The largest of its kind in Europe, the Ecsite conference is open to everyone interested in public engagement with science. Join this very special event and its unique balance of large crowds and friendly family atmosphere, broad thematic scope and focussed state of the art sessions, international perspectives and European touch, spotless organisation and room for surprises, peer collaboration and friendly criticism. Get a solid basis if you’re entering the field and be challenged to advanced strategic thinking if it’s future perspectives you’re after.

The “Colours of cooperation” theme not only resonates with Ecsite’s network activities: we are sure that collaborations, co-creations and partnerships are at heart of your daily professional activities as well. You and your team will get inspiration, motivation, tips and tricks, do’s and don’ts. You’ll discover cutting-edge tools, gain new knowledge, and walk away with a refreshed look on your own practice. Use this conference as a springboard for personal development, for unexpected ideas, for future collaborations.

The conference is being co-hosted by three organisations: the FRida & freD Children’s Museum, the Universalmuseum Joanneum and the association ScienceCentre-Network.

Save the dates​

• 24 February 2016: online programme is released + online registration opens
• 23 March: last day of the early bird rate
• 7-8 June 2016: pre-conference workshops
• 9-11 June 2016: main conference

More about the theme

Cooperation is the act of working together for a common purpose or benefit. As science communicators, cooperation is at the heart of our work. We cooperate within our teams, with other science engagement organisations, with stakeholders from research, economy, policy and arts – and, of course, with our visitors when we create meaning together.

Colours can be light or dark, glaring or muted, they can clash or resonate and be mixed into endless new combinations. Our community is diverse, representing many colours and shades of science engagement. But do we already use the full spectrum of our own and others’ expertise or are there blind spots? Should we be presenting a bright picture of science or do we allow mixed or even muddy colours? Are our audiences monochromatic or colourful?

This conference invites you to look at the diversity and nuances of cooperation and at the colouring they show when seen through various filters. With whom do we cooperate, how do we choose these partners, why do we cooperate and what do we invest and gain?

Cooperation requires respectful relationships, negotiating expectations and roles, agreeing on compromises. It is often a time-consuming and laborious effort, yet it yields benefits that an individual actor could not have achieved on its own and may lead to unexpected results and learnings.

Let´s use this conference to cooperatively work on challenges and common goals while enriching our own individual palette.