Questacon > Other Web Sites > 3rd Science Centre World Congress > Programs With a Difference

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Parallel Sessions

Programs with a Difference: science centres and museums explore new ways of reaching their audences

To live and die in LA museums - building an audience share

What do an 85 year old LA based research museum and a yet-to-be opened Canadian interpretive centre have in common? Both have taken the process of defining audience, assessing visitor needs and understanding audience agendas down a very untraditional path. This session will examine a new model for museum interpretation, including ways of looking at programs in terms of cost-recovery.

Speaker: Linda M Abraham, VicePresident/Education,
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, USA.
Scot Muir, Director,
Centre of the Universe, Canada.

Science, drama and a little imagination!

Our perceptions of science and our perceptions of drama are worlds apart but, with the use of a little imagination, we can create an environment where the facts and figures of science combine with the excitement, emotion and energy of the theatre.

Speaker: Jeannie-Marie LeRoi, Double Helix Drama Co-ordinator,
CSIRO Education, Australia.

Temporary exhibitions – a communication comparative analysis

A comparative analysis of five large thematic exhibitions (500 – 1200 m²) hosted by the Pavilion of Knowledge in Lisbon (Portugal), considers its communication features and different levels of interactivity. Their success is related to the exhibition philosophy, overall design, exhibit communication format, use of different media, labels and other printed information.

Speaker: Pedro Casaleiro, Senior Exhibitions Manager,
Pavilion of Knowledge, Portugal.

A celestial recipe for maximising the reach and impact of your science centre

Curious about how to effectively market your science centre, ensuring regular media coverage and inspiring the next generation to see science and your centre as relevant? The answer is in the stars! This session will outline a proven three-pronged approach, which uses astronomy to achieve all three outcomes.

Speaker: Paul Floyd, http://www.ozskywatch.com

Cutting edge science in science centres

How can science centres show research and future trends in science? Even some scientists think that research is too complex for the general public. Should science centres restrict themselves to showing only the science that affects our daily lives or can we show cutting edge research as well?

Session leader: Wolf Peter Fehlhammer, General Director,
Deutsches Museum, Munich, Germany.

The new generation starts at age 0 – creating interactive science experiences for children aged 0 to 6

This presentation/workshop explores how science centers can cater for the early childhood age group through exhibits, programs and facilities. Case studies highlight the impact of providing early childhood experiences on visitor numbers, and provide practical advice on establishing early childhood facilities.

Session leader: Em Taylor, Concept Developer,
Questacon, Australia.

Music + Science =“Creativity?”

Add music to science and the science centre experience is immeasurably enriched. Venturing into new pastures requires research, preparation, incubation and the illumination and verification of thoughts, ideas and activities through creative processes; which can only lead to a greater provision of activities in the field of music and science.

Session leader: Dr Melanie Quin, Science Communication Director,
Techniquest, UK.

An interdisciplinary approach - the science, the institution, the outreach and the performance

In an ever increasing technological society, science centres are confronted with new ways to achieve a relevant role in their community. Both creative insights, as well as an interdisciplinary approach in viewing exhibits are vital to this challenge. Sustaining marketability in one's region is a challenge that can be approached through a mix of innovative educational outreach programs and interactive live theatre. We will share successful approaches and involve participants in an engaging live theatre presentation.

Session leader: Terry J. Hutter PhD, Programs Manager,
Exploration Place, USA.

Science, drama and a little imagination!

Our perceptions of science and our perceptions of drama are worlds apart but, with the use of a little imagination, we can create an environment where the facts and figures of science combine with the excitement, emotion and energy of the theatre.

Presenting science and technology heritage in science centres

In many countries, small or big, science centres have an additional mandate of functioning as custodians of the scientific and industrial relics of the region and hence the science centre personnel have to function in both areas. How can we tackle this challenge and how can we make the two functions complementary?

Session leader: Ingit K Mukhopadhyay, Director General,
National Council of Science Museums, India.

New ways of thinking about the connection between formal / informal learning

This session features the latest thinking by science centres in different regions of the world. Each of the science centres profiled has a program philosophy that is breaking down the traditional gulf between formal and informal learning. The aim of the session is to share and compare these philosophies, and through audience discussion, stimulate the field.

Session leader: Stephen Baumann, Vice President, Student Experiences,
Liberty Science Centre, USA.

Thinking outside the box

What is creativity? Can creativity be taught? How can creative thinking be applied to museum programs and events? What have other museums invented combining creativity with free, natural resources of their regions?

Session leader: Dr Linda Organ, Director of Education,
The Discovery Center for Science and Technology, USA.

Presentations and performances in ASPAC region

Live presentations are becoming increasingly popular in cultural institutions around the world. In this session, participants will share their experiences of performance in a science centre environment, and outline how they adapt their presentation style to ensure it is both appropriate and effective for differing audiences and themes.

Session leader: Robert Bunzli, Performance Manager,
Questacon, Australia.

Eccentrics and their continuing relevance in science centres

Is there yet a role for mechanical exhibits in our free choice learning environments? Does robotic, computer or electronic wizardry win out in many of today's exhibits over the mechanical advantage of eccentrics, ramps, levers, cogs and gears? Participants will share thoughts and ideas and engage in some creative hands-on experiences with 'eccentrics' or combinations of eccentrics with ramps, levers, pulleys, cogs and gears.

Session leader: Geoff Snowdon, Associate Executive Director,
PETROSAINS, Malaysia.

Facilitators: Greg Murray, Workshop Manager,
Questacon, Australia.
Allen Rooney, Outreach Education,
Questacon, Australia.

Challenges of incorporating more life science experiences in science centres

Session leader: Mike Bruton, Head,
MTN ScienCentre, South Africa.

Science, technology and scepticism: importance of science centres in popularising new scientific developments

This session will consider the positive and negative aspects of science and technology progress. The role of the science centre and technology museum in popularising current developments such as environmental pollution, the loss of human mind integrity and the priority given to economic rather than aesthetic considerations, will be discussed.

Speaker: Dr. Ivo Janousek, Director General,
National Technical Museum, Czech Republic.

China! 7000 Years of Innovation – responding to community priorities

China! 7000 Years of Innovation presented Science World British Columbia with marketing opportunities that promised to broaden Science World's appeal and expand its ties to the community, particularly Vancouver's vibrant Chinese population. To capitalize on this potential, Science World developed an extensive program of community interaction that involved esteemed organizations, general and ethnic media and members of the local Chinese community.

Session leader: Bryan Tisdall, President & CEO,
Science World, British Columbia, Canada.

Scitech Discovery Centre – the world's most isolated science centre

Being the world's most isolated science centre has its challenges. Yet tucked away in Perth, Western Australia, Scitech Discovery Centre overcomes distance with a travelling Roadshow, satellite science and touring exhibitions. Problems created by isolation will be addressed as well as suggestions for extending science networks around the world.

Speaker: Alan Brien, CEO,
Scitech Discovery Centre, Australia.

Reaching new audiences: a Latin – American perspective

Health and science and technology centres: contributions towards the quest of equity and health promotion according to the experience at Museum of Life, which aims to increase the population's participation in the fields of health, science and technology.

Panel member: Paulo Gadelha, Vice President,
FioCruz, Brazil.

Global connection: a project developed three years ago to enable science centre participants to communicate using cutting edge multimedia technology. The project involves designing special software for videoconferencing and workshops. Global Connections would like to work with partners to progress the project.

Panel member: Joaquin Fargas, Director,
Exploratorio, Argentina.

Arts and science in science and technology centres: a look at programs in Mexico in the context of Latin American centres.

Panel member: Julietta Fierro,
Universum, Mexico.

Virtual Reality, a keytool for innovative presentation and knowledge transfer in museums and science centres

TerraVision, a complete digital 1:1 depiction of the Earth. TerraVision enables interactive movement in realtime by flying over the virtual globe and integrates all geo-reference information. Our latest project, Archaeovision, resurrects legendary Troy and mystical ancient Egypt. Virtual reality techniques enable scientists and the public from all around the world to interactively access archeological information.

Speaker: Hans-Jorg Woite, Head of Exhibition Systems,
ART+COM, Germany.

Can one's country be a living display?

Using the example of an exhibition on “Canada”, currently being developed for display at La Cité des Sciences et de l'industrie in Paris, concepts for direct country to country communication will be explored. In particular, debate will be focused on the issues and problems encountered in the pursuit of international design and production partnerships.

Speakers: Hooley McLaughlin, Senior Advisor for Science and Technology,
Ontario Science Centre, Canada.
Marc Girard, Director, Exhibitions,
La Cité des Sciences et de l'industrie, France.
Orna Cohen, Chargáe de projet,
La Cité des Sciences et de l'industrie, France.

Suitcase exhibits

In 1982 the Deutches Technikmuseum Berlin including the science centre SPECTRUM was opened. SPECTRUM has about 250 hands-on exhibits and receives many inquiries about exhibit loans. The best of the exhibits have been selected to produce a mobile exhibition. A special suitcase has been designed for ease of handling the exhibits.

Speaker: Professor Otto Luehrs, Director,
SPECTRUM Deutsches Technikmuseum, Germany.

Museum as the classroom - classroom as the museum - children learning and teaching science

This workshop models an inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning science. Participants will explore interactive manipulatives for classroom use reinforcing museum exhibits. The development, implementation and evaluation of ‘Museum as the Classroom’ program at California Academy of Sciences will be presented. ‘MAC’ uses exhibit design as a catalyst for student learning.

Session leader: Isabel N Quita, Assistant Professor,
San Francisco State University, USA.

Facilitators: Eleanor A Pobre, Assistant Professor, Department of Education,
Southwest State University, USA.
Danilo F Quita, Multi-Media Specialist,
USA.
Lorie Topinka, Manager of Teacher Services,
California Academy of Sciences, USA.

Role of education programs in science centres

Education programs in science centres – do they serve to inspire, educate or simply draw more visitors? The session will discuss this issue through the experiences of four institutions, considering how their educational and outreach programs are organised, and their effectiveness, as well as their new directions.

Session leader: Chew Tuan Chiong, Director & Chief Executive, Singapore Science Centre, Singapore.

Panel members: Brigitte Coutant, Director of International Affairs,
La Citee des Sciences et de l'Industrie, France.
David Ellis, President & Director,
Museum of Science, Boston, USA.
Keiji Higuchi, Director,
Nagoya City Science Museum, Japan.

Planetariums - astronomy education in the 21st century

Many institutions are assessing the role of planetariums in a modern science center. This session will highlight several different approaches.

Session leader: Douglas R King, President,
St Louis Science Centre, USA

Outdoor exhibits

Session leader: Saroj Ghose, Adviser,
Anandpur Sahib Foundation, India.

Panel members: Moshe Rishpon, Clore Garden of Science,
Weizman Institute of Science, Israel.
Steve Pizzey, Director,
Science Projects, UK.
Dr Eric Marshall, Project Director, Science Central,
New York Hall of Science, UK.

Learning through interactive puzzles

In this workshop, participants experience ways to develop problem solving and collaborative learning skills through hands on mechanical and mathematical puzzles.

Session Leaders: Kaisa Vahahyyppa, Senior Exhibit Coordinator,
Heureka, Finland.
Jamos McAllister, Coordinator, Questacon Maths Squad,
Questacon, Australia

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