News for the UK’s Science & Discovery Centres
SUMMER 2009
Welcome to our summer newsletter
A warm welcome to our summer newsletter. I'm delighted to report that our science and discovery centres and museums across the country have been telling us of increased visitor numbers since the spring. Most centres attribute this to more people holidaying in the UK who want to enjoy time with family and friends doing something interesting and different. The rainy weather has also of course helped in boosting numbers.
Over the past few months we have had a large number of opportunities we wanted to share with our members. ASDC have therefore been targeting emails directly to individuals and ‘Network Reps’ in member institutions and regularly publishing details of the latest events and funding opportunities on our website.
This newsletter is to invite you to our AGM, to tell you of some fabulous (free) staff training opportunities and to give an update on the Government report.
Warm wishes
Dr Penny Fidler,
Director of The Association for Science and Discovery Centres
WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT AND PARLIAMENT
Government publishes report on science centres
On July 22 2009, Government published the report into the impact of Science and Discovery Centres in England. The report is on our website and the link was emailed to CEOs of all UK member organisations on the day of publication.
The results of the report were of course disappointing for our sector, and the ASDC chairman and director are meeting with members of the Science and Society team at BIS at the start of September to discuss where we go from here.
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 website as part of their promotion of great science days out. This has been heavily marketed by their PR team over the holidays. To find your centre, go to the Science: So What? days out web site.
In addition, a large number of centres were sent promotional materials (science notepads etc) to give to visitors.
ASDC also worked with the campaign’s PR company on a ‘child goes free’ offer within a national newspaper. Many members were involved with this, which although didn’t come to fruition for this summer holiday, leaves us in a better position to explore this option again in the future.
For the full campaign, click here sciencesowhat.direct.gov.uk
ASDC AGM
Annual meeting (AGM) in Guildford - 10 September 2009
We would like to invite staff from all member organisations to our AGM in Guildford on Thursday September 10th 2009. This event is held as part of the British Science Festival.
At the annual meeting we will review the year’s events, discuss our new name and legal status, update you on the latest partnerships with Government including their research, ask our members to elect new trustees and explore ways we can work more effectively together.
Join us for lunch
We invite all members to join us for a complimentary buffet lunch after the AGM to meet other directors and staff from a variety of UK Science and Discovery Centres. All the details, including accommodation and an invitation to join board members at 'an evening with Bill Bryson' are on our website: sciencecentres.org.uk/agm
Booking is essential; simply email Sam Yates info@sciencecentres.org.uk
Vote for new ASDC Trustees
At this AGM, and as we transition from the Ecsite-uk committee to the ASDC board, we will ask members to elect the entire Board of Trustees for ASDC. The candidates standing for election (the majority of who were previously elected onto the committee) along with their manifestos can be found at sciencecentres.org.uk/agm/candidates.html. This list will be finalised on Friday 4 September.
Please do join us at the AGM to vote for the candidates you would most like to represent your interests nationally. Each institution may cast one vote.
Emailed Votes
If no one from your organisation can attend the AGM, emailed votes will be accepted. This must be sent from your director, or from a staff member supported by an email from your director. Email Sam Yates at info@sciencecentres.org.uk for the ballot form.
The deadline for email votes is noon 7 September 2009. Please note, there is just one vote per organisation, so only vote by email if no one is attending. If you wish to nominate a proxy to vote at the AGM on your behalf, please contact us for details.
Network of Science & Discovery Centre Representatives
The network of representatives is now set up, with every UK member organisation nominating someone fairly senior to act on behalf of their organisation. Over the past months this has proved an excellent way of ensuring PR and funding opportunities, projects and other novel proposals reach the right person in each organisation. These included opportunities from robots to staff training and from national surveys on dialogue to PR opportunities.
In the future we aim to bring this network together more fully to enhance communications and collaborations among UK Science and Discovery Centres.
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 & 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 is in Bristol and the others will take place in Glasgow, Newcastle and Birmingham.
This call is to invite participants for the Bristol Academy on 23-24 September 2009, with Part 2 of the course on 25 November 2009.
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, starting with the Bristol Academy.
Click here for how to book: www.dialogueacademy.org.uk
EVENTS, FUNDING AND JOBS
Diary dates
Events, meetings and conferences are now on our website. These include:
- National Conference of Visitor Attractions
- Seminar on Funding for Touring Exhibitions
- International Committee of Museums of Science and Technology, the conference
Funding Opportunities
Funding opportunities are now on our website and include:
- Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7): Science in society
- Wellcome Trust Society Awards
Jobs
As always, jobs in the sector are continually updated at sciencecentres.org.uk/jobs
As a service to our members you are welcome to upload your own vacancies and advertise for free.
Travelling Exhibition: Free to members
And Finally…
There are still two slots 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, click
sciencecentres.org.uk/travelling/inside-dna
The Association for Science and Discovery Centres
Contact us with news or feedback>
Want to know more about The Association for Science and Discovery Centres?Find out about The Association for Science and Discovery Centres>
The Association for Science and Discovery Centres members include science and discovery centres, museums and companies providing services to the sector.Join The Association for Science and Discovery Centres>