JUNE 2007
Contents
Science and discovery centre funding inquiry
3rd Education/Programme Managers Meeting
News from the Annual Conference
The Joshua Phillips Award for Innovation in Science Engagement
NEWS FROM ECSITE-UK 1
Science and discovery centre funding inquiry
This is just to remind members that The House of Commons Science & Technology Committee is holding an inquiry into the funding of science centres. The inquiry will "examine the role of science centres in public engagement and attracting young people to science subjects and scientific careers, the funding available to such centres from central Government, alternative sources of funding and ways of supporting the long-term future of science and discovery centres."
The Committee has invited Ecsite-uk, along with other interested organisations and individuals, to submit written evidence addressing these points by Monday 11 June 2007. Members are strongly encouraged to submit evidence to this enquiry, and are invited to copy their submissions to Linda Conlon, Chair of Ecsite-uk, at: Linda@life.org.uk
Guidance on the submission of evidence: www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/witness.cfm
Enquiry announcement:
www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/ science_and_technology_committee/ scitech020507.cfm
NEWS FROM ECSITE-UK 2
3rd Education/Programme Managers Meeting
Planning for the 3rd Ecsite-uk Education/Programme Managers meeting has now started. This event will be designed to run over two days during the last week of September (venue to be confirmed).
Previous meetings have taken place at the World Museum (part of the National Museums Liverpool) and the Glasgow Science Centre, and provided managers involved in learning programmes with an opportunity to network and discuss common issues.
Any Ecsite-uk members wishing to submit suggestions or ideas for particular topics that they would like to be covered during this event, please contact Dr Louise Webb at: louise.webb@ecsite-uk.net
NEWS FROM ECSITE EUROPE
News from the Annual Conference
Last week saw the largest Ecsite Annual Conference yet, with close to 900 registered participants from 55 countries. UK participants contributed to many of the 75 sessions and 250 presentations, and to the Business Bistro, and it was lovely to see so many friends and colleagues there.
During the week, the new president of Ecsite, Vincenzo Lipardi, from Fondazione Idis-Città della Scienza, was elected. The 2008 Ecsite Annual Conference will be held in Budapest.
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR 1
IGLO and Live Earth
IGLO, the Association of Science-Technology Centers’ International Action on Global Warming initiative, is now an official partner of the Live Earth concert event taking place on 7 July in nine major cities around the world. www.astc.org/iglo
In addition to the concert audiences, Live Earth expects to reach millions more via its simulcast on the web. This is a great opportunity for science centres to reach new audiences and help raise public awareness of IGLO by offering special activities to visitors on 7 July.
Suggestions for ways that science centres can participate in the Live Earth event include:
- Show the concert live on a large screen.
- Show a film on climate change. See the IGLO toolkit for a list of films: atmospheres.gsfc.nasa.gov/iglo/images_toolkit/ polar_cinematography_051207.pdf
- Organise a specific activity from the IGLO toolkit, which contains demonstrations, experiments, and other hands-on activities you can easily present to a large audience.
- Organise a specific activity based on your own exhibitions or programmes.
- Create something totally new!
For more details of how to get involved go to: www.astc.org/iglo/getinvolved.htm
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR 2
sciencehorizons responses
You can now visit the sciencehorizons website to view the responses received so far from this ‘national series of conversations about new technologies, the future and society’. www.sciencehorizons.org.uk
The themes cover Mind & Body, Home & Community, Work & Leisure, People & Planet, and responses from these discussions will then be used to help inform government policy on science and technology.
Deadline for feeding back views from sciencehorizons discussions is 25th June 2007.
NEWS FROM THE REGIONS
The Joshua Phillips Award for Innovation in Science Engagement
The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester is inviting nominations for the first of what will become an annual Joshua Phillips (or Josh) Award for Innovation in Science Engagement. The award is named in memory of Josh Phillips, Science Communication Officer at the Museum, who passed away in November 2006. Josh was a much loved, much respected and highly talented Science Communicator whose outstanding career will be commemorated with this award.
The award is open to anyone involved in science engagement who is at an early stage in their career and is recognised by their peers as creating innovative work. The award will be given this year at the Manchester Science Festival, 20-28 October, and then become part of the annual festival proceedings.
For further details about the nominations process visit: www.msim.org.uk/WhatsOn.asp?MenuID=1438
RESOURCE 1
IGLO Toolkit
The IGLO, a project of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), has produced an educational toolkit containing ideas for demonstrations, experiments, and other hands-on activities to help to raise public awareness about the impact of global warming.
atmospheres.gsfc.nasa.gov/iglo
RESOURCE 2
Planet SciCast
Planet SciCast was launched on 27 April as a way of encouraging students, teachers, parents and science communicators to make short films about real science, as part of a UK wide competition and web resource.
The overall aim of the project is to ‘raise the profile of science demonstrations as a way to engage children and young people, and to get more people doing these activities and demonstrations themselves’.
The idea for Planet SciCast came from TV kids science producer Jonathan Sanderson, and is supported by NESTA and the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB).
To view some of these exciting mini movies, including Wild West fizz-outs and vacuum cleaner bazookas, go to: www.planet-scicast.com
DIARY DATES
5th Science Centre World Congress
Toronto: 15 to 20 June
Under the theme ‘Science Centres as Agents of Change’ the congress will bring together science centre leaders from around the globe for a full programme including invited keynote speakers, parallel and poster sessions. The congress is hosted by the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto.
Full details are available on the congress website: www.5scwc.org.
TILEforum
Villa Erba, Cernobbio, Lake Como, Italy: 19 to 21 June
An outline of the programme for the 16th annual conference, innovation showcase & networking event for leisure attractions & venues, TiLEforum, is now available at:
Visitor Studies Group Summer School Conference
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh: 21 & 22 June
The theme for the summer school is: “Evaluation – why bother? Using evaluation as a strategic tool”.
This event includes a series of workshops across the two days on social outcomes, website evaluation and prototyping, a debate panel on Thursday, and a ‘Marketplace of Ideas’ on Friday, as well as a range of speakers.
http://ceca.icom.museum/02_cal/details.asp?ID=14
The Association for Citizenship Teaching's National Conference
The Institute of Education, London: 2nd July 2007
An INSET event for teachers, subject leaders, head teachers and everyone who wants to understand more about Citizenship and how to teach it. Workshops will cover:
- Towards a revised Curriculum at KS3&4
- Citizenship GCSE
- Primary PSHE and Citizenship
- Diversity, Identity and Citizenship
- Teaching “Britishness” and the new curriculum
- Managing a Citizenship Department
- How to make political literacy fun
- Tackling Controversial Issues
- Ofsted – an opportunity for Citizenship?
- Using ICT in Citizenship
For further information visit:
www.teachingcitizenship.org.uk/diary
www.teachingcitizenship.org.uk/news_item?news_id=105
For a registration form and enquiries call 020 7612 6589 or email cpd@ioe.ac.uk
BIG Event 2007
25-27 July 2007 at Magna Science Adventure Centre
The BIG Event is relevant not only for people running science centres and museums, but for artists, presenters, archaeologists, educators, students, front of house staff, evaluators and anyone involved in interactive communication whatever their field.
Keep up to date with all the Event details at www.big.uk.com/events,
or join the mailing list by sending an email to event@big.uk.com
Ecsite-uk
Dr Louise Webb
Ecsite-uk: the Network of Science Centres and Museums
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