June 2004
Contents
'Meet the Scientist' project is extended
Wellcome Trust pre-application workshop
NESTA invites applications for Dreamtime scheme
Eureka! launches its first travelling exhibition
New director for the Natural History Museum
Diary Dates: Raising the Stakes in Fundraising, 25 June; Successful collaboration, 7 July; Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition, 5-8 July
News from the Ecsite-uk Office
'Meet the Scientist' project is extended
'Meet the Scientist' is a series of dialogue-with-the-public events in a science centre/museum, or as part of the centre's outreach programme, preceeded by a training workshop for local research scientists and the centre staff who will host/facilitate the events.
Following mixed success in the pilot phase, this partnership project with EPSRC is being refined and extended.
Ecsite-uk seeks partners who will
- host the training workshops designed to develop scientists' skills and confidence in engaging the general public in dialogue,
- provide their science centre/museum as a venue for these dialogue events, and commit centre staff as mentors/facilitators to work with the scientists to devise and deliver the events.
For the project overall, the aim over three years is to develop centres of excellence: science centres that develop an excellent track record in mentoring scientists, delivering events, and developing relationships so that 'Meet the Scientist' becomes a regular feature of the science centre's programming and expands to involve local scientists funded by other research councils.
In the first instance we are seeking three centres, willing to help recruit scientists and host a training workshop this autumn. Dates are 21/22 October; 11/12 November; 18/19 November.
To express interest, and indicate your preferred dates for the training workshop, please email enquiries@ecsite-uk.net
Developments in the Sector
Wellcome Trust pre-application workshop in Edinburgh
Edinburgh: 21 June 2004, at the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre
Did you know that the Wellcome Trust, a major funder of biomedical research, also funds research and activities to the value of £3 million per year to stimulate public interest in biomedical science?
We particularly welcome novel and imaginative projects - as well as collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches. Partnerships, for example, between scientists and artists, or ethicists and educators are encouraged.
We are running an Engaging Science workshop to:
- inform you about this grants programme;
- show you examples of previous project objectives;
- outline details of the application process.
www.wellcome.ac.uk/engagingscience for further details
To book please email engagingscienceworkshops@wellcome.ac.uk
Developments in the Sector
Do you have the time to be inspired?
NESTA is calling for applications for the next round of Dreamtime.
This offers tailored support of up to £40,000 to high achievers in science, technology, and the arts to develop their creative potential. Up to 16 Dreamtime Fellowships are available.
Applications by 8 October, 2004.
If you are interested go to www.nesta.org.uk/dreamtime/2004 [archived - link removed]
Resource
Space for Learning
'Space for Learning: A Handbook for Education Spaces in Museums, Heritage Sites and Discovery Centres' is the result of a collaborative research project investigating learning spaces in museums, archives and libraries, historic houses and buildings, heritage sites, architecture and science centres, children's museums and discovery centres across the UK.
The research found that many education spaces were inadequate and unsatisfactory, lacking natural light, storage, display space, even sinks. Few realised their full potential as learning environments; many succeeding only through the ingenuity and enthusiasm of the site's education team.
The main objective of the handbook is to provide practical guidance to facilitate the creation of high-quality, flexible and sustainable learning spaces for the future. It also aims to educate and inform policy-makers and funders, architects and designers.
The text is available in a Word version and as a PDF file via
www.art-works.org.uk/research/spaceforlearning0.shtml
To purchase copies of the report, please send a cheque for £5.00 (inclusive of p+p), made payable to Education Direct:
Space for Learning,
PO Box 105, Rochester, Kent,
ME2 4BE
News from the Regions
Eureka!, it's a milestone moment
Eureka! The Museum for Children in Halifax launched its very first travelling exhibition, 'Explore the Eureka! Moment', on 10 May 2004.
'Explore the Eureka! Moment' aims to ignite children's creativity through state-of-the-art hands-on exhibits. One of the key elements which children experience is 'The Big Brain' - where they are able to explore the act of creativity as it is happening, learning how new ideas come about, enabling them to envisage themselves as inventors, artists or scientists.
The exhibition is a realisation of the region-wide 'Creative Minds' project of which Eureka! is the lead partner. The partnership was formed in 2003 between the museum, Yorkshire Forward, and the Yorkshire Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (YMLAC).
After its launch at Eureka!, the exhibition is now on show at the Streetlife Museum of Transport in Hull.
For details contact katy.conway@eureka.org.uk
News from South Kensington
New director for the Natural History Museum
Dr Michael Dixon commences his directorship of the Natural History Museum on 1 June 2004, although Sir Neil Chalmers will stay on for a little longer. (Sir Neil has been elected Warden of Wadham College, Oxford.)
Dr Dixon said: 'I am delighted to be joining The Natural History Museum. The Museum has sustained a level of excellence in important areas of scientific research and established an enviable reputation for innovative and imaginative exhibit design as a leading visitor attraction. My role will be to encourage the further development of these competencies in the next phase of the Museum's evolution.'
Dr Dixon was formerly Director General of The Zoological Society of London, with responsibility for London Zoo and Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, alongside the organisation's worldwide conservation activities and its scientific research. At ZSL he spearheaded a £60 million project to develop a major conservation aquarium in the London Docklands area, and unified the scientific and visitor-facing activities of the organisation.
Diary Dates
Raising the Stakes in Fundraising
Dana Centre, South Kensington: 25 June, 11am-4pm
This Specialist Seminar, funded by the Wellcome Trust and convened by Ecsite-uk offers Senior Managers the opportunity to tap the experience and expertise of UK leaders in fundraising for science and cultural organisations.
Speakers:
Prof Frank Burnet, Graphic Science, University of the West of England
William Conner, Managing Director, Brakeley Limited
Nick Dixon, Senior Consultant, ABL Cultural Consulting
It is strongly advised that two senior level representatives from your organisation attend this day: ideas raised from the parallel workshops (1 - strategies for accessing private sources of funding and for building relationships with key stakeholders; 2 - case studies of successful and unsuccessful application for public sector grant funding) have been designed to complement each other when implemented.
For details, contact Seminar Co-ordinator, Simone Hardy:
simone.hardy@the-ba.net
Successful Collaboration
Dana Centre, South Kensington: 7 July, 11am-4pm
Also funded by the Wellcome Trust and convened by Ecsite-uk, 'Successful collaboration' offers Senior Managers the opportunity to share international experience in collaborative projects: what are the models for partnership? The pitfalls to look out for? The most effective conflict-resolution strategies?
Panellists:
Andrea Bandelli, Consultant, Amsterdam
Dennis Schatz, Pacific Science Centre, Seattle
Gillian Thomas, Miami Museum of Science
The panellists are all members of the ReDiscover Fund Advisory Board, which meets at the Wellcome Trust the day before our Seminar.
If you are already involved in a collaborative project, or are considering getting into bed with Ecsite partners, do get in touch.
For details: enquiries@ecsite-uk.net
Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition
London, 5-8 July
This annual exhibition offers a fantastic opportunity to discover the best of the UK's science and technology research. What makes this event unique is the chance visitors get to meet and talk to the researchers themselves who are behind the work on show. Admission is free and open to all, without tickets.
Monday 5 July, 6pm - 9pm
Tuesday 6 July, 11am - 4.30pm
Wednesday 7 July, 10am - 4.30pm
Thursday 8 July, 10am - 4.30pm
For details www.sc1.ac.uk
Suzi.White@royalsoc.ac.uk
Ecsite-uk
Dr Melanie Quin, Executive Director Ecsite-uk: the Science and Discovery Centre Network
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