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3rd Science Centre World Congress

The 3rd Science Centre World Congress was hosted by Questacon and held from 10-14 February 2002. The Congress attracted hundreds of delegates from all over the world.

Thank you

Questacon, Australia's National Science and Technology Centre, was honoured to be your host for the 3rd Science Centre World Congress.

Those of you who joined us in Canberra experienced a Congress which brought together the latest thinking on issues facing science centres throughout the world. The Congress celebrated the diversity of approaches among science centres around the globe and their important role in developing public understanding of science and technology.

The Congress theme was "Science Centres: Inspiring a New Generation".

The program catered for the interests and professional needs of all those working within the science centre industry including the areas of management, education and research, exhibition development, marketing and business operations.

Thank you to our sponsors , IBM, ACT Business, Shell and Ideum for their support of the Congress.

I know you enjoyed the Congress, and hope you loved our beautiful city and amazing country.

Yours sincerely

Dr Annie Ghisalberti
(Former) Director
Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre
and Chair of the Congress Committee.

Congress theme

Science Centres: Inspiring a New Generation

The theme 'Science Centres: Inspiring a New Generation' provides a timely reminder that science centres are facing immense challenges to maintain relevancy for people and communities in the midst of rapidly changing social and technological contexts.

Science centres are becoming increasingly recognised and valued as a key part of educational and recreational infrastructure. Now, almost 200 million visitors participate in the exhibitions and programs of over 1200 science centres around the world each year - and these numbers are growing!

However, the future well-being of science centres will depend on the extent to which today's centres are willing to evolve and respond to key dynamics which are influencing people's decisions — including how and where they learn, and how and where they enjoy their leisure time.

It is no longer sufficient to consider current best practice alone; we need to analyse those trends and shifts which will be helpful in defining future science centre experiences and in sustaining a key role for science centres in tomorrow's communities.

Congress Theme (colour pdf, 91 kb)

Plenary Sessions

Prof Peter Doherty

Nobel Prize winner Professor Peter Doherty opened the Congress.

The plenary sessions (excluding Joanne Collins–Smee and all of Session 5) are available to watch as webcasts. With thanks to Jim Spadaccini from Ideum , for his technical assistance and also to camera operator Bernie Kavanagh, from StudioK .

• Plenary Session 1: Professor Peter Doherty
• Plenary Session 2: Annie Macbeth
• Plenary Session 3: Hiroaki Kitano, Joanne Collins-Smee and Derrick de Kerckhove
• Plenary Session 4: Goran Carstedt, Stella Axarlis and Roy L. Shafer
• Plenary Session 5: Panel presentation (no webcast)

Plenary & Major Sessions and Parallel Sessions (colour pdf, 295 kB)

Parallel Session Program

The parallel sessions are grouped into several themes:

• Leading and Managing: Science Centres into the Future
• New Technology: The Internet, Robotics and New Communication for the Twenty-First Century
• Programs With a Difference: Science Centres and Museums Explore New Ways of Reaching Their Audiences
• Research and Evaluation: What Are the Important Messages For Science Centres?
• Cooperation and Development: Science Centres Reach Out to Work With Each Other and With Their Communities
• Science Shows

Plenary & Major Sessions and Parallel Sessions (colour pdf, 295kb)

Sponsors

The 3rd Science Centre World Congress was proudly sponsored by Questacon and:

The Organising Committee also gratefully acknowledges the suppport received from the above sponsors and the assistance received from the Association of Science and Technology Centres (ASTC ), the European Collaborative for Science, Industry and Technology Exhibitions (ECSITE ), the Asia Pacific Network of Science and Technology Centres (ASPAC) and the Australasian Science and Technology Exhibitors Network (ASTEN ).

5th Science Centre World Congress

15-19 June 2008, Toronto, Canada

The Ontario Science Centre is hosting the 5th Science Centre World Congress in Toronto, Canada. The theme of the Congress is ‘Science Centres as Agents of Change – Locally, Nationally, and Internationally’.

For more information see the 5th Science Centre World Congress.

4th Science Centre World Congress

10-14 April 2005, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The 4th Science Centre World Congress was held in April 2005. The congress was be hosted by Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, or FIOCRUZ) and the Museu da Vida (Museum of Life).

The theme of the 4th SCWC was “Science Centres: Breaking Barriers, Engaging Citizens”, and explored how we can pursue ways to help people fully exercise their rights as citizens and benefit from the achievements of science.

For more information see the 4th Science Centre World Congress .