Ecsite Annual Conference 2008 May 28, 2008

Ecsite and the host organisation of the Annual Conference 2008, the Hungarian Natural History Museum, have the honour of welcoming you to the most important European meeting of science centre and museum professionals.

For its biggest event, Ecsite moves east, to the vibrant and beautiful city of Budapest. In 2008, all conference sessions and the bustling Business Bistro will take place within the natural history museum itself, allowing proceedings to unfold at the heart of one of Ecsite’s historic member institutions.

As in every year, the emphasis will be on participation and current hot topics, with the usual wealth of presentations, workshops and lively debates with fellow professionals from around Europe and across the world. We are restructuring this year’s rich array of content, in order to ensure that participants do not miss out on the must-see sessions for their particular field.

At the 2008 Annual Conference, you are invited to discover both sides of the Danube, as five major institutions come together for this event.

The venue of the conference will be the Hungarian Natural History Museum. The Nocturne will be kindly hosted by the Milenaris Center Kht. and the Palace of Miracles, again, a former Heavy Industry site that was lately converted into a science centre, exhibition complex and cultural centre.
The consortium also includes the Museum of Technology and Museum of Transport that will host the farewell party.

Programme »

Pre-Conference Programme »

The conference focus

Science centres and museums’ commitment for a sustainable society

Alongside the sessions that will cover all the various aspects of our work, this year’s conference will have a central focus on our institutions’ commitment for a sustainable society.

Science centres and museums can be important actors in a world that needs to be sustainable. We want to discuss our role, our actions, and our impact in the coming decades.

• How do we contribute to the creation of a knowledge based society for all?


• How can the universal language of science be used to promote dialogue and mutual understanding?


• What is our influence on the economic prosperity of our countries and of Europe?


• What do we do towards the protection of the environment in our planet?

The importance of taking action is undisputed. From the creation of exhibitions and education programmes that address sustainability, to a commitment of our institutions in operating and management, our impact is significant. Science centres and museums can create links between scientists and society, can create a platform for discussions between citizens, non-governmental organisations, enterprises and governments, and can promote inclusion and equality among the public. At this conference we aim to discuss our contribution in this global issue

The Main Themes

Science and technology

How do we select the science topics we will tackle in our institutions? What tools do we implement to engage our visitors in discussions about them? From large-scale exhibitions to interactive projects run by explainers, both inside our institutions and through outreach activities, much has already been done and we want to find out all about it.

Science in society

What is our role in the communities we belong to? How do we measure the impact of our activities? What is the science in society policy on a European level? Do we reflect it? What are the new theories on science communication? Are there limits on the means we use for learning?

Management and Finance

What staff structure do we choose in our institutions, and how does it implement? How do we keep our staff satisfied and motivated? How can we be financially successful while keeping to our missions and our goals? How do we balance partnerships with the private sector with funding from the public authorities? What makes a successful fundraising campaign?

Conference information provided by konferenciakalauz.hu

Official Website: http://www.ecsite-conference.net/