News for the UK’s Science & Discovery Centres
OCTOBER 2008

Welcome to our October newsletter

A warm welcome to you all. October’s newsletter is full of new funding prospects, free marketing, and a host of networking opportunities to help your businesses as we enter these more challenging economic times. It also gives you the latest on the Government’s Science and Society Strategy Consultation and their independent research into Science & Discovery Centres. We report on the advances made over the past month in sharing best practice and setting up national groups for Visitor Services Managers and Small Centres, and finally we warmly welcome three new members, Dr Robin Hoyle, Dr Anne Finnie and Vicky Brightman onto the Ecsite-uk board.

Best wishes
Dr Penny Fidler, Director of Ecsite-uk

Government Research into Science & Discovery Centres

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has appointed the consultancy Frontier Economics to undertake the independent Government research into the impact of Science & Discovery Centres. Frontier Economics are an international consultancy and have previously worked with, amongst others, Tate Modern (Tate success story).

This research has the potential to be pivotal for the UK Science & Discovery Centres. It will be the first major independent national assessment of the range, quality and value for money of the inspirational science learning opportunities we provide. It will also be the first major independent national study into our audience profile and our sources of funding.

A survey will be sent from Frontier to each member centre across the UK in the next few days. We urge you to set aside time to complete and return this by the deadline of Friday October 31st.

This National Survey will be followed by individual case studies of approximately five centres in early November. These centres will be confirmed by Frontier in the coming weeks.

Government’s Science & Society Strategy consultation

One day left: Deadline Friday 17th October 2008

All CEO’s in member centres will have received an email from me this week containing the Ecsite-uk draft response to the Government’s Science & Society Strategy Consultation. The Science & Society team at the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), who lead this consultation, are dedicated to producing a Science & Society Strategy that is collaborative and inclusive in its nature, reflecting the views, opinion and expertise of all those involved in the UK science engagement field. Given that Ecsite-uk represent’s over 50 individual centres (as well as outreach-only members), each one dedicated to Science & Society activities, our members have naturally been very much involved in this consultation. For example, The Centre for Life joined forces with DIUS to consult Newcastle people on what they want from a strategy and a number of centres distributed DIUS ‘consultation postcards’ to visitors. In addition Ecsite-uk has promoted the consultation to all members and circulated the consultation booklets at our AGM and other meetings.

As the only national network of publically accessible, permanent venues with the sole mission of engaging and inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds with science, we will continue to offer our support to the DIUS Science & Society team as they begin shaping the new strategy.

I urge every UK Science & Discovery Centres to make an individual response. Guidance for smaller venues is on our website.

Working in Partnership

Astronomy Opportunities with your Community

The Dark Sky Discovery steering group is seeking Science & Discovery Centre partners who would like to get involved with Astronomy projects involving the wider community.

The Dark Sky Discovery project is a UK-wide expansion of the highly successful Dark Sky Scotland project www.darkskyscotland.org.uk. Next year, during International Year of Astronomy, Science & Discovery Centres will be among numerous regional and national organisations coming together to form astronomy project groups in Wales, Northern Ireland and the nine regions of England. Science & Discovery Centres are invited to become part of these regional or national projects groups.

The programme will include strong community participation. It may therefore be of particular interest to science centres and museums that currently have staff positions and/or specific initiatives dedicated to wider community involvement.

For further details contact:
Mario Di Maggio, Dark Sky Discovery Steering Group
Mario.dimaggio@thinktank.ac
T 0121-202 2222

Declaration on Biodiversity

On October 9th Ecsite signed the Countdown 2010 Declaration (www.countdown2010.net) in Barcelona, where the IUCN World Conservation Congress is taking place. By signing the Declaration, Ecsite commits to actively seeking to reduce its own impact on biodiversity and communicate related issues in its activities. Members who wish to sign the Countdown 2010 Declaration should contact the Countdown 2010 team.

Ecsite (Europe) Activities on Nature

Following the success of the THE (Thematic Human Interface and Explainers) Group, the Ecsite board has launched the T.Group “Nature” (Thematic Group on Nature) on May 28th 2008.

To join the T-Nature Group
To find out more, write to Aliki Giannakopoulou at: agiannakopoulou@ecsite.net

News from Ecsite-UK

Three new committee members

We are delighted to welcome three new members to the Ecsite-uk Committee following the elections at the AGM in Liverpool last month. Vicky Brightman and Dr Anne Finnie were elected at the AGM and Dr Robin Hoyle was unanimously co-opted in the subsequent Committee meeting. In addition, Peter Trevitt and Heather Mayfield were re-elected.

We would like to gratefully thank Professor Stuart Munro (OBE) from Our Dynamic Earth who steps down after serving the maximum of six years, and also Kelvin Boot who left the National Marine Aquarium earlier this year to set up his own consultancy.

The Ecsite-uk Committee is now as follows:

Board Member Organisation Position
Dr Nick Winterbotham Thinktank Chair
Peter Trevitt Techniquest Treasurer
Vicky Brightman The Horniman Museum  
Dr Goéry Delacôte At-Bristol  
Dr Anne Finnie The National Trust  
Sean Gaffaney MOSI: Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester  
Judith Harvey W5, Belfast  
Dr Robin Hoyle Glasgow Science Centre  
Sir Roland Jackson The BA  
Heather Mayfield Science Museum  
Leigh-Anne Stradeski Eureka! The Museum for Children  
Philip Winfield INTECH  

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

STFC Science in Society Funding

STFC funding is available to engage the public in areas relating to astronomy, planetary and solar science, lasers and nuclear and particle physics. STFC also encourage partnership projects and those that relate to current science and technology projects (e.g. the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, International Year of Astronomy 2009).

Large Awards
Closing date: 14 November 2008
Funds from £15,000 to £100,000 available

Small Awards
Closing date: 17 October 2008
Funds from £500 to £15,000 available

Science Centre Awards
Closing date: 17 October 2008
Funds up to £20,000 available

There are also funds for scientists who wish to engage the public for National Science and Engineering Week (eg: in your venues)

For full details visit:
www.scitech.ac.uk/PandS/Fund/All/Funds.aspx

Funding for the development of local schools activities

On behalf of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, STEMNET is pleased to announce that grant funding is available to develop activities to enthuse young people of school age about the application of engineering in general, and Sports Technology in particular.

Organisations who wish to bid for funding to develop such activities should contact STEMNET via Helen.delahoy@stemnet.org.uk and request the application form and information pack.

Applications need to be endorsed by the appropriate IET Schools Liaison Officer (SLO) for the area and a list of SLOs and their contact details will be sent with the application forms. There is a maximum grant of £5,000 per project.

Closing date for applications is 14th November 2008.

www.stemnet.org.uk

Royal Society Partnership Grants

Have you got a great idea for a science project for kids, but need some funding to make it happen?

The Royal Society Partnership Grants scheme gives funding of up to £3,000 for investigative projects in which a practising scientist or engineer works alongside school children aged 5 to 18.

The next closing date is November 7 2008. Details on how to apply, and lots of ideas to start you off are available on our website www.royalsociety.org/partnership.

For more information, an informal chat, or help with your application, please contact our Education Officer, Charlotte Thorley at charlotte.thorley@royalsociety.org or 020 7451 2561.

Royal Academy of Engineering Public Engagement Awards

These Awards offer funding for projects that enhance the public engagement skills of engineers and provide opportunities to engage in debate with the public (both young people and adults) on engineering and its impact on society:

Joint applications from both engineers and organisations that specialise in dialogue, debate, communication and engagement with the public, are welcomed.

To apply please complete the Activities and Development Application Form (RTF, 2MB) , which includes the guidelines. Closing date: 5th December 2008.

Marketing Opportunities

Darwin200

Many of you are planning exciting and innovative events for Darwin200. You are all eligible to promote your events for free, by listing them on the Darwin200 website

[archived page - link removed]

Please also ensure all members of your Learning Team know about other similar events nationwide by viewing www.darwin200.org

The dates ...

1 July 2008 150 years since Darwin and Wallace first announced their theory that rocked science
12 February 2009 Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday
24 November 2009 Publication of ‘On the Origin of Species’

EXTRA – Advertise your exhibitions here

The European online database for travelling science exhibitions www.extrascience.eu
This new service offered by Ecsite allows you to search for a travelling science exhibition on a specific topic and to promote your own exhibitions. Until the end of this year promoting your exhibitions, exhibits and specimens on EXTRA is free.

For any questions regarding EXTRA contact the administrator at: extra.admin@naturalsciences.be

BBC Focus Magazine

Science & Discovery Centres have been invited to list their events and exhibitions in BBC Focus Magazine. Details of your events and exhibitions, including a telephone number and website for publication, should be sent to Timandra Harkness. mail@timandraharkness.com

Please include information on what people can do, what they’ll discover and why your activity is important. Press releases also welcome. Focus magazine will select a range of activities targeted at families and adults happening across the UK. Please note there is an 8 week lead time.

www.bbcfocusmagazine.com

DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR

ffSupporting Dialogue

The Sciencewise-Expert Resource Centre (ERC) funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), helps policy makers commission and use public dialogue to inform policy decisions in emerging areas of science and technology. It consists of a comprehensive online resource of information, advice and guidance together with a wide range of support services aimed at policy makers and all the different stakeholders involved in science and technology policy making, including the public. The Sciencewise-ERC also provides co-funding to Government departments and agencies to develop and commission public dialogue activities.

Sign up to the Sciencewise-ERC Newsletter

VITAL STATISTICS

How important is Family Learning?

Why is Family Learning important?
A report written by Charles Desforges (for DfES, 2003) showed that learning at home was the biggest influence on achievement of children aged 3 to 7. Home learning in this context includes reading, library visits, playing with letters, numbers and shapes, painting and drawing, learning through play, letters of the alphabet, nursery rhymes and singing.
www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RR433.pdf

Why should families do things together?
Families teach us the most important things in life and by doing activities together, families can help children get more from school. Family fun isn't just for parents and children - dads, mums, stepparents, carers, aunts, uncles and grandparents can all join in. And the more family members you have joining in, the bigger the difference you can make.
www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk/cfl/fl/overview/why.asp

DIARY DATES

Futurelab Conference

23 October 2008, Warwick University Conference Park

‘Challenging Learner Voice: are we really empowering learners?’
This one-day conference offers the opportunity to challenge existing notions and interpretations of what learner voice should actually mean in practice.

For more information and a booking form, visit www.futurelab.org.uk/events/listing/learner_voice

Manchester Science Festival

25 October - 2 November, Manchester

Visit this year’s Manchester Science Festival, and talk to a futurologist, debate the impacts of ageing, test your intelligence, grow a virtual garden, create a cartoon, take a free kick, release a balloon, talk comic sci-fi heroes, use BSL signs for science, do chemistry with cabbage, follow the ‘science stars’, and join the www.bigscienceread.org!

For more information visit: www.manchestersciencefestival.com

Messages for Change: Communicate 08

27-28 October 2008, Hewlett Packard Labs, Bristol

Communicate is a conference for senior environmental communicators attracting a cross-sector of representatives from environmental and conservation organisations, business and CSR, policy makers, media, and national and local government bodies and natural history filmmakers. A few places are left for last minute registrations.

View the Programme
Register for 1 or 2 days

Email at director@bnhc.org.uk or contact 0117 370 0973 for more information.

Ecsite Directors’ Forum 2008

21 - 22 November 2008, Valencia, Spain

Join Directors from centres across Europe at this year’s Director’s Meeting in Valencia. The theme this year is “THE POWER OF PEOPLE” and the hosts are the magnificent Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe - Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias.

Any organisation is only as good as the people who work in it, and science centres are no different. In a recent survey conducted by Ecsite, the subject that kept cropping up time and again among science centre directors was human resources – how to recruit the best people, how to motivate them and how to navigate sensitively through the process of change that affects every centre at some stage in its development.

The Directors Forum in Valencia on the 21 - 22 November will focus on crucial aspects of effective human resources planning. There will be an opportunity to share experiences and learn from colleagues in an informal environment.

To register for this unique Forum, please contact:
Aliki Giannakopoulou at Ecsite (Europe) on agiannakopoulou@ecsite.net
The Forum is limited to Ecsite full members only.

Ecsite Annual Conference 2009

4 – 6 June 2009, Milan, Italy

Join the Ecsite-uk team, UK members and Science and Discovery Centre staff from across Europe for the Annual Ecsite conference in Milan next June. Visit the website for further details: www.ecsite-conference.net. The call for session proposals closed on October 15, 2008.

Ecsite-uk

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