June 2005
Contents
Amendments to the constitution; See you in Vantaa!
DIARY DATES: Ecsite Annual Conference; BIG Event; BA Festival of Science
NEWS FROM THE ECSITE-UK OFFICE
Amendments to the constitution
Two amendments must be made to the Ecsite-uk constitution:
- 'small' science and discovery centres must be defined
- for voting purposes, a quorum must be defined.
We will invite the AGM's vote on these (Dublin, 8 September). This eNewsletter gives members the formally required three months' notice of the proposed amendments. They are (as proposed by Gillian Pearson, Ecsite-uk Committee Member) as follows:
Small centres have a mission to provide interactive learning experiences. Their visitor numbers normally do not exceed 50k pa.
and:
The AGM is valid if a minimum of fifteen (15) percent of all Members are present.
News flash: If you're at the Ecsite Annual Conference, do come and socialise with other UK members of Ecsite in the bar at Sokos Hotel Vantaa on Friday 10th - from 18.30, en route to the party at Heureka!
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR
Draw in visitors
Join the 6th Big Draw, and expand your audience and their understanding!
The Campaign for Drawing raises awareness of drawing's power to make us see, think, invent and act. Specifically, the month-long Big Draw (1-31 October 2005) shows how drawing can be used to interpret collections and exhibitions, and engage new and existing audiences with our built and natural environment.
Drawing is economical, inclusive, sustainable, and at our fingertips. And anyone (gallery, museum, science, environmental or community centre) can arrange a Big Draw event. For detailed advice visit [archived link - may not work] www.drawingpower.org.uk
You may want to coincide with the Big Draw Day on 15 October, Family Learning Week (8-16 October), or half term.
Register your event for free - online at [archived link - may not work] www.thebigdraw.org.uk before 12 August - and you will receive a CD with practical advice and publicity materials for organising and promoting successful events.
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR 2
VAQAS website launched
The Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Service (VAQAS) was launched nationally in 2001 and to date over 600 attractions have been accredited, including the London Eye, Hampton Court Palace, Kew Gardens, and the National Railway Museum.
VAQAS has been developed to provide tools which can be used by attraction operators to enhance quality and spread best practice within the sector - it's both a marketing mechanism and a quality development tool.
Visit [archived link - may not work] www.vaqas.org.uk/ to see what VAQAS can offer you.
RESOURCE
Physics to Go
We're six months into Einstein Year, aka International Year of Physics. Now's the time to take physics to your visitors and into your community with the Physics to Go pack, available to download from the Einstein Year site. It contains everything you need to amuse and entertain audiences with physics-based activities, including an array of physics tricks, guaranteed to astound the most sceptical 14-year-old.
[archived - link removed]
NEWS FROM THE REGIONS
W5 does it again
W5 - whowhatwherewhenwhy - received the Northern Ireland Tourist Board Visitor Attraction of the Year 2004/5 Award on the 26th April. This is the second time in three years that W5 have won this award. They also received highly commended certificates for Best Marketing Strategy, People Development and Best Event.
Congratulations!
[archived link - may not work] www.w5online.co.uk
DIARY DATES
Ecsite annual conference
10-12 June, Helsinki-Vantaa
From 2005 onwards, the Annual Conference will be not in November but in June, making northern venues far more attractive to delegates. Our first early-Summer host is Heureka, the Finnish science centre: [archived link - may not work] www.heureka.fi/portal/englanti/
For details see [archived link - may not work] www.ecsite.net
It's a packed programme, and here's one more (informal) event: readers of this eNewsletter are invited to gather, gossip and catch-up on Friday 10th from 18.30 in the bar of Sokos Hotel Vantaa. Then it's a 5minute walk across the bridge to the party at Heureka that evening.
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.
Provisional programme, registration form, and accommodation suggestions are at [archived link - may not work] www.big.uk.com/events
BA Festival of Science
3-10 September, Dublin
From the science of Irishness to solving crime with maths, there's something for everyone at the BA Festival of Science. Expect 400 of the best scientists and science communicators from home and abroad who will reveal the latest developments in research to a general audience.
In addition to events at Trinity College Dublin, there'll be an exhilarating programme of events in the city and surrounding area.
To search the programme and book tickets, visit
[archived link - may not work] britishscienceassociation.org
Ecsite-uk
Dr Melanie Quin, Executive Director
Ecsite-uk: the Network of Science Centres and Museums
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