October 2004
Contents
Consortium project gets funding
Copus is dead, long live Sciencewise
Einstein Year touring exhibition seeks venues
NESTA announces new grant scheme
Biotechnology and Farming - a user-friendly guide
DIARY DATES: Ecsite Annual Conference; Doing Dialogue specialist meeting
NEWS FROM THE Ecsite-uk OFFICE
Consortium project gets funding
Success, for an application to the ReDiscover fund led by Ecsite-uk: £2million has been awarded to fund three touring exhibitions. Contents are certain, titles are working: 'Animated Adventures' - the creativity behind the animation process, 'Living Colour' - the nature of colour and the way it influences our lives, and 'Faster, Higher, Stronger' - the science of sporting success.
For details of this, and other successful applications in Round-3, see
[archived link - may not work] www.millennium.gov.uk
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR
Copus is dead, long live Sciencewise
Lord David Sainsbury launched the Office of Science and Technology's new Sciencewise grant scheme on 6 September at the BA Festival of Science at Exeter University.
Sciencewise grants will support projects that build the capacity of scientists, policy-makers and citizens to engage in constructive dialogue on key issues arising from new developments in science and technology. The scheme will focus on:
- Identifying future issues that need to be debated now
- Building capacity in society to participate in dialogue
- Creating opportunities for dialogue and debate
The first call for proposals is open until 15 November 2004.
For more information visit [archived link - may not work] www.sciencewise.org.uk, or contact Tracy McCarroll, Sciencewise Grant Scheme, info@sciencewise.org.uk
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR
Einstein Year touring exhibition seeks venues
Led by the Institute of Physics, with funding from PPARC and EPSRC, a 150m2 interactive exhibition will be ready to tour from January 2005 in celebration of Einstein Year.
With the overarching message, "contemporary physics shapes our everyday lives and our view of the universe", the exhibition is now under development. Its prime target is 11-14 year olds, with a look and feel that is 'teen' not 'tween'.
The exhibition is seeking up to ten venues in 2005.
Is your science centre, museum, discovery centre, or local shopping centre interested in hosting the show?
For details, contact Joseph.Hines@iop.org
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR
NESTA announces new grant scheme
On 19 October, NESTA will launch Illuminate, a new award for museums, galleries, science and discovery centres to encourage them to breathe new life into their existing collections or exhibitions. If you have a great idea that will promote innovative learning, read on. NESTA wants to help you make it a reality.
Between autumn 2004 and spring 2006, NESTA will make awards totalling £1 million to support new approaches to existing collections and displays.
Illuminate is designed for all non-national museums and galleries as well as science and discovery centres in the UK. All applicants should be registered charities, open to the public and with permanent collections or displays. NESTA encourages organisations to work in partnership.
RESOURCE
Biotechnology and Farming - a user-friendly guide to AEBC advice
The Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) is Government's independent adviser on developments in biotechnology and their implications for agriculture and the environment. They have been advising the Government on GM issues since 2000 and are keen to share information and findings with a wider audience, especially younger people.
The new AEBC booklet 'Biotechnology and Farming-What have the Government's advisers been saying?' is a distillation of three major reports in a user-friendly form. It's an easily accessible guide to the agricultural and environmental issues the Commission has studied in depth - suitable for organisations with an interest in these areas, students and the wider public.
To receive (free) hard copies of this booklet and for more information, please call 020 7215 6508, or email craig.d.johnson@dti.gsi.gov.uk. It is also available electronically (in pdf format) at [archived link - may not work] www.aebc.gov.uk
NEWS FROM THE REGIONS
Earth Centre closes
Reported in the Yorkshire Post, 16 September:
The huge green theme park near Doncaster closed its gates to all but pre-booked visitors this week after admitting that it could not continue in its current form.
Subject to detailed negotiations Doncaster Council will take over the site with the blessing of the Millennium Commission, which has pumped £36m into the project. But it could be some time before the future is clear for the Earth Centre, which this week revealed it was axing 51 staff.
Doncaster Mayor Martin Winter said yesterday that nothing was being ruled in or out but that the Earth Centre would continue to champion environmental sustainability.
It is possible a green business park could be built with part of the site retained as an environmental tourist attraction.
Mayor Winter said: "I am determined that the ethos of the Earth Centre site is preserved for future Doncaster generations… I intend to set up an advisory group to help me guide the future of the Earth Centre site and this will include community and former Earth Centre trustees."
Don Valley MP Caroline Flint said she welcomed confirmation that the Earth Centre would be taken over by Doncaster Council, saying that the Commission would only agree if the council maintained the educational work performed by the centre.
DIARY DATES
Ecsite Annual Conference
4-6 November, Barcelona
The Ecsite Annual Conference 2004 will be held in the new Museu de la Ciència de la Fundació "la Caixa" that has just opened its x4 expanded premises - a perfect opportunity to discover a brand new building!
The conference is preceded by a two-day workshop (2-3 November): 'Informal Education Workshop - Schools and Museums: designing for a difference.' The workshop will include the official launch of NUCLEUS - the new European Science Education Initiative consortium.
For details of the workshop and the conference, visit [archived link - may not work] www.ecsite.net and contact
Michaël Renvillard, Conference Manager, mrenvillard@ecsite.net
Doing Dialogue specialist meeting
23-24 November, Stroud
Some centres/museums are beginning to try out 'Dialogue' events, and have early lessons to share. Others have yet to dip a toe in the water, and would like to brainstorm ideas. The purpose of the specialist meeting is to share best practice and ideas now being developed, and to network face-to-face, establishing and reaffirming personal connections.
This builds on the meeting on this same subject held earlier in the year. Participants from the April event are invited to return and share their recent experiences. New faces are also most welcome!
Target participants are managers of education and public programmes - those who have a remit to develop and deliver programmes that address the Science & Society agenda.
The specialist meeting is supported by the Potential Trust - there is no registration fee.
For further information, email enquiries@ecsite-uk.net
Ecsite-uk
Dr Melanie Quin, Executive Director Ecsite-uk: the Science and Discovery Centre Network
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