What's happening at #ASDC23?

The ASDC 2023 conference is fast approaching! Here’s a roundup of what’s happening as we bring delegates together for this annual event, this year focusing on The Power in Purpose: Exploring the who, what, where, when and why of science engagement.

We’re pleased to share our keynote speakers and a summary of the topics they will be talking about as part of this year’s conference:

Opening keynote – Towards a fairer future for science engagement – people, place and purpose

Ben Bleasdale, Director of Discovery Decade, Campaign for Science and Engineering and Clio Hislop, Head of Policy, Partnerships & Impact, British Science Association, who will be exploring the current relationship between science and the public; taking a look at new ways of working for a fairer future.

Dinner keynote – From Antarctica to Space

Meganne Christian, UK Space Agency, Reserve Astronaut/Exploration Commercialisation who will be sharing her journey ‘From Antarctica to Space’ at the conference dinner and award ceremony.

Day two opening keynote – Leading with equity beyond the “Inclusion Illusion”

Eugene Gilkes, CEO, Include Me Consulting who will be delving deeper into the how, when, where and why of DE&I to help us navigate its increasingly politicised agenda.

Final keynote – Big trends and changing landscapes: preparing now for the future of STEM engagement

Alison Boyles, Programme Manager, Education & Public Engagement Science Foundation Ireland who will be looking at moving beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries and asking what are the new engagement opportunities for Science and Discovery Centres.

Please note ticket sales close on Friday 15th September

Full conference programme

View the programme online (or in the Sched app) ASDC National Conference: The Power in Purpose: Schedule

Pre-conference events

This year we have two pre-conference events for maximum social and networking opportunities! If you’re travelling to the conference by ferry from Liverpool we’ve organised a pre-conference event with a guided tour of the new Eureka! Science+Discovery centre situated around the corner from the Stenaline ferry terminal. Come and meet up with delegates travelling to Belfast by ferry and get the ASDC Conference started early! This event is open to all conference delegates and included in the main conference ticket. Join the team from 5-7pm on Tuesday 26th September. Please email us if you would like to attend as this will be a limited capacity event. The second event is on Wednesday 27th September for anyone who is arriving in Belfast the night before the conference starts and would like to meet up at a bar from 8-10pm, venue tbc.

NEW Collaborative art project

Come and unlock your inner creative during the conference working with street artist Luke Palmer on this unique collaborative arts project. The aim of the project is to create a 2x1 metre painting depicting many of Belfast's famous landmarks - with each delegate colouring in and contributing a small segment that once combined together will complete the image. This wellbeing activity will be running throughout the conference to give delegates a chance for some time out and an opportunity to try something different.

Volunteer award 2023

The announcement of the winner of The Marsh Volunteer Award with ASDC. The winner will be awarded their prize of £500 during the conference dinner on Thursday evening.

There’s still time to buy tickets and use the discount codes for sustainable travel and local accommodation – please share with your colleagues and scicomm networks.

Learning from the buzz and excitement from the conference last year, we know everyone’s looking forward to being together again so there are lots of opportunities for networking and catching up with colleagues from around the UK. Share your photos on socials using #ASDC23 so we can celebrate post-conference with lots of photos in our newsletter!