News for the Science & Discovery Centre sector
AUGUST 2008
Welcome to our August newsletter
A warm summer’s welcome you all and we do hope all the rainy days are proving excellent for your business! This newsletter is full of new funding prospects, free marketing and other opportunities and details of three meetings in September to bring people together from Science & Discovery Centres across the UK to share best practice.
We are also delighted to report that on 18 July the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) chose a science centre for the launch of their consultation document on the Government’s new Science and Society Strategy. The launch was hosted by Thinktank in Birmingham, the home of Ecsite-uk chair, Dr Nick Winterbotham. Directors from fifteen UK Science & Discovery Centres joined other professionals from Government and the science engagement community to celebrate the launch. More details below.
We do hope to see many of you at our Annual meeting in Liverpool on 11 September to discuss the ideas and initiatives relating the UK’s Science & Discovery Centres, including rates of VAT and the Government’s research.
Warm regards
Dr Penny Fidler, Director of Ecsite-uk
Government’s new Science & Society Strategy consultation
The Government is asking professionals within the sector to comment on their draft Science and Society Strategy before 22 October 2008. The strategy was created by DIUS with input from Ecsite-uk and a large number of other organisations within our field. DIUS are keen that it is owned and shaped by professionals within the STEM community.
Ecsite-uk will be responding on behalf of the sector but we feel it’s important that each institution also provides its own response. We ask that you please read the strategy and begin to collate the comments and views of your organisation. Further discussions will be held at the AGM and on the website shortly afterwards.
AGM in Liverpool – 11 September
We would like to invite staff from all member institutions to our AGM in Liverpool on Thursday September 11th during the BA festival. We will review the year’s events, update you on the latest progress with Government, ask members to vote in the new committee and together explore ways we can work more effectively as a network.
Afterwards please join us for a buffet lunch where you will have the opportunity to meet directors and staff from other UK Science & Discovery Centres. This will be followed by a behind the scene tour.
More info is at www.sciencecentres.org.uk/agm
The events are free, but booking is essential.
| Venue | The Conservation Centre, Liverpool Museums |
| 10:30am | Coffee |
| 11am – 1pm | AGM |
| 1-2pm | Lunch and networking |
| 2-3pm | Behind the scenes tours with other Ecsite-uk members |
Vote for new Ecsite-uk Committee Members
Join us at the AGM to vote for the candidates you would most like to represent your interests nationally. Each institution may cast one vote.
The following 5 people are standing for election or re-election:
- Heather Mayfield, Science Museum (re-election)
- Peter Trevitt, Techniquest (re-election)
- Dr Anne Finnie, The National Trust
- Dr Robin Hoyle, Glasgow Science centre
- Paul Jennings, Dundee Science Centre (Sensation) and Satrosphere
Candidates' statements will be available on-line from August 22nd at www.sciencecentres.org.uk/agm/elections.html
Proxy votes may be cast by email www.sciencecentres.org.uk/agm/elections.html (scroll down) before 4 September.
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
NEW: Customer and Visitor Services Forum
Friday 5 September, 2008
Specifically for Customer and Visitor Services Managers/Directors in Science & Discovery Centres
With the aim of sharing ideas, knowledge and best practice between centres across the UK, Ecsite-uk and Techniquest invite all Customer Services and Visitor Services Managers and Directors from all UK Science and Discovery Centres to an inaugural Visitor Services Forum on 5 September in Cardiff hosted by Techniquest.
The purpose of the meeting is to introduce everyone to one another, and to discuss the potential for a benchmark for visitor services that is specific to the Science Centre sector. A further aim is to explore areas of mutual interest and collaboration and consider if participants want to organise regular meetings on various topics.
| 10am | Coffee |
| 10.30am | Meeting begins |
| 12.30pm | Lunch (provided by Ecsite-uk) |
| 3.30pm | Close |
If you would like to attend, please email Chris Mason, The Techniquest Visitor Services Manager, chris@techniquest.org indicating any dietary requirements for the lunch.
Reaching Teenage Audiences
30 Sept to 1 Oct
We are extremely grateful to The Potential Trust for funding another specialist meeting for Science & Discovery Centre staff. The purpose of this informal gathering is to enable members to share best practice, experiences and ideas relating to reaching and engaging with teenage audiences. What programmes have people developed to meet those audiences’ needs? What methods have been used to market them?
This meeting will take place from 30 September to 1 October at Hawkwood College in Stroud. Booking details and further information are on our website.
Launch of the STEM Directories
9 September
All Ecsite-uk members are invited to join us between 12-2pm on Tuesday 9 September in the Gallery at the Foresight Centre at the University of Liverpool during the BA Festival of Science, to celebrate the arrival of the STEM Directories onto the UK education landscape.
The STEM Directories – a family of publications, one each for Science, Mathematics and Engineering & Technology – aim to improve coherence and coordination of STEM schemes and activities by providing STEM teachers and lecturers with a free, reliable and comprehensive overview and signpost to enrichment and enhancement activities across the UK. The Directories have been produced by a consortium of the Royal Institution, the BA and UWE, Bristol.
If you would like to attend, please contact Olympia Brown, at OBrown@ri.ac.uk with your full contact details by Friday 22 August, mentioning you are a member of ecsite-uk.
Network of Science & Discovery Centre Representatives
Final Call: If you’ve not already done so, please email me your nominated Representative asap.
The aim of the Network of Representatives is to enhance communications and collaborations among UK Science & Discovery Centres, as well as to speed up information exchanges.
We envisage the Representatives would be fairly senior within each organisation, and would network with Representatives in all the other UK centres, facilitating introductions of their colleagues through this network.
If you would like to be considered as your Science & Discovery Centre Representative please discuss this with your CEO and ask them to submit the contact details of their chosen representative by email to Dr Penny Fidler immediately.
MARKETING AND PR OPPORTUNITIES
BBC Focus Magazine
Science & Discovery Centres have been invited to list their events and exhibitions in BBC Focus Magazine. Details of your events and exhibitions, including a telephone number and website for publication, should be sent to Timandra Harkness. mail@timandraharkness.com
Please include information on what people can do, what they’ll discover and why your activity is important. Press releases also welcome. Focus magazine will select a range of activities targeted at families and adults happening across the UK. Please note there is an 8 week lead time.
Darwin200
Many of you are planning exciting and innovative events for Darwin200. You are all eligible to promote your events for free, by listing them on the Darwin200 website
[archived page - link removed]
Please also ensure all members of your Learning Team know about other similar events nationwide by viewing www.darwin200.org
The dates ...
1 July 2008 150 years since Darwin and Wallace first announced their theory that rocked science
12 February 2009 Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday
24 November 2009 Publication of ‘On the Origin of Species’
EXTRA – Advertise your exhibitions here
The European online database for travelling science exhibitions
www.extrascience.eu
This brand new service offered by Ecsite allows you to search for a travelling science exhibition on a specific topic and to promote your own exhibitions. Sign up for free and see what’s on offer.
Online data collection: WE NEED YOUR VIEWS
As a sector we need to improve the quality and consistency of the data we collect to evidence the work we do. To ease data collection in the future, Ecsite-uk have created a pilot online data collection tool.
We need your views on this to shape it for the future.
During this pilot phase we ask each Ecsite-uk member organisation to review this tool and tell us what needs changing. Don’t input any data. We will amend the survey based on your responses.
We would be grateful if you could please email your comments to Penny Fidler.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Science and Heritage Funding
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) are taking forward a joint £8.1m programme entitled Science and Heritage.
This call for proposals within the Science and Heritage Programme aims to support initial innovative cross-sector and interdisciplinary networking activities. Proposals to stimulate these networks may be submitted, with full economic costs of up to £30,000 and for a period of between 4 and 12 months.
The closing date for the receipt of proposals is 4pm Thursday 4th September, 2008.
RCUK Awards for 2009
Do you want to work with local scientists? Do they need funds to support their public engagement activities in your Science & Discovery Centres during National Science and Engineering Week 2009?
The RCUK National Science and Engineering Week Awards 2009 offer funds of up to £2,000 to researchers and PhD students working in any academic discipline who wish to engage the public with issues relating to science and engineering. Engaging the public through their local science centre would be a great collaboration.
If they are funded by one of the seven Research Councils, they may apply. Closing date for applications is Monday 13th October 2008.
For full details visit www.rcuk.ac.uk/scienceweek.
Email enquiries (from researchers) to Grace Leggett: grace.leggett@rcuk.ac.uk
Wellcome Trust Grants workshops: September 2008
Join the Wellcome Trust team to find out more about their Engaging Science grants programme in York on Thursday 18 September 2008.
Please email engagingscienceworkshops@wellcome.ac.uk if you would like to attend. Workshops are free of charge.
You will find further information on the Engaging Science grant schemes at:
www.wellcome.ac.uk/engagingscience
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR
Statement on Evolution
Ecsite-uk, in collaboration with the Natural History Museum and Darwin200 championed the idea of a Europe-wide position statement celebrating evolution at the 2008 Ecsite conference in Budapest.
The statement on evolution was written by the Ecsite Committee (Europe) and approved at the Ecsite AGM by centres across Europe. We now ask that all Ecsite-uk centres endorse this statement at our AGM on 11 September 2008.
Read the statement here www.sciencecentres.org.uk/agm/ecsite-position-science.html
Government Consultation on the need for science skills
Do you have evidence on the demand for STEM skills that you could submit as evidence to this Government Consultation? What have your industrial sponsors conveyed to you and would they wish to submit celebrating your vital role? How do you feel your Science & Discovery Centres or organisation inspires future scientists?
For further details visit www.dius.gov.uk/consultations/ con_240608_STEM.html
Salary Guidelines for Museums
The Museums Association has published their 2008 Salary guidelines detailing job examples with their appropriate salary levels.
The full report can be found at: www.museumsassociation.org/pay
National Science and Engineering Week
Discussion Forum Launches. Join with other National Science and Engineering Week event organisers to share ideas, knowledge and best practice in the run up to National Science and Engineering Week, 6-15 March 2009.
It’s estimated that 25% of schools currently organise activities for NSEW and 1.4 million people attended events in 2008, so join in and find partners and ideas in your area.
Visit www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/nsew/
Newton’s Apple
Can Science & Discovery Centres influence science policy? Do you know enough about science policy to make this happen?
Newton’s Apple is the only neutral and non-partisan UK charity dedicated to science policy. Through innovative projects and events, Newton’s Apple aims to improve the processes by which science is fed into policy, and to produce recommendations for future policy which are based on good scientific evidence.
Newton’s Apple regularly releases newsletters which detail their events, activities and upcoming workshops. Follow this link
www.newtons-apple.org.uk/ News_and_publications.html#Newsletters
Of particular interest to us is their workshop ‘An Introduction to Science Policy’ taking place at Parliament on 8 October in London (see diary dates below).
DRAMA OPPORTUNITIES
The speckled monster
A play and science trail for students aged 14+ and general visitors
The speckled monster stalked the world for over five thousand years; it killed ruthlessly and indiscriminately, cutting down entire communities. It massacred kings and peasants, adults and children alike killing three hundred million people in the twentieth century alone.
The speckled monster, better known as smallpox, is the only disease to have been eradicated from the world through human effort.
This interactive theatre performance has been developed by scientists, actors and others in Birmingham and is funded by The Wellcome Trust. If your centre would like to host this play, please contact Julia Kingston Head of Learning at Thinktank on 0121 202 2319 or julia.kingston@thinktank.ac to discuss funding. You are also invited to Thinktank to watch the play between 12 September and 4 October 2008.
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/event/speckled-monster
Y Touring Theatre Company: Theatre of Debate®
The play ‘Every Breath’ explores the social, moral, scientific and political issues of using animals in medical research and is funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Association of Medical Research Charities.
Set against an instantly recognisable background of family life and pressures, Judith Johnson's play takes a difficult subject and looks at both sides of the argument.
The audio version of the play and supporting cross curricular educational resources for key stage 3 and 4 are available to download now, free of charge, from the following link: www.everybreathpodcast.org.uk
DIARY DATES
An introduction to science policy with Newton’s Apple
Parliament, 2pm – 4pm, 8th October, 2008
Have you ever wondered how the regulatory and policy processes work? Would you like to contribute to the decisions that shape science and society in the future?
The ‘Introduction to Science Policy’ workshop will give you the chance to find out more about the policy process and the methods by which you and scientists can contribute to it. The workshop will also give you the chance to put your questions to the people who work with science and policy.
The maximum group size is 30 and workshops run for 2 hours.
Guest Panellists involved in the discussions include; Dr Ian Gibson MP, Dr Stephen Benn - Royal Society of Chemistry, Dr Philip Wright - Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry, and Dr Guy Rickett - Technology Strategy Board.
For more information
www.newtons-apple.org.uk/Newtons_heirs_workshops.html
The 2008 Visitor Attraction Conference
London, 8 October
This year’s Conference is based on the key topics of “Pleasing People” and “Making More Money”. The sessions will include all the latest industry data and examples of good practice from leading professionals who will share the lessons they’ve learned and give insights into future trends.
The Keynote is by the Rt. Hon. Margaret Hodge MBE MP, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism. Dr Penny Fidler will represent the UK Science & Discovery Centres on a panel in the session that follows.
Please forward to your marketing teams.
The BA Festival of Science 2008
Liverpool, 6 – 11 September
In September 2008, the Festival of Science will visit Liverpool, European Capital of Culture '08, hosted by the University of Liverpool.
Find out about current research in scientific issues which affect us all; bring along the whole family to take part in the Science Explosion at the World Museum; or join the 'Magical Memory Tour' where you can relive your youth through memories of The Beatles. And make sure you don't miss some of the best speakers from around the world.
To find out more visit: www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/BritishScienceFestival/
Ecsite-uk AGM 2008
Liverpool, 11 September 2008
We look forward to welcoming you to our Annual Meeting. Details above.
Ecsite-uk
Contact us with news or feedback >
Want to know more about Ecsite-uk? Find out about Ecsite-uk >
Ecsite-uk members include science and discovery centres, museums and companies providing services to the sector. Join Ecsite-uk >