News for the UK’s Science & Discovery Centres
November 2009

Welcome to our November newsletter

A warm welcome to our November newsletter. We’re delighted to hear that our centres have been very busy over the October half-term.

Across the UK, science and discovery centres have been telling us of increased visitor numbers since the spring. We suspect this is partly due to the success of our centres in attracting ‘staycationers’ who are keen to do something interesting locally with friends and family.

Likewise, UK visitor attractions as a whole saw a 3.4% increase in visitor numbers between May and August 2009 as compared to the same period in 2008, as reported by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA). Our challenge is how to keep these numbers high for next year.

This newsletter is packed full of news, funding opportunities, training and events for the sector so we urge you to read on, and forward it to others.

Warm wishes
Dr Penny Fidler, The Association for Science and Discovery Centres

CONTENTS

WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT AND PARLIAMENT

Government report on science centres

As many of you know, Government published its report on English science centres this summer.

Most members of the science and discovery centres and museums sector have expressed disappointment with the report, particularly in its methodology. The report does however recommend the need to create a consistent set of indicators to measure impact and challenges both the BIS-funded organisations and ASDC to do this.

It is widely recognised within science and discovery centres and museums worldwide that there is a need for some level of consistency when measuring impact and Dr Penny Fidler and other ASDC colleagues have given a number of talks on this subject. Over the coming five months, ASDC will begin exploring with our member organisations the best way to address this issue. This will of course also involve consideration of the key question of what we mean by impact. News of this project will appear on our web site and future newsletters. If you are keen to input into this project we would love to hear from you, simply email info@sciencecentres.org.uk

Government Science & Society Strategy: BIS expert Panels

Last year, DIUS (now BIS) launched a consultation on Science and Society in the UK to canvas views on how we should develop our skills base, improve science communications and build public confidence in science. ASDC response to Government (pdf)

As a result of the consultation, the following five Expert panels were set up:

ASDC is on the ‘Science for all’ panel represented by ASDC’s chairman Dr Nick Winterbotham.

An introduction can be found here with links to the other 5 expert panels:
BIS Science and society

Please visit the web site to explore what they are looking at. As major players in the Science and Society agenda, we urge all member organisations to input. We will also be in touch soon with all ASDC network reps and CEOs to ask for your specific input into these panels.

Promoting centres through the Government science campaign

ASDC have been working closely with the Government science PR campaign Science: So What? – So Everything to promote the UK science and discovery centres. All our member centres have been listed on the science campaign web site promoting great science days out Science So What - Days Out In Your Area

In addition, a large number of centres were sent promotional materials (science notepads etc) to give to visitors.

For the full campaign, click here sciencesowhat.direct.gov.uk

NEW ASDC TRUSTEES

We are delighted to announce that at our AGM in Guildford in September, the following people were elected as the new trustees of ASDC. We would like to congratulate them and welcome new members to the ASDC board.

Board members appointed:

Network of Science & Discovery Centre Representatives

Every UK centre has now nominated a representative who is responsible sharing national and strategic information with colleagues in their centres, as well as networking with colleagues nationwide.

This infrastructure has worked particularly well over the past months as we have shared various opportunities and we will be sending each Rep a more formal ‘UK Science Centre Reps’ pack before Christmas.

DIALOGUE TRAINING

Dialogue Academies: Funded staff training

ASDC and At-Bristol are delighted to announce that funding has been secured to pay for 150 staff involved in science engagement across the UK to come together at four dialogue academies over the coming year.

The costs of travel, accommodation, food and training will all be covered for all participants securing a place at the academy.

These academies, funded by The Wellcome Trust, have been developed by five UK science and discovery centres in a project led by At-Bristol. The content is based on a national survey of dialogue activities which ASDC undertook earlier this year. The first academy took place with great success in Bristol last month and the others will take place in Glasgow, Newcastle and Birmingham.

This call is to invite participants for the Thinktank academy on 11-12 January 2010, with Part 2 of the course on 26 March 2010, and the Glasgow academy on 27-28 January 2010, with Part 2 of the course on 30 March 2010.

The academies are targeted at all visitor-facing staff who organise or deliver dialogue events, or would like to start involving visitors in dialogue.

We notice that staff have often not visited many other UK science and discovery centres and we urge staff to seize this unusual opportunity. Travel will be paid from any part of the UK to any academy. More than one member of staff can apply.

Information about booking

LATEST NEWS

Exhibits needing a good home

As a result of the refurbishment at Science Oxford, they have some Hands-On exhibits for sale. More >

Scottish Government Celebrates Science

The Scottish Government’s ‘Do something creative. Do science’ marketing campaign, is due for another run over the coming months. More >

Concern that Rarely Cover policy may have negative impact on school visits

New rules from September 1, 2009. There have been a number of questions raised about the new situation in schools where teachers should ‘rarely cover’ the absences of other teachers. Some schools are saying this makes school trips very difficult. More >

Lord Drayson says REF will give points for public outreach

Lord Drayson, the Science Minister, said the Government was “changing the way” it judged academic performance because it took the agenda of public engagement “very seriously”. More >

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Funding opportunities are regularly updated on our funding page

Ingenious: Grants Scheme for Engineers

Closing date for applications: 19 November 2009

Ingenious is a grants scheme that funds thought-provoking activities for engineers to share their expertise and enthusiasm for engineering with public audiences of all ages.

If you have an imaginative idea that will help engineers communicate what they do, why they do it, and how it impacts on our society – the Ingenious team want to hear from you.

Potential applicants are welcome to contact the Academy to discuss their proposal idea.

To find out more and apply for a grant visit www.raeng.org.uk/ingenious, which also contains case studies and mini-films of previous projects. They fund projects from £3,000 to £30,000.

Wellcome Trust Society Awards

Society Awards are for ambitious and creative projects that engage people with developments in biomedical science on a regional or national scale.

Their aim is to encourage people of all ages and walks of life to learn about new developments and have an opportunity to consider, question and debate the implications and issues arising from such work.

Projects should aim to achieve at least one of the following:

The next open call deadline is likely to be in spring 2010. Please check this web site for further updates; Wellcome Trust Funding

Physiological Society Outreach Grants

The Society supports the outreach activities of its members to promote education and training in physiology up to £500 per calendar year.

This grant is for scientists who might wish to apply for grants to do an activity with your centre.

Apply for an Outreach Grant
or for further information email education@physoc.org.

 

Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7): Science in society

Deadlines depend on programme and theme: from 14 August 2009 to April 2010 with most in January 2010 - check web site for details.

The 2010 work programme and new calls for funding under the EU’s Framework Programme 7 ‘Science in Society’ have just been published. There are opportunities for a range of participants including academics, schools, science centres, science festivals, businesses and NGOs.

Funding is now available for pan-European collaborative projects that deal with issues of ethics in science, strengthening the role of women in science, science education and science communication. €50.2m of funding is available for 2010, and there are opportunities for a wide range of participants: academics, schools and HE institutions, science centres, science festivals, cities, parliamentary offices, small/medium Enterprise and NGOs.

Details and links are available at the FP7UK SiS web site: this site also has links to more sources of information on the SiS programme. Potential applicants can contact the SiS National Contact Point (NCP) on adele.campbell@esrc.ac.uk

EVENTS - Diary dates

Events, meetings and conferences are regularly updated on our events page.

Scitech Europe 2009: innovation across Europe

12th November 2009, Brussels

PSCA International are pleased to announce SciTech Europe 2009 will be taking place on the 12th November 2009 at The Square in Brussels.

SciTech Europe is a one day networking conference aimed at the Science and Technology Sector from around the world and promises to bring together leading industry stakeholders, academic experts and key policy makers to outline a collaborative approach to European science and technology frameworks.

For further information and to register for the conference please visit the Scitech Europe web site.

International Year of Biodiversity 2010

Public Launch on 25th November 2009

The United Nations General Assembly has declared that 2010 will be the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB), and will help raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity all over the world.

The ‘UK Biodiversity of Life Partnership’ will be launched publicly on 25 November 2009 at an event at the Natural History Museum. As major players in this realm we urge all our members to become partners and join in the celebrations. Visit www.biodiversityislife.net for further details.

Group Travel Business Forum 2009
Understanding the groups market: facts and figures to guide your marketing

Thursday 26th November, afternoon aboard the RS Hispaniola in London

This year will see three pieces of research published that cover the groups market, aiming to help you attract more group business. After the seminar, there will be an informal networking drinks reception.

More information.

Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair

Manchester Central from 11-13 March 2010

Following the outstanding success of the inaugural Big Bang Young Scientists & Engineers Fair in London in 2009, organisers are now planning a bigger event in Manchester in March 2010.

www.thebigbangfair.co.uk

Jobs

As always, jobs in science and discovery centres, science festivals and science museums are continually updated on our jobs page

This service is currently free to our members. You are welcome to upload your own vacancies.

Travelling Exhibition: Free to members

And Finally...

There are still opportunities left to host the excellent and ground-breaking travelling exhibition 'Inside DNA'.

The hire cost for this exhibition has been paid on your behalf, and we provide a full marketing pack, learning pack and training for your staff. The exhibition and tour has been generously funded by The Wellcome Trust. To find out more, visit:
sciencecentres.org.uk/travelling/inside-dna

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