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Contents
News from the Ecsite-uk Office: Questions for members
Developments in the sector: The Big Draw 2003
Resources 1: Promotional brochure from the British Council’s
trade section
Resources 2: ESRC publication about science, the public and the
media
News from the regions: Edinburgh and… a UFO story for
August
Diary Dates: 11-12 September, Ecsite-uk at the BA festival; 10
October, Science through Play at Eureka!; 22-25 October, Hands-On Europe in Italy
News from the Ecsite-uk Office: Questions for members
Question:
Paul Jennings, CEO Sensation, Dundee, and Ecsite-uk committee member seeks science
and discovery centres’ views on a National Science Discovery Centres’
Membership Scheme – What benefits should it bring to children/families (the
members) and to SDCs (jointly operating the scheme)? How might the scheme work?
Paul says: “A benefit from my perspective is that it should generate additional revenues for Ecsite-uk but not impact negatively on any SDC who already operates their own scheme.”
Ideas and answers to: paul.jennings@sensation.org.uk
Questionnaire:
Ecsite-uk is conducting a Membership Values Questionnaire. We’d also be interested
in the views of some non-members and potential members.
If you haven’t already done so, please spare 20 minutes to help us to help and serve you better.
Developments in the sector: The Big Draw 2003
The Campaign for Drawing invites educators in museums, science, technology and discovery centres to join its campaign to promote the value of drawing.
The Big Draw’s main focus is 15 to 22 October, but organisers may choose any October date. Participation is free – simply register your organisation and event details as soon as possible on www.drawingpower.org.uk
Once registered, you will receive a Supporters Pack – the Drawing on Experience booklet, which investigates drawing as a medium for learning in museums and science centres, and a CD of promotional materials.
The Guardian and Persil, will promote The Big Draw as widely as possible. The Guardian plans a 24-page Big Draw Guide supplement on 30 September. To ensure inclusion, you must register your event by 15 August.
For more information and to register, visit www.drawingpower.org.uk
Resources 1: Promotional brochure from the British Council’s trade section
Trade Partners UK – the British Council’s trade section – would like to demonstrate the wealth of expertise that exists in the UK's Heritage, Museums and Tourism industry by including relevant company case studies in a new brochure and corresponding CD Rom and web page that will be promoted to potential customers worldwide.
The brochure will highlight examples of UK companies' work on heritage, museums and tourism projects around the world. If your company has been involved in a project in this sector within the last 3 years, Trade Partners UK would like to hear from you.
To register your case study, complete the on-line questionnaire at [archived page - link removed]
Entries must be received by 1st September 2003.
Resources 2: 'Towards a better map: Science, the public and the media'
This report by Ian Hargreaves, Justin Lewis and Tammy Spears of Cardiff University School of Journalism provides an in-depth assessment of the media's role in the public understanding of science. As well as the MMR controversy, it examines the media's coverage of climate change and genetics and illuminates the link between science, journalism and the public.
It shows that changes in the level of scientific knowledge occur very slowly, even when media coverage is intense, and identifies the types of ‘theme’ which successfully arouse public interest.
The full report can be downloaded as a PDF document at
[archived page- link removed]
News from the regions: Edinburgh and… a UFO story
The Royal Observatory (Edinburgh) Trust, in partnership with Moray House School of Education, Our Dynamic Earth's Yy Education Service and the Scottish Earth Science Education Forum, has secured a £300,000 contract from the Scottish Executive to provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training for science teachers in Scotland.
The project is at the heart of the Observatory's re-launch of its education and outreach work. Children in particular will be benefit from the enhanced educational experience through group visits. Outreach activities will be increased with the Starlab Planetarium and astronomy demonstrations regularly appearing in public places such as shopping centres and visitor attractions.
From the end of August, the ROE Visitor Centre will no longer be open to casual visitors. But the popular Winter Programme of public observing and lectures continues, and there will be free access to the whole site during annual Open Days.
On 11 July, airports across Britain were warned to look out for a UFO – unusual flying object.
Fourteen feet long and worth £15,000, the rogue flying machine was a
solar-powered "flyborg" – an artificially intelligent flying robot
airship filled with party-balloon gas – from Magna, Rotherham. Designed by
Professor Noel Sharkey, a BBC Robot Wars judge, and his team at the Creative Robotics
Unit at Magna (CRUM) for indoor flying robot exhibitions, it floated free in a
freak gust of wind.
Staff at CRUM immediately notified the Unmanned Balloons and Blimps Department of the National Air traffic Service in London. The story received significant regional and national coverage, and spread world wide thanks to BBC World Service. Last spotted by a man in Hull, the flyborg likely came down in the North Sea.
Diary Dates: 11-12 September, Ecsite-uk at the BA festival;
10 October, Science through Play at Eureka!; 22-25 October, Hands-On Europe in
Italy
Ecsite-uk annual meeting, 10am up to and including lunch!
Friday 12 September, Manchester Museum
The Ecsite-uk AGM 2003 is combined with a special-opportunity behind-scenes tour of the New Galleries at the Manchester Museum.
All Ecsite members in the UK have received an invitation.
The morning’s programme and AGM agenda are at www.sciencecentres.org.uk/agm [archived page- link removed]
Sustainable Science Centres, 2-5pm Thursday 11 September, Salford University
This session, convened and chaired by Ecsite-uk, is part of the BA annual festival
of science at Salford University:
Sustainable science requires a sustainable supply of scientists, and of citizens
supportive of scientific research. Science and discovery centres play a key role
in ensuring this supply by inspiring interest in science in learners of all ages.
Science centres have a further vital role to play in forming the attitudes and
actions that will turn 'sustainable development' from a good idea to a living
reality. Science centres have the resources to contribute to both sustainability
agendas. But to do so they must be financially sustainable themselves – they
must not only survive but thrive. How can income streams be enhanced without resorting
to the begging-bowl?
See www.the-BA.net and Quickfind
<Festival of Science>
Science through Play, 9.30am–3.30pm, Friday 10 October, Eureka!, Halifax
This full day course led by Debbie Eccles from Lancashire LEA aims to provide a wealth of ideas for practical science-based activities that can be used with children in the Foundation Stage. Reference to the Early Learning Goals and importance of play will be made during the course. Participants will receive a resource pack.
For further information and to book your place(s), please telephone Jenny Atkinson on 01422 330069 or email jenny.atkinson@eureka.org.uk
Hands-On Europe conference, 22-25 October, Italy
This year’s conference of ‘Hands on Europe, the European Association of Children’s Museums’ invites children’s museum professionals from around the world to debate the mission of children’s museums in Europe and to enjoy a quick but intense journey through Italy. The theme is: ‘Creativity & Children’s Museums’
Day 1 at Muba, the Children’s Museum of Milan: Is creativity a positive
value in contemporary society?
Day 2 on the train journey from Milan to Rome: Being creative as children’s
museums professionals
Day 3 at Explora, the Children’s Museum of Rome: Creativity in Practice
Day 4 at Città della Scienza, Naples: Creativity at science centres, art
and science.
For further information please visit www.hands-on-europe.net
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