AUGUST 2007
Contents
New Ecsite-uk Director announced
Hands On & Brains On-conference
Registration now open for Ecsite Directors’ Forum 2007
Out of this World! at Science Oxford
NEWS FROM ECSITE-UK
New Ecsite-uk Director announced
We are delighted to announce that Dr Penny Fidler has been appointed as director of Ecsite-uk, and will take up her appointment on 3 September 2007. She succeeds Dr Melanie Quin who left earlier in the year to take up a teaching post abroad.
Penny Fidler is no stranger to science centres. She has been involved in the development of several exhibitions including the 'Your Amazing Brain' gallery in At-Bristol and has made a major contribution to the planning of the new Miami Museum of Science. She has also worked as an independent consultant advising on both science exhibitions and neuroscience, and has advised on a range of science and brain-related projects, events and films.
Penny will be at the Ecsite-uk AGM in September, which will give many of you an opportunity to meet her. We are sure that you will join us in giving her a warm welcome.
For a copy of the press release please visit: www.sciencecentres.org.uk/news/new-director.html
NEWS FROM ECSITE-UK 2
Select Committee inquiry
As part of the inquiry into the funding of science and discovery centres, The House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology held an oral evidence session on Wednesday 11 July.
Linda Conlon, Chair of Ecsite-uk, was called to give verbal evidence at this meeting. Other participants during the different meeting sessions included representatives from science centres and museums, funding bodies, consultants and relevant government ministers.
For more details go to inquiry update from Linda Conlon.
About the inquiry:
www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/ science_and_technology_committee/scitechsc.cfm
Written evidence is now available at:
www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/SCmemoforwebupload.pdf
NEWS FROM ECSITE EUROPE 1
Hands-On & Brains-On Conference
Hands-On & Brains-On is an international conference about Primary Education and the closing conference for this EU-project. It will take place on 15-16 November at NEMO Science Centre in Amsterdam.
The recent Rocard Report "A renewed pedagogy for the future of Europe" will be discussed by representatives of the EU, science centres, headmasters, teachers, educational administrations and decision makers, researchers, journalists and other experts in science learning and communication. There will also be an opportunity to take part in hands-on activities created by eight science centres. Use it or lose it - that's the motto of the latest brain research - and also this conference!
For more information visit: www.e-nemo.nl/Handson-Brainson-conference2007
NEWS FROM ECSITE EUROPE 2
Registration now open for Ecsite Directors’ Forum 2007
The Ecsite Directors’ Forum, an annual meeting for director’s of Ecsite’s full members, will take place in Dresden from 15-16 November and be hosted by the Stiftung Deutches- Hygiene museum. The theme of this year’s forum is ‘partnerships with private companies and foundations’.
The Forum is open only to Ecsite full members.
Please contact Aliki Giannakopoulou, Ecsite Conference and Communications Coordinator at: agiannakopoulou@ecsite.net if you are interested in registering for this event.
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR 1
Space50 Events Calendar
Space50 are putting together a comprehensive calendar of events related to the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik and the dawn of the space age. The calendar, and other information about Space50, can be found at: www.space50.net
If you are organising public or schools activities that you would like to be listed on the calendar, please e-mail a brief description and details of dates, times, location, entry costs and a weblink for further information to:
Anita Heward, Space50 Co-ordinator: anitaheward@btinternet.com
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR 2
National Personality Survey
As part of this year’s Festival of Science, The BA have launched a National Personality Survey in partnership with psychologist and author, Daniel Nettle.
The results will be announced and discussed at the Festival as we are taken on a tour through the science of human personality, looking at the 'big five' types of personality.
If you want to take part in the online survey and find out whether you’re a worrier, a wanderer, a poet or controller visit [archived page - link removed]
NEWS FROM THE REGIONS
Out of this World! at Science Oxford
Science Oxford are inviting visitors to ‘go on a flight through the solar system, handle real space rock, and cook up the ideal recipe for the Big Bang!’ during their new summer exhibition and series of events.
Out of this World! - It's like nothing on Earth! is open until 31 August and looks at everything to do with Outer Space.
Visit the What's On page at: www.oxtrust.org.uk
RESOURCE
MarBEF Newsletter
The Marine Biodiversity & Ecosystem Functioning (MarBEF) network produce a 6 monthly newsletter aimed at highlighting hot topics in marine biodiversity research, and about specific issues affecting marine biodiversity in Europe.
The latest MarBEF newsletter is now available as a pdf on their website at:
www.marbef.org/outreach/newsletter.php
It includes a biodiversity education pullout for children with a focus on the Baltic Sea.
If you wish to receive the newsletter by post, please contact Roisin Nash, Outreach Officer: outreach@marbef.org
DIARY DATES
GEM Conference 2007 – Every Audience Matters
4-7 September 2007, Leicester
As government and funding priorities shift to fulfil expanding learning and social agendas, are heritage organisations being realistic in trying to be "all things to all people?" This Group for Education in Museums (GEM) Conference - Every Audience Matters provides an active and in-depth exploration of how these growing demands might be met.
www.gem.org.uk/cpd/conf/conference.html
Ecsite-uk AGM
13 September 2007, University of York
The Ecsite-uk Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place on Thursday 13 September at the University of York campus, during the BA Festival of Science.
The AGM is open to all members of Ecsite-uk. Event supported by Prodir Ltd.
More details can be found on the AGM page.
BA Festival of Science
10-14 September 2007, University of York
The BA Festival of Science returns to the site of its first annual meeting. The first meeting took place in York in 1831.
This year, the Festival has over 400 events planned, covering topics from rocket science to roller coasters.
[archived page - link removed]
Origin and differentiation of the Earth: past to present
13 & 14 September 2007, The Royal Society, London
This discussion meeting will bring together scientists from all disciplines in order to reconcile views on the internal structure and early chemical evolution of the Earth and the relationship with the formation of the moon.
Organised by Professor Andrew Jephcoat and Professor Alexander Halliday FRS.
The meeting is free to attend but pre-registration is essential.
Engaging Black and Minority Ethnic adult learners in museum and gallery education
20 September 2007, Merseyside Maritime Museum
Part of the national commemoration of the abolition of the slave trade, this conference focuses ion including non-traditional learning in education programmes delivered from museums, libraries and archives.
A complementing theme explores black history and how this can be used to encourage non-traditional learners to participate in, for example, museum education programmes.
The conference is a partnership event between NIACE and National Museums Liverpool.
3rd Education/Programme Managers Meeting
26 & 27 September 2007, National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff
The 3rd Ecsite-uk Education/Programme Managers meeting will take place during the last week of September. The event, like previous years, is designed to run over two days.
Past 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 interested in registering for this event should contact Dr Louise Webb
Science Education in School workshop
11-14 October 2007, Bucharest
An international workshop aimed at: researchers in the field of science education, managers and personnel of the institutions directly or indirectly involved in science education (universities, research institutes, science museums, theoretical, technical and vocational schools, education policy makers, non-governmental organisations and local authorities).
Additional information regarding registration, topics and participation conditions can be found at [archived - link removed]
Communicate 2007- Going Mainstream
18-19 October 2007, Bristol
Now in its fourth successful year, this is the UK’s only conference for professional communicators of environmental and conservation issues. Registrations are now open for Communicate 2007.
Early bird registration fees are available until 21 September.
For a registration form and the latest version of the conference programme go to: www.communicatenow.org
Museums Association Conference and Exhibition
22-24 October 2007, Glasgow
Glasgow is the host for this year’s Museums Association conference.
Keynote speakers include John Falk and Lynn Dierking, Will Hutton and Muriel Gray.
www.museumsassociation.org/conference
JIVE Conference
30 October 2007, National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham
This year’s conference is a free event that aims to showcase the work of the JIVE Project, supporting positive change for women and girls in Science Engineering, Technology and the Built Environment.
For further information e-mail: setwomenresource@bilk.ac.uk
Ecsite-uk
Dr Louise Webb
Ecsite-uk: the Network of Science Centres and Museums
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