News for the UK’s Science & Discovery Centres
December 2008
Welcome to our December newsletter
A warm wintery welcome to you all. This newsletter is packed with funding prospects, marketing opportunities and a host of networking possibilities to help your enterprises, as well as the latest progress on the Government’s independent research into Science & Discovery Centres. We also report on the coming changes to Ecsite-uk which will improve and streamline the service we can offer our members.
Best wishes
Dr Penny Fidler, Director of Ecsite-uk
Working with Government and Parliament
Government research into the impact of Science & Discovery Centres
The Government-commissioned research into the UK Science & Discovery Centres is well underway. The National Survey by Frontier Economics has been a great success with a high return rate from Ecsite-uk members.
Frontier have also identified five centres to explore in-depth as individual case studies these are:
- Eden
- Thinktank
- Intech
- Catalyst
- Explore-At-Bristol
They will be visiting these centres to talk with staff in the coming weeks.
This research has the potential to be pivotal for the UK Science & Discovery Centres and is the first major independent national assessment of the range, quality and value for money of the inspirational science learning opportunities our centres provide and we thank you all for your efforts completing the survey.
Government’s Science & Society Strategy consultation
Thank you for sending your responses to the Government’s Science & Society Strategy Consultation. Given that Ecsite-uk represent’s over 50 individual centres attracting 19.5 million visitors as well as outreach-only enterprises, all dedicated to Science & Society activities, our members had much to contribute.
The Ecsite-uk response can be found on this web site (PDF) and you are welcome to use this in anyway that is helpful to your goals.
Ecsite-uk moves to new offices
For the past seven years, The BA has kindly provided Ecsite-uk with a desk in their London office, with our other staff working from home offices around the UK.
In order to strengthen and streamline our operations we will now be setting up a single central office for the team in Bristol from 1 December, 2008. Our offices will be shared with the National Coordinating Centre for the Beacons for Public Engagement and will be based in the Watershed in central Bristol. We believe these new administrative arrangements will improve the service and support we can offer our members for the future and we will of course continue to work closely with the BA.
This is the first time the Ecsite-uk team, consisting of Dr Penny Fidler, Dr Louise Webb and an administrator (to be recruited) will be based together, and we warmly welcome members and our partners to visit us in our new home.
Our new address will be:
Ecsite-uk
The Watershed
1 Canon's Road,
Harbourside,
Bristol, BS1 5TX
Our phones and emails remain the same.
Funding Opportunities
STFC Science in Society Funding
STFC funding is available to engage the public in areas relating to astronomy, planetary and solar science, lasers and nuclear and particle physics. STFC also encourage partnership projects and those that relate to current science and technology projects (e.g. the Large Hadron Collider at CERN and the International Year of Astronomy 2009).
Funds are available for scientists who wish to engage the public for National Science and Engineering Week, for example they can apply to do activities in your venues.
For full details visit: www.scitech.ac.uk/PandS/Fund/All/Funds.aspx
Royal Academy of Engineering Public Engagement Awards
These Awards offer funding for projects that enhance the public engagement skills of engineers and provide opportunities for them to engage in debate with the public (both young people and adults) in the field of engineering and its impact on society:
Activity projects provide opportunities for engineers to gain experiential learning in public engagement by taking part in their development and delivery.
Development projects design and deliver bespoke public engagement training courses, seminars and workshops for engineers.
Joint applications from both engineers and organisations that specialise in dialogue, debate, communication and engagement with the public, are welcomed.
To apply please complete the Activities and Development Application Form (RTF, 2MB), which includes the guidelines. Closing date: 5 December, 2008.
Ecsite Annual Conference 2009 - Grant Opportunity for attending the Conference
Through Grundtvig, the European Commission provides funding to promote exchanges of experiences and the development of a European dimension in all sectors of adult education. The Ecsite Annual Conference is for one more year officially accredited as one of the training opportunities for individuals that are involved in adult education.
If you are interested in applying for the Grant you need to contact your National Agency. For more information on the grant, see the Comenius-Gruntvig database.
MARKETING AND PR OPPORTUNITIES
BBC Focus magazine:
Science & Discovery Centres Vouchers
BBC Focus magazine are keen to include more Science & Discovery Centres in their 2009 voucher scheme mailed to all their magazine subscribers (20,500 subscribers in the UK, circulation of over 70,000).
It costs nothing to be included, they just need a discounted offer such as 2 for 1 admission or a free child ticket and an image for the voucher.
For more information, or to be included for 2009, please contact Aimee Rhymer Aimeerhymer@bbcmagazinesbristol.com or 0117 314 8356 before 26 November, 2008.
BBC Focus Magazine: Events
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 Press releases also welcome and please note the eight-week lead time.
Group visitor market… are you linked in?
Research values the group travel market at £180m. Domestic group customers represent a powerful and reliable source of revenue, especially as they tend to travel during the shoulder seasons.
Keep an eye out for their networking events: www.grouptravelorganiser.com
Darwin200
Many of you are planning exciting and innovative events for Darwin200 and can 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’
Free marketing for your National Science and Engineering Week (NSEW) Events
Each year, Science & Discovery Centres host a vast number of events in support of NSEW. The BA has kindly set up a dedicated section of their website for all our events, including a map of the UK showing the location of every centre with a link to your website.
This will help the public find out where all the events are happening, and also for the first time allows us to find out how many people take part in NSEW events through Science & Discovery Centres.
Please advertise your activities for free by submitting them to the britishscienceassociation.org.
Deadline 19 December, 2008
EXTRA –Advertise your exhibitions here
The European online database for travelling science exhibitions www.extrascience.eu is a new service offered by Ecsite allowing you to search for a travelling science exhibition on a specific topic and to promote your own exhibitions. Until the end of this year promoting your exhibitions, exhibits and specimens on EXTRA is free.
For any contact extra.admin@naturalsciences.be
Partnership Opportunities
Astronomy Opportunities with your Community
2009 is International Year of Astronomy
The Dark Sky Discovery steering group is seeking Science & Discovery Centre partners who would like to get involved with Astronomy projects involving the wider community.
For further details contact:
Mario Di Maggio, Dark Sky Discovery Steering Group
Mario.dimaggio@thinktank.ac
Tel 0121 202 2222
Teaching Outside the Classroom
Placements for trainee teachers in Science & Discovery Centres
- Would you like to help trainee teachers to develop their understanding of partnership working, learning outside the classroom and creativity?
- Would your science centre like to offer placements to trainee teachers?
They are looking for settings across England to develop partnerships with teacher training providers and to influence the next generation of teachers.
www.teachingoutsidetheclassroom.com
Would you like a copy of the STEM directories?
There are 3 directories:
- Science
- Mathematics
- Engineering and Technology
You are invited to request hard copies of the set from:
www.stemdirectories.org.uk/order.asp
If you would like multiple copies (eg, to give to teachers, learning staff, outreach teams or others) the stem directories team would be delighted to send you as many copies as you need to spread the word. Please contact Juliet Upton (the Project Manager) at juliet.upton@stemdirectories.org.uk
The team are also keen to hear your views about this first edition of the Directories. What did you think of the process to enter your activities? What information would you like included in the 2009 on-line edition? Would you like to take part in face-to-face consultation groups about the next phase? Please email us at feedback@stemdirectories.org.uk
News from Europe
Ecsite event: Science Centres and Museums at the European Parliament
The Ecsite network is developing its role of raising the profile of science centres and museums among the European institutions. In this context, Ecsite is organising an event at the European Parliament in Brussels on 18 February, 2009 to promote the importance of our field to officers of the European Commission and parliamentarians. As part of this event, we will present a round table on the role of science centres and museums in European society with a range of high-profile speakers, alongside six selected best practices in informal learning and engagement activities from Ecsite members across Europe.
Ecsite Annual Conference 2009 – Business Bistro Registration is now open
The Ecsite Annual Conference 2009 will take place from 4 - 6 June, 2009 and will be hosted by the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci in Milan, Italy. An integral part of the Annual Conference, the Business Bistro always brings together the most inspiring new projects, exhibitions, techniques, products and services on the market for Ecsite institutions.
Further information in the Ecsite newsletter.
If you are interested to reserve a booth or space please make sure you submit your registration quickly as places are given on a first ask, first served basis.
DIARY DATES
Ecsite Annual Conference 2009
4 – 6 June, 2009, Milan, Italy
Join Science and Discovery Centre staff from across Europe for the Annual Ecsite conference in Milan next June. Visit the website for further details: www.ecsite-conference.net. The call for session proposals closed on 15 October, 2008.
The 2009 Science Communication Conference
22 & 23 June, 2009, London
The Science Communication Conference, organised by the BA in partnership with the Wellcome Trust, will take place on 22 & 23 June at Kings Place in London.
The conference addresses the key issues facing science communicators in the UK and each year brings together people who are involved in public engagement - a diverse group of people from a broad range of backgrounds including of course Science & Discovery Centres. It is a fantastic opportunity to network, share ideas and good practice.
This year’s central focus is ‘Behaviour and Choice’ - exploring the role that we should or could play as influencers of behavioural change. There will also be speakers from the Science & Discovery Centre sector.
Adult Learners’ Week
9 - 15 May, 2009
Use Adult Learners' Week to celebrate and market your family and adult learning activities.
2009 marks the eighteenth Adult Learners’ Week, which is the UK’s largest festival of learning. Coordinated each May by NIACE (the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education), it promotes the benefits of adult learning to adults in all their diversity.
Adult Learners’ Week inspires thousands back into learning every year by celebrating outstanding adult learners and by running events and activities across England to encourage others to have a go.
For more information on how you can get involved and make the most of Adult Learners’ Week, visit the campaign website now at www.alw.org.uk.
Brain Awareness Week 2009
16 – 22 March, 2009
Darwin 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’
National Science and Engineering Week 6-15 March, 2009
More details above and via this link:
www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/nsew/
2009 is…
2009 is The International Year of Astronomy
2009 is being celebrated as The Year of Science in North America
www.yearofscience2009.org/about.php
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