and it is within this context that the Museum is engaging with a reinterpretation of its content through its “New Perspectives” programme which is stretching and re-shaping the organization.
| Sharon Ament, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom |
| Seddon Bennington, Te Papa, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Lesley Lewis, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto, Canada |
| Gillian Thomas, Miami Museum of Science and Planetarium, Miami, USA |
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R20 - Panel
Exhibitions With Nine Lives
Creating the Future
16:00 in Room 206E
From a sustainable development perspective, can we really afford to throw out exhibitions? What can be done with an exhibition that has already been presented in several institutions? Should we be looking at a new economics of exhibitions?
At the Musée de la civilisation, this concern is inherent in the institution's philosophy. The example of three exhibitions will demonstrate how recycling principles can be adapted to museology. At the Brussels Muséum des sciences naturelles, funding has been dwindling. As a result, the Muséum makes every effort to optimize its financial, intellectual and time investment. The Montréal Science Centre developed an original partnership with two Canadian museums, enabling each to produce an exhibition and remain its owner while sharing the exhibitions and their costs. The exhibition Autopsy of a Murder, produced in this context, was purchased by Museon in The Hague. Museon created their own adaptation, entitled CSI (working title). As for the Singapore Science Centre, it has paired up with one of the local universities to transfer the entire Aviation Exhibition to their Faculty of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering.
| Ginette Caron, Musée de la civilisation, Québec, Canada |
| Cécile Gerin, Muséum des sciences naturelles de Belgique, Brussels, Belgium |
| Carol Pauzé, Montréal Science Centre, Montréal, Canada |
| Clarence Sirisena, Singapore Science Centre, Singapore , Singapore |
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