Every year we bring together CEOs from science centres and museums for an in-person awayday. This crucial event provides an opportunity to discuss strategic priorities, reconnect and share insights, ideas and practice that address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for our science engagement and education sector.
On 26th April, we welcomed 27 CEOs and senior directors from across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to the National Space Centre in Leicester, with 4 new CEOs this year from Catalyst Science Discovery Centre, Edinburgh Science, Kielder Observatory and Techniquest.
Throughout the day, in addition to our core discussions, we heard from distinguished keynote speaker Sarah Hunter, a Technology and Policy Strategist and board member of ARIA (Advanced Research & Invention Agency) talking on “What’s Happening in the Science and Tech World? The Opportunities, the Applications, and What the Public Needs to Know.” This set the future-focussed framing of the day, stimulating discussions on the need to encourage everyone to embrace and utilise new technologies, its role in powering science, and our network's ability to support young-people to experiment, take big risks and look for opportunities in science entrepreneurship across the nation.
Professor Louise Archer, Karl Mannheim Chair of Sociology of Education, led us through the most recent evidence and recommendations from Aspires 3 and how the science and discovery centres can support formal education and adopt a social justice approach to STEM engagement.
Our host, Chas Bishop CEO of the National Space Centre in Leicester, arranged activities including a full team experience in the brand-new Tetrastar Flight, exceptional curry and a unique visit to the local Space park Leicester to enjoy a talk by Ellen Stofan (Under Secretary for Science and Research at the Smithsonian Institution) on Sustaining Earth from Space.
Alongside discussing future areas for collective action, having opportunity to visit another centre and our inspirational keynotes, the most valued in all responses was having time for networking opportunities. 100% respondents to our feedback survey requested an annual event - which will include the “cock-ups over coffee” session as a great way to learn from bad practice!
Photo from left to right: Shaaron Leverment, Sarah Hunter and Chas Bishop
"It was an absolute pleasure spending time with colleagues and we look forward to meeting again at the ASDC conference in November."
"I found it very useful and informative and really enjoyed the day"
"Very much enjoyed the day, the relaxed atmosphere and the opportunity to meet people"
"An immense performance by the ASDC team as ever: thanks Shaaron and Vicky."
