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Contents
News from the Ecsite-uk Office: website Job Bank
Developments in the sector 1: the BA is holding Science Week briefings
Developments in the sector 2: Global Call For Nominations of Innovators
Resources: New York Hall of Science offers this month's 'think
bubble'
News from the regions: Regional Development Agencies
Diary Dates: 22-23 May, Science Communication Conference; 1-3
July, Summer Science Exhibition
News from the Ecsite-uk Office: website Job Bank
The Job Bank is a new free service provided on the Ecsite-uk website.
Job hunters - bookmark www.sciencecentres.org.uk/jobs and check it regularly for details of the latest vacancies in the field.
Recruiters - you can upload vacancies at any time using a simple form on the Ecsite-uk website. The system allows you to preview and edit the job listing before posting. All listings are reviewed by Ecsite-uk to maintain the quality of the service.
http://www.sciencecentres.org.uk/jobs
Developments in the sector 1: the BA is holding Science Week briefings
In advance of NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK (12-21 March 2004), the BA will be holding National Science Week briefing evenings across the UK in September-October 2003. Each evening will include an introduction to National Science Week for new/potential organisers and a workshop covering one of the many aspects of planning and holding a NSW event.
Would your centre like to host an evening? Would you be interested in conducting a workshop? If the answer to either of these questions is YES, contact Paula Wallace (National Science Week Officer) Paula.Wallace@the-ba.net T 020 7973 3074.
Developments in the sector 2: Global Call For Nominations of Innovators
The Tech Museum Awards is a unique and prestigious program that honours and awards innovators from around the world who use technology to benefit humanity in the categories of:
a. Education
b. Equality
c. Economic Development
d. Environment
e. Health
Every year, 25 finalists are honoured at a gala dinner, invited to participate in press and media coverage, and introduced to a network of influential advisors. An inspirational and unforgettable event, the black-tie celebration will be held at The Tech Museum in San Jose, California, on October 15, 2003. One winner in each category will be granted a $50,000 cash prize.
Dr. Chaz Holder, 2001 winner of the Knight Ridder Equality award, called The Tech Awards "...the most memorable event of my professional life. To be surrounded for a few hours with some of the most brilliant thinkers and innovators in the world, both nominees and sponsors, was simply an unbelievable experience. The resultant publicity has meant many new networking contacts for us and led to a government research project."
Reward those making a difference and nominate today. A simple nomination form can be found at techawards.thetech.org. Self-nominations are accepted and encouraged. Individuals, non-profit organisations, and companies are all eligible. Program details, including judging criteria, can be found at the Tech Museum Awards website listed above.
Resources: New York Hall of Science offers this month's 'think bubble'
The New York Hall of Science is creating a new exhibition with the working title "Connections: an Exhibition about Networks." For this exhibition, we are conceiving networks quite broadly: the overarching theme is that networked systems occur in many contexts. So, we are looking at social, biological, ecological networks as well as communications networks.
As part of the exhibition development process, we are trying an experiment: using the Internet for exhibition brainstorming. To that end, we have created a web-based forum at www.connectionsnet.org [archived page - link removed]. You are invited to come participate in this forum!
The specific *types* of participation we are looking for include, but are not limited to:
1. I have this great idea for an exhibit....
2. I saw this great exhibit....
3. I know someone who you should talk to...
4. Have you thought about *this* kind of network...
We are past the concept development stage, which culminated in a report which is available for viewing at http://www.jeffkennedyassociates.com or downloading at http://homepage.mac.com/etsiegel [archive page - link removed]. We are now looking for great ideas for exhibits.
In order to encourage participation, we are offering the following incentives:
1) Any ideas that are brought forward in the forum will be freely shared. Ideally, this will be "open source" exhibition brainstorming, and will disseminate whatever good ideas emerge.
2) If that isn't enough, we will give a 10gb iPod to the best contributor. The winner will be decided by the exhibition development team. We do reserve the right not to award this prize if the whole enterprise falls flat (if there are fewer than 20 participants and 100 posts, as a general target).
3) To the top 20 contributors we will give a cool NY Hall of Science Connections T-Shirt, same criteria as number 2.
The forum is open for business, so come over, register and let us know what you think!
Any questions or offline comments can be directed to esiegel@nyscience.org
News from the regions: Regional Development Agencies
Nine Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) were set up by Government in England in April 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.
The RDAs presented their first 3-year Regional Economic Strategies (RES) to Government in October 1999. They are currently in the process of launching updated RESs.
Of particular interest to science discovery centres is the RDA's FRESA: Framework for Regional Employment and Skills Action. A FRESA identifies strategic objectives which have both informed and built on RES priorities. FRESA objectives might include access to basic skills teaching, lifelong learning, FE and HE. The actions to achieve those objectives demand funding (from the RDA) and delivery partners: skills councils, schools, colleges and (why not?) science discovery centres, working together to deliver a range of projects on the school-to-career escalator.
The different RDAs all have different priorities and strategies…
Eureka!, Halifax, in partnership with the Yorkshire Museums Council, has a grant from 'Yorkshire Forward' (RDA for Yorkshire and Humber). The £3.8 million funding has been allocated to enhance the regional focus specifically in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) and build the capacity of museums, libraries and other informal learning organisations to deliver outcomes which support these areas. This forms part of Yorkshire Forward's £47m skills funding package.
The International Centre for Life, Newcastle, has explored opportunities with One NorthEast (RDA for the North East). Director, Linda Conlon, says: "Our RDA is very supportive. They offer us money for anything that directly reinforces their strategy. One lesson to learn is that getting money out of newly established organisations is relatively easy. 'Get in at the beginning' is a message well worth conveying to Ecsite members."
[archived page links removed]
What RDA programmes are YOU involved in?
Please let me know so we can share the information Ecsite-network-wide: enquiries@ecsite-uk.net
Diary Dates: 22-23 May, Science Communication Conference; 1-3 July, Summer Science Exhibition
Science Communication Conference
22 and 23 May 2003, Savoy Place (Institution of Electrical Engineers), jointly
organised by the BA and the Royal Society
Who should attend? All those with an interest in science communication, including those working in research institutions, universities, the media, media liaison, science centres and science museums, science educators, funding organisations and research charities.
The programme and online booking are available at www.the-ba.net/scicomm
Summer Science Exhibition
1-3 July 2003, Royal Society, London
This annual exhibition offers a fantastic opportunity to discover the best of the UK's science and technology research. And what makes this event unique is the chance visitors get to meet and talk to the researchers themselves who are behind the work on show. Admission is free and open to all, without tickets. Opening times are: Tuesday 1 July, 11am - 4.30pm Wednesday 2 July, 10am - 4.30pm Thursday 3 July, 10am - 4.30pm.
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