From 2 – 4 June 2022, science communicators from across Ecsite, the European network of science centres and museums, will converge in the city of Heilbronn in Germany. This will be the organisation’s first in-person conference since the global pandemic. Over 900 attendees from more than 50 countries are expected to take part.
The Ecsite Conference caters to professionals who are working to engage audiences with science and technology. This includes staff from science centres and museums, as well as research bodies, festivals, universities and companies.
Over the course of the conference, attendees will be able to discover the latest research and developments in public engagement with science. There will be a range of insightful and educational sessions, debates, and workshops. In addition, there is also a packed trade show floor, the Business Bistro.
Join Ecsite in Heilbronn
This year’s Ecsite conference will be hosted by experimenta in Heilbronn. Sessions will take place at locations across the city, including at a purpose-built camp. Here, international science engagement colleagues can enjoy an inspiring setting and professional playground.
experimenta is a 270,000 ft² science centre in the heart of the city. It is housed in a spectacular glass and steel building, connected to the restored storage building of a former mill. The museum is home to around 275 permanent interactive exhibits and it also runs temporary exhibitions. Visitors at experimenta can enjoy hands-on workshops, laboratories, a Maker Space, a science stage and an observatory.
The science centre also includes an innovative Science Dome. This is a combination of a theatre and a planetarium featuring a 360° surround 3D dome projection screen as well as a revolving auditorium.
Before the three-day event kicks off, there will also be several pre-conference meetings and workshops taking place on 1 June. These will give in-depth insight into many different aspects of the science communication field.
During the opening ceremony on Thursday 2 June, the winners of the 2022 Mariano Gago Ecsite Awards will be revealed.
Education at Ecsite 2022
The programme features a wide range of sessions. Over three days, there will be 80 sessions delivered by over 330 speakers, ranging from post-truth science communication to exhibition narratives.
Other covered topics include biodiversity and climate crisis, equity and inclusion, 21st Century skills and misinformation. The conference invites the science engagement community to build on three decades of science communication and to look ahead, pushing the boundaries of the field.
Keynotes
The keynote speakers for Ecsite 2022 will be Sinéad Burke and Lucy Hawking.
Firstly, on Friday 3 June, Burke will lead a keynote session on the topic of equity and inclusion. Burke is the founder and CEO of Tilting the Lens, a consultancy that brings visibility to inaccessibility. The firm has advised several well-known brands such as Gucci, Ralph Lauren and Starbucks. It helps companies to transition from awareness to action.
Tilting the Lens aims to create more accessible practices, products & services, places and promotions, in order to build a more equitable world for everyone.
Then, on Saturday 4 June, the second keynote will be led by Hawking, who is the author of the ‘George’ books, a series of fantasy adventure novels based on real science.
Her goal is to make science accessible and entertaining to young readers. The series is written in collaboration with world-leading scientists including her father, the late Professor Stephen Hawking. The books have been published in over 40 languages.
More sessions
With three days of panels, workshops and other educational sessions to choose from, attendees can gain insights and share ideas on a wide range of topics.
Sessions are divided into a number of different categories: collections, equity & inclusion, learning, exhibit development, explainers & visitor services, marketing & communication, strategy & vision, research, theory & evaluation, business & fundraising, science ♥ society and operations & finance.
The Business Bistro
The 2022 Ecsite Business Bistro will be located at the heart of the conference’s unique venue: the Ecsite camp. Here, a range of exhibitors will be on hand to meet attendees and chat about the latest products and services.
On Friday, participants can come together for a drink among exhibitors’ booths for the Business Bistro Happy Hour. Traditionally, exhibitors bring specialities from their home countries.
Here are some of the highlights from this year’s trade show floor.
Kraftwerk Living Technologies – booth #34
Kraftwerk Living Technologies (KLT), a leading-edge AV systems integrator, will be at the Ecsite Business Bistro for the first time. The company will be highlighting the Hybrid Dome Theater.
Developed and installed for the conference hosts experimenta, the science dome features KLT’s ground-breaking and unique mix of presentation and demonstration space, complete with a 3D full dome theatre, a planetarium and a revolving 180 seat platform. The team will be on hand to share more about the latest developments in the company’s Hybrid Dome product.
Recently, the Saudi Arabia pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai closed but will be re-opening as a permanent attraction. It features audio-visual and media technology including a Guinness World record-breaking interactive lighting installation and the largest LED mirror screen display, all designed and built by KLT.
The KLT team are happy to talk about this project as well as its other installations completed worldwide. Kevin Murphy and Thomas Gellermann will be in attendance and will also be joining the events at the conference. Meetings can be booked by email.
American Museum of Natural History – booth #54
The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), a major scientific and cultural institution, will also be travelling to Germany for Ecsite 2022. The team will be ready to talk through AMNH’s whole catalogue of travelling exhibitions and 2D panel shows. This includes Sharks (currently on display at AMNH) and the upcoming 2D photography exhibition by artist Levon Biss, Extinct and Endangered.
AMNH will be available to talk through the details of any of its exhibitions. The team will also be showcasing detailed photo presentations, 360 tours and renders to give a greater sense of what the exhibitions will be like at other venues.
At the booth will be Agnes Ruiz, director of sales, as well as Alejandra Castellanos, manager, travelling exhibitions. Meetings can be arranged by email.
Ruiz will also be speaking at three sessions during Ecsite 2022: Travelling exhibitions fighting crises: the collective workshop; What’s new in travelling exhibitions – Part 1; and Walk the talk: sustainable travelling exhibitions
Somniacs – booth #6
SOMNIACS AG, an award-winning immersive experience company, will be on hand to demonstrate the Birdly immersive VR experience.
The Birdly simulator allows people to enjoy the experience of flying freely like a bird as they dive into new worlds. It is an ideal way for operators to make an impact at a wide range of venues, such as museums, airports, tourist destinations, retail properties and more.
Birdly brings together Swiss design and engineering with cutting edge VR technology. It allows guests to soar with dinosaurs, fly through the world of a butterfly, dive into a coral reef or glide on the wings of an eagle.
Universcience – booth #64
Universcience, an organisation that works to make science accessible to all, will be presenting its range of travelling exhibitions which cover a wide range of engaging topics. Currently, it is touring popular shows such as Jeans, Opposites, Playhuts, Body & Sports, and Microbiota. It will soon be touring Banquet and Fragile, and Cancers, Crowds and Metamorphosis are currently under development.
As well as being present at the Business Bistro, the Universcience team will be presenting at a number of sessions.
This includes Post-truth science communication; Digital immersion in museums: the beginning of a new era; Design for a sustainable future; Making sense of multisensory experiences; Giving visitors a voice in climate communication; What’s new in travelling exhibitions – Part 2; Staff training in the aftermath of a pandemic; Bringing together children’s galleries with collections; Communicating scientific uncertainty, and Developing critical thinking to tackle misinformation.
Natural History Museum – booth #68
The Natural History Museum (NHM) in London has over 30 years of experience in touring high-quality exhibitions internationally.
Attendees at Ecsite 2022 will be able to discover some of its latest productions. This includes Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature (opening soon at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada), Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep (currently open at the Field Museum in Chicago, US) and the legendary Wildlife Photographer of the Year annual exhibition (touring in over 10 countries every year).
The touring team will be available to discuss exhibition partnership opportunities for venues in Europe. Conference delegates can book a meeting in advance by email.
Pauline Robert, head of touring programmes, will also be a speaker at the session Travelling exhibitions fighting crises: the collective workshop. Meanwhile, Paolo Russo, exhibition partnerships manager, will showcase the Fantastic Beastsexhibition project during What’s new in travelling exhibitions Part 1.
Social events & networking at Ecsite 2022
There will also be several networking opportunities and social events taking place during Ecsite 2022. This includes the Gala Dinner held at the Ecsite Camp on Thursday 2 June, where everyone can get together, dress up, sit back and enjoy the entertainment provided by the 2022 hosts. The evening event will transform the Ecsite camp, with giant light puppets that tell universal stories of togetherness.
The following evening, experimenta will host the annual Nocturne event in the venue’s science centre. During this event, guests can have a glass of wine and enjoy live performances at various locations throughout the evening.
Finally, Saturday evening will see the Farewell Party taking place at the Ecsite Camp. This is the most informal social event of the weekend where attendees can chat and share a drink with other participants, as well as having a dance.
At Saturday’s closing and handover ceremony, the organisers will thank the 2022 hosts. They will also introduce the Esplora Science Centre team who will be hosting next year’s Ecsite Conference in Malta, from 15 – 17 June 2023.
