Parallel Sessions
Leading and managing: science centres into the future.
Panel Discussion: Science centres on a shoestring
This session will investigate the challenges and constraints inherent in the establishment and operation of science centres under very tight budgets. In developing countries, monetary constraints often dictate the development of exhibits that are inexpensive to build but which are often better suited to the audience they serve. In an attempt to explore the benefits of low cost exhibitry, comparisons with big budget institutions will also be drawn.
Session leader: Derek Fish, Director,
Unizul Science Centre, South Africa.
Museums and science centres – allies or rivals?
Museums and science centres are occupied with the same subject using different approaches. Museums generally are object oriented; science centers on the other hand are focused on phenomena or concepts. Some suggestions for closer cooperation will be considered. The presentation will include also a short overview of the activities of CIMUSET, ICOM International Committee of Museums of Science and Technology.
Speaker: Orest Jarh, Director,
Technical Museum of Slovenia, Slovenia.
Panel Discussion: Crisis management
We all face unexpected situations in our institutions – a sudden fall in visitor numbers, bad reviews of a temporary exhibition, cessation of a sponsorship collaboration or accidents on site with visitors badly hurt. How should we cope in these situations? Panelists will share their experiences of crisis management.
Session leader: Per Lindhal, CEO,
Swedish Museum of Natural History, Sweden.
Panel Discussion: Global statistics of science centres
Network representatives of ASTC, ECSITE, ASPAC, NCSM, RedPOP, JCSM, CAST, and SAASC will present statistics on science centres in their region, including the number of science centres, attendances and budgets. This will enable us to paint a picture of the current global situation, providing a concise summary of the state and extent of the worldwide science centre industry.
Session leader: Per-Edvin Persson, Director,
Heureka, Finland.
Workshop: Marketing science centres into the 21st century
Serious competition from commercial operations are presented to science centres as they try to survive and grow in the 21st century. This session explores how these challenges can be met using examples from a variety of situations and will provide opportunities for participants to plan a campaign which they can use in their institution.
Session leader: Brian Taylor, Director,
Science Alive! New Zealand.
Panel Discussion: Look and...do touch – combining interactives, objects and other media for an effective visitor experience
Combining significant objects with hands-on exhibits provides visitors with new and potentially rich contexts in which they can gain a greater appreciation of science and technology, but with it come challenges. Participants will discuss how we can best use objects in environments where visitors are encouraged to explore, touch and interact with exhibits.
Session leader: Julie Catchpole, Director,
The Science Centre & Manawatu Museum, New Zealand.
Roundtable Discussion: Trends impacting on science centres
This session follows the Plenary Session "What global trends and demographics are impacting on science centres? How will these shape science centres in the future?" Four roundtable groups share their ideas in response to the plenary session and work through a process to arrive at a consensus on the three major trends most impacting on science centres, and what institutions and networks could do to address these.
Session leaders:
Lesley Lewis, Director General & CEO,
Ontario Science Centre, Canada.
Ingit Mukhopadhyay, Director General,
NCSM, India.
Michel Demazure, Director,
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, France.
Jeff Rudolph, Executive Director,
California Science Centre, USA.
Prof Mike Bruton, Head,
MTN ScienCentres, South Africa.
Per-Edvin Persson, Director,
Heureka, Finland.
Annie Ghisalberti, Director,
Questacon, Australia.
Panel Discussion: Merchandising and enterprise schemes that work!
Contributors share their centre's approach to generating revenue via merchandising and other enterprise activities.
Session leader: James Marchbank, CEO,
Science North, Canada.
Workshop: Leadership from the inside out!
Leadership is from the inside out – the inside of the leader, the inside of the follower and the inside of the organisation.
Using a web-based diagnostic tool, this workshop will help you understand your preferred leadership style and that of your organisation. Explore the latest research which demonstrates that, while the CEO's personality is important, it is not as critical as the personality of the organisation.
Session leader: Roy Shafer, Organisational Coach,
The Roy L Shafer Company: Strategies for Organisational Change, USA.
Panel Discussion: How to handle controversies
During the Y2K, La Cité created several new exhibitions on science themes linked to hot topics. Researchers, journalists and politicians discussed these topics with visitors. The amazing success of the program raises the question: is controversy and dialogue with the public the future for our field?
Session leader: Brigitte Coutant, Director of International Affairs,
La Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, France.
Panel Discussion: New options for funding and business development
Science centres and museums around the world are re-evaluating their options for funding and business development. The positioning of the centre, the services delivered to the different markets, both education and leisure, and the funding mechanisms can have a major impact on the financial viability of an organisation.
Session leader: Gillian Thomas, Consultant Chair,
Eureka! The Museum for Children, UK.
Panel members: Marianela S de Lerdo de Tejada, Director General,
Papalote, Mexico.
Alister Balls, CEO,
Centre for Life, UK.
Panel Discussion: Learning from buildings
The buildings that house our science centers help to shape the learning experiences that occur within them. Whether very large or small, newly built or renovation of existing spaces, buildings learn from their users (visitors and staff) and in turn users learn from buildings. Panelists will share lessons learned from recent experiences in creating a variety of new science center facilities.
Session leader: Eric Jacqueman, Managing Dirtector,
Technopolis - F.T.I. Foundation, Belgium.
Roundtable Discussion: Managing up
A healthy relationship between the director and the board is a key to the organization's success and the director's mental health. In this roundtable session we will identify the governance issues most important to the group, then share experiences, anecdotes, and tips from colleagues around the world for managing boards.
Session leader: Nancy Stueber, President and CEO,
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, USA.
Panel Discussion: Science centre or museum? Real or virtual? Creating science and technology exhibitions for the 21st century
Combining the strengths of both science centres and museums could be a future strategy for both kinds of organisation in order to create richness in both content and presentation, with visitors as the prime consideration what special opportunities arise in the digital age?
Session Leader: Otmar Moritsch,Senior Curator,
Technisches Museum, Austria.
Roundtable Discussion: Tough love - facing the challenge of organisational change
What are science centres doing to structure their own organisations to respond to changes in their environment (eg market forces, visitor expectations, sponsor/stakeholder expectations, human resource development). Specifically geared for CEOs to share an issue which generated the biggest challenge to their organisational change.
Session leader: Seddon Bennington, Director,
Carnegie Science Centre, USA.
Workshop: Measuring success: turning desired outcomes into agreed performance measures for a science centre
Are your performance measures economic? educational? socio-political? Are they relevant to your fundamental goals? Can we make the important outcomes measurable? Or are we content to see the most measurable outcomes become the important ones? To take part in this session for CEOs and senior managers, email your centre's 'performance measures' to colin@techniquest.org.
Session leader: Colin Johnson, Director,
Techniquest, UK.
Plenary & Major Sessions and Parallel Sessions (colour pdf, 295 kb)