July 2005
Contents
NESTA Futurelab call for ideas
Free magazine on innovation in education
At-Bristol's new CEO is announced
NEWS FROM THE ECSITE-UK OFFICE 1
Ecsite-uk is working with Girlguiding UK
To celebrate the success of the 'Go For It! with sciZmic Science' project, Ecsite-uk has developed a new set of science resources for Girlguiding UK members (supported by Planet Science, the Institute of Physics/Einstein Year and the Royal Society of Chemistry). The new 'Go For It! Experiment' materials are featured in the July edition of Guiding magazine, which is received by over 70,000 members. They can also be downloaded for free from the Guides section of the Girlguiding UK website: [archived link - may not work] www.girlguiding.org.uk
Ecsite-uk are working with Girlguiding UK to develop support materials to accompany 'Go For It! Experiment', which will be available during August on the sciZmic website ([archived link - may not work] www.sciZmic.net). There will also be an area that lists special events for Girlguiding UK members. If your science centre/museum is running science-based activities for members of Girlguiding UK (Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Guiders etc.) and would like them to be listed in this area please contact Louise Webb at louise@scizmic.net. We are also keen to hear about any other activities or events for other youth organisations.
NEWS FROM THE ECSITE-UK OFFICE 2
Seeking new Committee Members
Ecsite-uk's statutes specify a Committee composed of the Chair, the chief executive of the BA, and between 8 and 10 members - 8 elected, and up to two co-opted.
At the AGM on 8 September in Dublin (see diary dates below) we have five positions to fill by election, and up to two more by co-option.
To express your interest in standing for election to the Ecsite-uk Committee, please contact enquiries@ecsite-uk.net All enquiries for information also very welcome!
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR 1
Robot keen to boldly go
S.I.R. (THE SCIENCE INFORMATION ROBOT) has been created by Creative Change as a resource for clients to present information in an unusual way.
The robot was designed and built as part of The BBC's Tomorrow's World Road Show. His original programme featured Sir Paul Nurse, the Nobel Laureate. He featured as an extra-terrestrial traveller who has come to earth to find out why we are behaving in such an irrational and irresponsible fashion and living such unhealthy lives.
He starred as part of a new and original pop group, CR7, who performed live to over 250,000 teenagers in 2003, talking about how important a healthy lifestyle is to young people especially.
He has spent three months at the Eden Project in Cornwall in his own mini-biodome talking about the vital relationship between plants and medicine.
He is currently keen to boldly go on a new mission in new and uncharted territories and would like to hear from anyone with such an enterprise in mind.
He can be contacted through his earth agent: Patrick John Padget, Creative Change
T +44 208 400 2490
E patrick.p@creative-change.co.uk
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR 2
NESTA Futurelab call for ideas
NESTA Futurelab ideas incubator seeks exciting ideas about new ways of learning with technology. Our aim is to turn your ideas into working prototypes that will prove (or disprove) their concept.
The current call for ideas is open until 12 August.
Ideas can come from any source as long as they meet the criteria described at
[archived link - may not work] www.nestafuturelab.org/your_ideas/
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR 3
Big Idea's exhibits for sale
The closure of the Big Idea in Irvine, Scotland was a sad thing to happen.
It is generally acknowledged that its remote location, 20 miles from the new Glasgow Science Centre, was not ideal, but the best that could happen now would be for the building contents and the exhibits, many of which are of very good quality, to find a new home.
Everything remains in near-new condition. It would be possible to switch on the power and open the doors to the public tomorrow.
Clearly, it is best if a single buyer, or maybe just a couple of buyers, can be found for everything. However, everything has to go, so offers and expressions of interest are invited for all the items shown.
The interactive exhibits and all other contents of the Big Idea building, are currently available for sale.
Everything can be examined in great detail on the following website: [archived link - may not work] www.interactives-sale.com.
The contact email address for enquiries is shown on the website.
RESOURCE 1
Free magazine on innovation in education
NESTA Futurelab has recently produced a new magazine that is free to the education, ICT/technology and creative communities called Vision.
With a mix of lengthy articles and short features on open source software, gaming in education, innovative technologies, education for 14-19 year olds and mobile technology in education, it is likely to be of interest to Ecsite members and, more importantly, to visiting teachers and parents.
Vision has a shelf life of approx 6 months since the next edition will be produced in January.
Check it online at [archived link - may not work] www.nestafuturelab.org/viewpoint
If you'd like hard copies to mail out or distribute at events, contact
Lacia Ashman, Communications Manager, NESTA Futurelab
T 0117 915 8222
E lacia.ashman@nestafuturelab.org
RESOURCE 2
Self-help guide to advocacy
At the end of 2004 ASTC asked Colin Johnson (founding Chair of Ecsite-uk) to write a piece for their website about the 'Educational Impact of Science Centers.' The purpose was to provide ammunition for those who act as advocates for the science centre cause. It's an essay with a number of references and a self-help appendix on advocacy.
For those with an interest in the topic, this is now one click away:
[archived link - may not work] www.astc.org/resource/education/johnson_scicenters.htm
Please bear in mind that
1. This is aimed primarily at ASTC members, many of whom are in the USA or
Canada.
2. Nothing stands still: Colin regards this as work in progress, and all comments, corrections etc will be very welcome, to colinh.johnson@ntlworld.com
NEWS FROM THE REGIONS
At-Bristol's new CEO is announced
Dr. Goéry Delacôte, renowned French scientist and science educator has been recruited as the new Chief Executive for At-Bristol, and takes up the baton on 1 September.
For the past 15 years Goéry Delacôte has been the Executive Director of the Exploratorium in San Francisco, the internationally celebrated museum of science, art and human perception science museum. He was formerly Professor of Physics at the University of Paris, Chairman of the Board of the Palais de la découverte (Paris), and Director of the Science and Technology Information Division of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS).
John Durant left At-Bristol end June to take up a new position as a Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Director of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
"Valete, John; welcome back to Europe, Goéry."
DIARY DATES
British Interactive Group annual event
21-22 July, Newcastle
This year's BIG Event is hosted by the International Centre for Life in Newcastle: [archived link - may not work] www.lifesciencecentre.org.uk
Experience the Event's unique mix of thought-provoking conference sessions, entertaining live science shows and off-the-wall events, including the famous Best Demo competition. There are also great networking opportunities throughout the programme, including a conference party on the evening of the 21st.
Programme, registration form, and accommodation suggestions are at [archived link - may not work] www.big.uk.com/events
Ecsite-uk AGM
8 September, Dublin
At the time and place of the BA Festival of Science, Ecsite-uk holds its AGM, this year generously hosted by the National Museum of Ireland - Natural History ([archived link - may not work] www.museum.ie).
Our meeting in Dublin will combine essential AGM business (including election of a new Chair, and new Committee Members) with a discussion of opportunities for sector-wide collaboration in advocacy and through collaborative projects: as our sector expands and evolves, how can Ecsite and Ecsite-uk best provide value to member science centres and museums?
Thursday 8 September, 10am thru lunch.
Invitations will be mailed to all Ecsite-uk members
BA Festival of Science details at [archived link - may not work]
Invitation to the first meeting for Education/Programming Managers
26-27 September, Liverpool
After a number of requests from Ecsite-uk members, we are pleased to announce the first specialist meeting for education/programming managers to be held 26-27 September 2005 (2pm start with a lunchtime finish the next day), at the World Museum Liverpool.
The event is designed to provide a forum to discuss issues relating to education and public programming at science centres and museums, and hopefully lead to the development of partnership projects. Participants themselves will set the detailed agenda.
Although the meeting is free to Ecsite-uk members, places are limited to one per member institution and must be pre-booked. The deadline for bookings is 19 September.
For further information, and to book a place for your institution, please contact Dr Louise Webb, Ecsite-uk project manager, louise@scizmic.net
Hands-on Europe
9-12 November, Vienna
The European Association of Children's Museums 'Hands on Europe' presents its biennial international conference, 'Serving Different Audiences', 9th to12th November, Vienna, hosted by ZOOM Children's Museum.
Online registration is up and running at
www.kindermuseum.at/handson [archived page - link removed]
Register before 31st August 2005 and receive a discount!
For more details please go to www.kindermuseum.at/handson [archived page - link removed] or [archived link - may not work] www.hands-on-europe.net
Ecsite-uk
Dr Melanie Quin, Executive Director
Ecsite-uk: the Network of Science Centres and Museums
Contact us with news or feedback >
Want to know more about Ecsite-uk? Find out about Ecsite-uk >
Ecsite-uk members include science and discovery centres, museums and companies providing services to the sector. Join Ecsite-uk >