People, Planet, Peace is the theme for the 25th Ecsite conference. Member services manager Lucy Schweingruber tells us why this was chosen and what delegates can expect
Ecsite is Europe’s largest event on science communication, attracting more than 1,000 visitors from over 45 countries
Ecsite, the European network for science centres and museums, will be holding its annual conference in The Hague (Netherlands) on 22-24 May 2014. Open to all in the field of science engagement, it offers an opportunity to take the pulse of the sector and share best practice – as well as offering great networking. Ecsite President Rosalia Vargas promises “the largest crowd of creative experts ever gathered in a science communication event in Europe”.
Celebrating its 25th edition, the event started with less than 100 attendees and has now grown to Europe’s largest event on science communication with more than 1,000 participants from over 45 countries coming together for this special 25th anniversary edition, hosted by science centre Museon.
Global theme The programme offers the most diverse mix ever, with sessions ranging from practical advice on how to conceive interactive exhibits to discussions on the sector’s contribution in tackling global issues linked to this year’s theme of People, Planet, Peace. As Museon’s general director, Marie Christine van der Sman, says: “Mankind faces enormous challenges. New scientific knowledge and technological innovation may help to prevent conflict by providing part of the solution. Science centres and museums raise general public awareness of these issues. This is the reason for choosing this theme, well-suited both to the Museon and to The Hague, as one of the host cities of the UN.”
High profile guest speakers include UNESCO director general Irina Bokova and 2013 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ahmet Üzümcü, director general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Conference content Two-day pre-conference workshops cover topics such as visitor research, face-to-face interactions and space science. The conference itself has 80 sessions offering a huge diversity of topics, including cinemas in science centres, travelling exhibitions, marketing to teachers, teen audiences, or income diversification. More than 50 exhibitors will be showcasing their latest products and services at the Business Bistro, and participants will be able to get hands-on in two workshop spaces – the Maker space and the new Gamification space. Networking opportunities include the newcomers’ breakfast and Farewell Party.
Ecsite executive director Catherine Franche urges participants to add their ideas to the mix: “Representatives from natural history museums, science centres, aquariums, research centres, universities, the private sector and civil society organisations are invited to approach this conference as their platform for exchange. Great ideas are often born from unexpected collaboration.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2014 issue 2
Editor's letter: The New Philanthropists
Tech is hot and as the growing number of tech millionaires
turn their thoughts to philanthropy, tech-related
attactions will prosper
Profile: Mario Mamon
The current chair of IAAPA talks about
his role with the organisation, doubling
the size of family theme park Enchanted
Kingdom in the Philippines and the
devastation of Super Typhoon Haiyan
Museums: MOHAI
MOHAI's executive director,
Leonard Garfield, talks about
the Seattle museum's new Bezos
Center for Innovation, named after
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos
Science centres: Appliance of science
Andreas Waschk and Mike Boris
explain how they made Blueprint
Entertainment into Europe's largest
private science centre operator
Museums: Olympic Movement
Director Francis Gabet describes how
The Olympic Museum's extensive
refurbishment reflects the excitement
and diveristy of the modern Games
Planetariums: Starry skies
The newly upgraded Fiske Planetarium in
Boulder, Colorado now boasts the highest
specification full dome theatre in the US.
Director Douglas Duncan tells us more
Museums: Beautiful minds
The founders of MoMath, the New York
Museum of Mathematics, tell us how
they're on a mission to get ordinary
people to fall in love with maths
World expos: Brave new world
Christian Lachel considers how world
expos can raise global awareness
about what matters for the planet
3D/4D/5D: IMERSA
A review of the fifth annual IMERSA
conference held in Denver, Colorado
Advertisement feature: EAS 2014
The exhibitors reveal what they’ll be showcasing at EAS in
September and what the hot topics of conversation will be
Waterparks: Wet'n'Wild
Wet'n'Wild Sydney has welcomed
a million visitors through its gates
since opening in December. Managing
director Chris Warhurst tells us why
Ticketing: Convenience store
Gateway's Liesel Tarquini explains
how mobile web stores can help
generate additional revenue
for attractions operators
People, Planet, Peace is the theme for the 25th Ecsite conference. Member services manager Lucy Schweingruber tells us why this was chosen and what delegates can expect
Ecsite is Europe’s largest event on science communication, attracting more than 1,000 visitors from over 45 countries
Ecsite, the European network for science centres and museums, will be holding its annual conference in The Hague (Netherlands) on 22-24 May 2014. Open to all in the field of science engagement, it offers an opportunity to take the pulse of the sector and share best practice – as well as offering great networking. Ecsite President Rosalia Vargas promises “the largest crowd of creative experts ever gathered in a science communication event in Europe”.
Celebrating its 25th edition, the event started with less than 100 attendees and has now grown to Europe’s largest event on science communication with more than 1,000 participants from over 45 countries coming together for this special 25th anniversary edition, hosted by science centre Museon.
Global theme The programme offers the most diverse mix ever, with sessions ranging from practical advice on how to conceive interactive exhibits to discussions on the sector’s contribution in tackling global issues linked to this year’s theme of People, Planet, Peace. As Museon’s general director, Marie Christine van der Sman, says: “Mankind faces enormous challenges. New scientific knowledge and technological innovation may help to prevent conflict by providing part of the solution. Science centres and museums raise general public awareness of these issues. This is the reason for choosing this theme, well-suited both to the Museon and to The Hague, as one of the host cities of the UN.”
High profile guest speakers include UNESCO director general Irina Bokova and 2013 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ahmet Üzümcü, director general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Conference content Two-day pre-conference workshops cover topics such as visitor research, face-to-face interactions and space science. The conference itself has 80 sessions offering a huge diversity of topics, including cinemas in science centres, travelling exhibitions, marketing to teachers, teen audiences, or income diversification. More than 50 exhibitors will be showcasing their latest products and services at the Business Bistro, and participants will be able to get hands-on in two workshop spaces – the Maker space and the new Gamification space. Networking opportunities include the newcomers’ breakfast and Farewell Party.
Ecsite executive director Catherine Franche urges participants to add their ideas to the mix: “Representatives from natural history museums, science centres, aquariums, research centres, universities, the private sector and civil society organisations are invited to approach this conference as their platform for exchange. Great ideas are often born from unexpected collaboration.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2014 issue 2
Editor's letter: The New Philanthropists
Tech is hot and as the growing number of tech millionaires
turn their thoughts to philanthropy, tech-related
attactions will prosper
Profile: Mario Mamon
The current chair of IAAPA talks about
his role with the organisation, doubling
the size of family theme park Enchanted
Kingdom in the Philippines and the
devastation of Super Typhoon Haiyan
Museums: MOHAI
MOHAI's executive director,
Leonard Garfield, talks about
the Seattle museum's new Bezos
Center for Innovation, named after
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos
Science centres: Appliance of science
Andreas Waschk and Mike Boris
explain how they made Blueprint
Entertainment into Europe's largest
private science centre operator
Museums: Olympic Movement
Director Francis Gabet describes how
The Olympic Museum's extensive
refurbishment reflects the excitement
and diveristy of the modern Games
Planetariums: Starry skies
The newly upgraded Fiske Planetarium in
Boulder, Colorado now boasts the highest
specification full dome theatre in the US.
Director Douglas Duncan tells us more
Museums: Beautiful minds
The founders of MoMath, the New York
Museum of Mathematics, tell us how
they're on a mission to get ordinary
people to fall in love with maths
World expos: Brave new world
Christian Lachel considers how world
expos can raise global awareness
about what matters for the planet
3D/4D/5D: IMERSA
A review of the fifth annual IMERSA
conference held in Denver, Colorado
Advertisement feature: EAS 2014
The exhibitors reveal what they’ll be showcasing at EAS in
September and what the hot topics of conversation will be
Waterparks: Wet'n'Wild
Wet'n'Wild Sydney has welcomed
a million visitors through its gates
since opening in December. Managing
director Chris Warhurst tells us why
Ticketing: Convenience store
Gateway's Liesel Tarquini explains
how mobile web stores can help
generate additional revenue
for attractions operators
London Museum will open four new food and drink destinations when it launches its new home
at Smithfield on 28 November, making hospitality a central part of the visitor experience at one
of the capital's biggest cultural openings of the year.
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.
