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| ECSITE | |
|---|---|
| Name | ECSITE |
| Type | Network/NGO |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Brussels |
| Region served | Europe |
| Members | Science centres, museums, universities, research institutes |
ECSITE ECSITE is a European network linking science museums, science centres, museums, research institutes, and universitys to promote public engagement with science and technology, innovation and society. Founded in 1989 and based in Brussels, it acts as a hub for collaboration between institutions such as the Natural History Museum, London, the Technische Universität Berlin, the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, and the European Commission–affiliated projects. The network connects practitioners from organizations like the Smithsonian Institution, the Vatican Museums, the Max Planck Society, and the Wellcome Trust to share exhibitions, research, and policy influence across Europe.
ECSITE emerged in the late 1980s amid efforts by institutions such as the British Museum, the Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle (France), the Deutsches Museum, and the Science Museum (London) to coordinate cross-border exhibition exchange and professional development. Early collaborations involved partners like the European Research Council, the Council of Europe, the UNESCO science communication initiatives, and national bodies including Minister of Culture (France) offices. Through the 1990s and 2000s ECSITE worked alongside projects funded by the European Commission such as the Horizon 2020 precursor programs, and formed ties with foundations like the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and the European Cultural Foundation. Milestones included partnerships with institutions like the Technopolis (Belgium), the Heureka (Finland), and international networks such as the Association of Science-Technology Centers.
ECSITE's mission centers on fostering public dialogue about climate change, digital transformation, biotechnology, public health, and sustainability through participatory exhibitions, research networks, and policy engagement. Activities link museums and centres such as the Natural History Museum, Vienna, the Museo Galileo, the Science Gallery Dublin, and the Botanical Garden (Kew) with funders including the Wellcome Trust and the European Research Council. The network supports practitioner exchanges with institutions like the Polar Museum, the Royal Society, the Academia Europaea, and university departments at University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, ETH Zurich, Karolinska Institutet, and Sorbonne University.
Membership comprises diverse institutions including science centres, children's museums, university museums, and research organisations such as CNRS, CSIC, Fraunhofer Society, and CERN. Governance structures mirror nonprofit networks like the Royal Society fellowship councils and the International Council of Museums committees, with boards elected by member representatives from entities such as the National Museum of Scotland, Experimentarium (Denmark), and the Heilbronn University. The secretariat in Brussels liaises with policy actors including the European Parliament and agencies like the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation.
ECSITE convenes an annual conference that attracts delegates from institutions like the Museum of Sciences (Barcelona), the Science Museum Group, the Nordiska Museet, MUSE (Trento), and the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. Past conference themes have intersected with agendas at events such as the European Researchers' Night, the World Science Festival, and the Edinburgh International Science Festival. The conference features collaborations with theaters like the National Theatre (UK), media partners such as the BBC, and publishers like Springer Nature and Elsevier for sessions on exhibition design, research communication, and audience development.
ECSITE coordinates pan-European projects funded through mechanisms like Horizon Europe, the Creative Europe programme, and grants from entities such as the Erasmus+ programme and the European Cultural Foundation. Collaborative projects have involved partners including V&A Dundee, Atomium (Brussels), La Villette, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Finnish Museum of Natural History, and research hubs like Imperial College London and TU Delft. Programs address topics overlapping with initiatives by Greenpeace, WWF, European Environment Agency, and health campaigns aligned with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
ECSITE and its members have been associated with awards and recognitions comparable to Museum of the Year (Art Fund Prize), European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture, and science communication prizes from the Royal Society and Royal Institution. Member exhibitions and projects have won accolades at festivals such as the Cannes Lions, the Prix Ars Electronica, and national awards administered by ministries akin to the German Federal Cultural Foundation and the French Ministry of Culture. Individual practitioners have been recognized by organizations including the European Research Council and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
Funding streams combine membership fees, earned income from exhibitions and ticketing at venues like the Science Centre NEMO, grants from the European Commission and Horizon Europe, philanthropic support from trusts such as the Wellcome Trust, Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, and corporate sponsorship from companies like Siemens, Philips, Google, and Microsoft. Strategic partnerships involve collaborations with higher-education institutions including University College London, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, University of Amsterdam, and cultural networks like the European Museum Forum and the International Council of Museums.
Category:European cultural organisations