NOVEMBER 2007
Contents
Select Committee report published
Beacons for public engagement announced
TV, Radio, Press and Consultancy
New journal for astronomy communicators
NEWS FROM ECSITE-UK 1
Select Committee report published
A very warm welcome to our November newsletter.
As many of you will know, The Select Committee Report on the funding of science centres was published on Monday 22 October. The report was positive, and concluded that "Science and Discovery Centres contribute to effective science education for young people and play an important role in public engagement, and should be eligible for Government Support".
However, for long-term financial support to be forth-coming the report urges the Government to commission independent research as a matter of priority to ”determine how effective these centres are at promoting interest in science and encouraging young people to embark on a career in a science subject”.
The full report, a summary and the Ecsite-uk press response can be found at www.ecsite-uk.net/report
NEWS FROM ECSITE-UK 2
Beacons for Public Engagement announced
The Beacons for Public Engagement have been announced. They will be in Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, London, Cardiff and Edinburgh, with the UK-wide co-ordinating centre in Bristol.
This excellent and much-needed initiative is funded to the value of £9.2 million by the UK higher education funding councils and Research Councils UK (RCUK), and supported by the Wellcome Trust.
The six Beacons - collaborative centres made up of a number of higher education institutions (HEIs) and partnership organisations - will be at the forefront of efforts to change the culture in universities, assisting staff and students to engage with the public. They involve networks of partners including further education colleges, museums, galleries, business, charities, TV and press, and public bodies.
Many congratulations to our members who are part of these exciting partnerships.
For more information, visit www.rcuk.ac.uk/news/beaconsnov07.htm
NEWS FROM ECSITE-UK 3
Farewell to Rachel Simmons
Rachel Simmons will soon be moving on from Ecsite-uk. For six years Rachel has taken care of our membership, including setting up the databases, invoicing for subscriptions and amongst other things arranging the AGM each year - and all this in just 1.5 days per week. For many of you Rachel has been your first point of contact with Ecsite-uk and I’m sure you’ll join the Ecsite-uk team and Committee in wishing her every success and delight for the future.
Rachel will be on the same email until 15 November for all those wishing to send her a personal message.
NEWS FROM ECSITE-UK 4
Contacting us …
As we move forward, we will be centralising some of the administrative and financial procedures for Ecsite-uk. I will circulate details of these in the next newsletter. From 15 November, Dr Rosalind Mist will become the first point of contact for membership enquiries via membership@ecsite-uk.net.
NEWS FROM ECSITE-UK 5
TV, radio, press and consultancy
Ecsite-uk currently receives a range of approaches from a number of interesting organisations and would wish to cultivate others. To ensure all our members take advantage of new opportunities I would like to establish a database of expertise for the UK’s science centres. For example if a TV producer wants to film one of our physics experts demonstrating light, if an overseas Government wants to set up a planetarium or if the press want to interview students doing molecular biology, who would want to be involved?
I’d be grateful if you could start considering what would be of most benefit for your organisation and we’ll give members further details in the early 2008.
NEWS FROM ECSITE-UK 6
The launch of 'Inside DNA'
We are delighted to announce the November launch in Bristol of ‘Inside DNA: A Genomic Revolution’. This unique travelling exhibition explores developments in human genetics and offers the public the chance to challenge their own perceptions of current genome research and to have a say in future policy.
Funded by The Wellcome Trust, the UK’s largest charity, the exhibition is the result of a partnership between Ecsite-uk and At-Bristol science centre with scientific support from the world renowned Sanger Institute in Cambridge. This five-year project will be hosted by eight Ecsite-uk members across the nation. The project launches to the public in At-Bristol on 29 November, with a series of events including a special public discussion with Nobel prize winner John Sulston.
For more information visit www.insideDNA.org.uk
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR 1
Dark Sky Inspiration 2009
Science & Discovery Centres are invited to take part in Dark Sky Inspiration (DSI), a project that will run as part of International Year of Astronomy 2009. DSI is based on the successful Dark Sky Scotland (DSS) project www.darkskyscotland.org.uk, a Scotland-wide programme of astronomy events involving sessions for families, schools, teachers and local tourism organisations.
The project harnesses the appeal of "dark skies" and the Scottish events have mainly taken place in small rural communities, but events could also take place in urban areas. There is also a strong emphasis on training for teachers and other educators, to help stimulate additional astronomy activities in the future.
The DSS partnership includes the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Forestry Commission Scotland, Glasgow Science Centre, Institute of Physics Scotland and Careers Scotland. They are very keen to hear from any Ecsite-uk members interested in developing similar partnerships to deliver Dark Sky programmes in other parts of the UK during 2009.
For further information, please contact: Dan Hillier, Visitor Centre Manager, Royal Observatory Edinburgh djh@roe.ac.uk
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR 2
Catch a Star competition
Catch a Star is an international competition for school students organised by ESO (European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere) and the EAAE (European Association for Astronomy Education).
School students write articles or create artwork about their chosen astronomical topics. The competition has run for the last six years and is open to everyone, no matter what their level of knowledge.
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR 3
The Grundtvig Programme
The Grundtvig Programme is part of the European Commission's new Lifelong Learning Programme. This aims to strengthen the European dimension in adult education and lifelong learning across Europe, and provides opportunities for adult education providers and learners.
Grundtvig encompasses all types of learning, whether these take place in the 'formal' or 'non-formal' system of education for adults, or in more 'informal' ways eg community learning or experiential learning.
Applications from organisations in under-represented geographical regions in the UK will be prioritised. For 2008 these are the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England and South East England (excluding London).
NEWS FROM THE REGIONS 1
The Future of Genomics
A lively public debate, The Future of Genomics, will take place as part of the launch of the new Inside DNA: A Genomic Revolution travelling exhibition on 29 November at Explore-At-Bristol. www.at-bristol.org.uk/About/events.htm#genomics
Following an introduction from Nobel laureate John Sulston, acting chair of the Human Genetics Commission, the discussion will be opened to the floor. The audience will include leading researchers, advisors and commentators from the field of genomics, including the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Human Genetics Commission, North West Genetics Knowledge Park and the University of Oxford. The discussion will be chaired by Dr Alice Roberts of the University of Bristol and presenter of the BBC2 series Don't Die Young and Coast.
Inside DNA was developed by At-Bristol on behalf of Ecsite-uk, with funding from the Wellcome Trust and support from the Sanger Institute.
For further details about the Inside DNA touring exhibition visit:
www.ecsite-uk.net/travelling/inside-dna
www.at-bristol.org.uk/explore/InsideDNA.htm
NEWS FROM THE REGIONS 2
Winner of The Josh Award
Dr Chris Smith was named as the inaugural winner of the Joshua Phillips Award for Innovation in Science Communication at the Manchester Science Festival this October. www.manchestersciencefestival.com/ news/article.aspx?ID=232
As well as being a doctor and a clinical lecturer in virology at Cambridge University, Chris has also been involved in creating The Naked Scientists science radio shows and a chart-topping science podcast.
RESOURCE 1
New journal for astronomy communicators
A new journal called "Communicating Astronomy with the Public" has been launched by the International Astronomical Union. This is in response to an increasing need among the growing community of astronomy communicators for a publication that provides: a mix of resources, opinion, and information on how to communicate more effectively to the general public the workings of the Universe. The journal will be published quarterly for free in print and online.
Free subscription forms and the online version of the journal can be found at www.capjournal.org
RESOURCE 2
DCMS museums study
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published a new research report on 22 October entitled ‘Inspiration, Identity, Learning: The value of museums - Second study’. This is a summary of the independent evaluation of the national and regional museums partnership programme of education work in 2006-07.
The report concludes that "the programme as a whole has been highly successful with a strong emphasis on working towards social inclusion, effective partnerships between the educational sector and the museum sector and the potential for strong partnerships between museums and communities".
www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/ Publications/archive_2007/ nrmuse_edprog0607.htm
RESOURCE 3
CREST Star Investigators
CREST Star Investigators, the BA's brand new UK-wide award scheme that enables children to solve scientific problems through practical investigation, is now up and running.
The activities focus on thinking about, talking about, and doing science.
For more details visit www.the-ba.net/creststar
DIARY DATES
Wellcome Trust Grants workshops
Dates during 2008
Engaging Science is a grants programme offering over £3 million per year to support projects that engage the public with biomedical science and its social contexts.
The Wellcome Trust is offering free grants workshops for those interested in applying. Upcoming workshops for 2008:
- Belfast on Thursday 24 January 2008 (venue tbc)
- Liverpool on Thursday 10 April 2008 (venue tbc)
- Bristol on Thursday 3 July 2008 (venue tbc)
- York on Thursday 18 September 2008 (venue tbc)
Sessions are free to attend, but you need to book your place in advance. Please email engagingscienceworkshops@wellcome.ac.uk if you would like to attend a workshop, stating which one you are interested in attending.
You will find further information on our Engaging Science grant schemes at www.wellcome.ac.uk/engagingscience
Science Communication Conference 2008
19 & 20 May 2008, Institution of Engineering and Technology, Savoy Place, London
Further details including conference strands, the draft programme and an online booking form will be available in early 2008.
To sign up for an e-lert please visit: www.the-ba.net/ScienceCommunicationConference
Ecsite Annual Conference 2008
29 – 31 May 2008, Budapest, Hungary
The Ecsite Annual Conference 2008 will take place from 29 - 31 May 2008 and will be hosted by the Hungarian Natural History Museum in Budapest.
The central focus of the conference will be to investigate the commitment of science centres and museums for a sustainable society. Discussions will include our role, our actions, and our impact in the coming decades.
If you are interested in forthcoming announcements contact the Ecsite Executive Office at info@ecsite.net or visit the Ecsite conference website www.ecsite-conference.net.
The call for proposals has now closed.
Ecsite-uk
Dr Louise Webb
Ecsite-uk: the Network of Science Centres and Museums
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