Ecsite’s new president, Herbert Münder, has said a pressing challenge for the science engagement community is the rise of the ‘post-truth’ era.
“For Ecsite members, there is one big challenge, and that’s what we’re calling the post-truth time,” Münder tells Attractions Management. “As a group of science centres and museums and science communicators, we have to think about how we can address this in an adequate and efficient way.”
One way forward posited by Münder is to talk more about the process of science. He says there are times when scientists have different interpretations concerning scientific observations, which can be confusing to people.
“But of course, in scientific research, there’s a need to have different views to be able to cross check, to challenge, to develop the thesis and antithesis, to determine repeatability – for example, would the same experiment in Australia and in Europe come back with same outcomes?” he says.
“These features of the scientific process must be more visible to the public and, I believe, we as science centres face a challenge to get these ideas across. This will help the public to think more critically about things they hear, read or see on TV, and they can create their own opinion.”
“We have to come up with a strategy to address this challenge. I feel science centres and museums will become even more important in the future because of this trend we observe now. And we have a responsibility to address it.
“Science centres make a huge impact already, but we are facing a new situation. To make an impact in the future we need to rethink our position and the things we do.”
Münder is general manager at Germany’s Universum Bremen science centre and is also past president of Eusea, the European Science Events Association, and current president of MINTaktiv, Germany’s science museum network.
He says Universum is not just a place for exhibitions, but also acts as a communication platform between different partners, such as businesses, researchers, NGOs, and other groups.
He says: “The curator of this platform is the science centre, which is more or less neutral. We bring together different views and citizens have a chance to build their own opinion about it and have a voice, so we are a platform for the voice of citizens.”
Münder adds that another point of focus during his presidency will be ensuring the science communication community has a voice at discussions for the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, with the current framework, Horizon 2020, drawing to a close in 2020.
“I believe strongly that science communication and science engagement is important for the future period of the framework, so my personal position is that we have to talk to the stakeholders and decision makers to show them it is necessary the sector is again visible in the programme.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2017 issue 3
Interview: Wolfgang Kiessling
We talked to Wolfgang Kiessling, who set
up a small parrot park on Tenerife in the
1970s. Today, Loro Parque and Siam Park
are some of Europe’s top attractions
Promotional feature: Sysco Productions
Sysco Productions is a world-class experience delivery
company, working for global clients in the museum and
heritage, exhibition, and sports and leisure industries
Ecsite’s new president, Herbert Münder, has said a pressing challenge for the science engagement community is the rise of the ‘post-truth’ era.
“For Ecsite members, there is one big challenge, and that’s what we’re calling the post-truth time,” Münder tells Attractions Management. “As a group of science centres and museums and science communicators, we have to think about how we can address this in an adequate and efficient way.”
One way forward posited by Münder is to talk more about the process of science. He says there are times when scientists have different interpretations concerning scientific observations, which can be confusing to people.
“But of course, in scientific research, there’s a need to have different views to be able to cross check, to challenge, to develop the thesis and antithesis, to determine repeatability – for example, would the same experiment in Australia and in Europe come back with same outcomes?” he says.
“These features of the scientific process must be more visible to the public and, I believe, we as science centres face a challenge to get these ideas across. This will help the public to think more critically about things they hear, read or see on TV, and they can create their own opinion.”
“We have to come up with a strategy to address this challenge. I feel science centres and museums will become even more important in the future because of this trend we observe now. And we have a responsibility to address it.
“Science centres make a huge impact already, but we are facing a new situation. To make an impact in the future we need to rethink our position and the things we do.”
Münder is general manager at Germany’s Universum Bremen science centre and is also past president of Eusea, the European Science Events Association, and current president of MINTaktiv, Germany’s science museum network.
He says Universum is not just a place for exhibitions, but also acts as a communication platform between different partners, such as businesses, researchers, NGOs, and other groups.
He says: “The curator of this platform is the science centre, which is more or less neutral. We bring together different views and citizens have a chance to build their own opinion about it and have a voice, so we are a platform for the voice of citizens.”
Münder adds that another point of focus during his presidency will be ensuring the science communication community has a voice at discussions for the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, with the current framework, Horizon 2020, drawing to a close in 2020.
“I believe strongly that science communication and science engagement is important for the future period of the framework, so my personal position is that we have to talk to the stakeholders and decision makers to show them it is necessary the sector is again visible in the programme.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2017 issue 3
Interview: Wolfgang Kiessling
We talked to Wolfgang Kiessling, who set
up a small parrot park on Tenerife in the
1970s. Today, Loro Parque and Siam Park
are some of Europe’s top attractions
Promotional feature: Sysco Productions
Sysco Productions is a world-class experience delivery
company, working for global clients in the museum and
heritage, exhibition, and sports and leisure industries
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger
cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance,
hospitality and public programming.
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick
Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and
private membership under one roof.
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana
Heritage
Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive
storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade-
long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas
attraction.
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are
progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef
education and conservation.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
