SCOPE
Science Connecting People
Building local ecosystems for STEM as a Driver of Development
26 to 28 September 2024, Zagreb – Croatia
Science Connecting People is the international conference on science popularization and science communication. The conference is a part of the Thematic Systemic Network in the area “STEM as a driver of development” coordinated by Fablab in cooperation with Technical Museum Nikola Tesla, Europe House Zagreb, CARNET (Croatian Academic and Research Network) and several NGOs.
The Thematic Systemic Network is supported by the National Foundation for Civil Society Development.
The conference goal is to bring together various actors who can share experiences and contribute ideas on how to build and enhance local ecosystems and help civil society to play an important role as a steam engine in societal development, learn from one another and create valuable networks.
The conference will present thought-provoking keynote speakers, professionals directly involved with the public, people who shape the programming in science centres and museums, professors and researchers, representatives of local societies, coordinators of ground-breaking EU projects and managers of science engagement institutions.
The following topics will be proposed:
- People – science communicators and popularizers (who are they and how to become one)
- Tools – tools, installations and mobiles for science communication activities
- Activities/Events – trends, future, authentic information, motivation and the metrics of creativity and enterprise
- Spaces – exterior and interior design of science centres, presentations of science museums, distributed network of science centres
Conference schedule:
26 September 2024 – Europe House Zagreb
27 September 2024 – Technical Museum Nikola Tesla Zagreb
28 September 2024 – Maker Expo Zagreb – visit to event
Official conference language is English
PROGRAMME
Day 1 – Thursday, 26 September 2024
Location: Europe House Zagreb
13:30 – 14:00 Registration and welcome drink/coffee
14:00 – 15:00 (1) Keynote speech – Korado Korlević
15:15 – 15:30 Welcome and introduction by Roberto Vdović and Krešimir Čanić
15:30 – 16:00 Opening ceremony – Government and City representatives
16:00 – 16:15 Presentation of conference programme (Anja Batel)
16:15 – 16:30 Coffee Break
16:30 – 17:15 (2) Panel discussion – STEM vs STEAM vs STREAM (Krešimir Čanić)
17:15 – 18:00 (3) Panel discussion – Building of ecosystem (Roberto Vdović)
18:30 Conference dinner and networking
Day 2 – Friday, 27 September 2024
Location: Technical Museum Nikola Tesla
8:00 – 9:00 Registration and coffee
9:00 – 9:45 (4) Science communicators and popularizers – who are they and how to become one – (Krešimir Čanić) – KD hall – People
10:10 – 10:45 (5) Design Dilemmas – (Roberto Vdović) – KD hall – Spaces
11:00 – 11:45 (6) Local communities and science centres (Roberto Vdović) – KD hall – Spaces
11:00 – 11:45 (7) Presentation of science centres and science museums (Anja Batel) – Tesla hall – People
12:00 – 12:45 (8) Investing in science popularizers (Krešimir Čanić) – Tesla hall – Spaces
12:45 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 14:45 (9) Keynote speech – Greg Gage – KD & Tesla hall
14:45 – 15:20 (10) STEM show – Homo Sapiens (Krešimir Čanić) – KD hall
15:30 – 16:15 (11) Tools for schools (ŠK / Krešimir Čanić) – KD hall – Tools
15:30 – 16:15 (12) Various formats, events and activities, available spaces (Anja Batel) – Tesla hall – Activities / Events
16:15 – 17:00 (13) Cooperation of NGOs and preschool institutions (Lucija Bašić & Roko Lukenda) – KD hall – People
16:15 – 17:00 (14) Presentation of events, science picnics etc. (Anja Batel) – Tesla hall – Activities / Events
17:00 – 18:00 (15) Final thoughts – conclusion (Roberto Vdović) – Tesla hall
19:00 Conference Dinner, networking
Day 3 – Saturday, 28 September 2024
Location: Maker Expo Zagreb
10:00 – 15:00 Visit to Maker Expo in Zagreb
Day 1 – Thursday, 26 September 2024
Location: Europe House Zagreb
1. Keynote Speech
Korado Korlević is founder of Science and Education Centre Višnjan. He and his team are always working on new ways to interest young minds in science and technology, and is also well known as a great speaker and motivator. He is giving speeches all over the country with a wide range of audiences. With his speeches he always tries to move people, make them react, even angry, letting them know that the only way to make a change is putting in the work and “getting your hands dirty”.
2. Panel discussion – STEM vs STEAM vs STREAM – Krešimir Čanić
Presentation on the evolution of the acronym STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) with and A added to stand for arts which denotes programs that aim to teach students innovation, to think critically, and to use engineering or technology in imaginative designs or creative approaches to real-world problems while building on students’ mathematics and science base. Also, what does R in STREAM represent and why is it important?
3. Panel discussion – Building of ecosystems – Roberto Vdović
Discussion on bringing together various actors who can share experiences and contribute ideas on how to build and enhance local ecosystems and help civil society to play an important role as a steam engine in societal development.
Day 2 – Friday, 27 September 2024
Location: Technical Museum Nikola Tesla
4. Science communicators and popularizers – Krešimir Čanić
Building ecosystem starts with building a community of motivated people. Who are they? How to recognize them? What roles can they play? What skills and competences are necessary for a science popularizer? What is the status of the science popularizers certificates? What is the role of the real sector in this issue?
Kristina Duvnjak, Petar Čuček
5. Design Dilemmas – Roberto Vdović
Design dilemmas: Highlighting the importance of having a holistic approach to designing public spaces. Showcasing, with examples, the range of spaces Copernicus Science Centre has worked with whilst giving examples of challenges faced by designers and the ways used to overcome them. Zooming in on a few examples. Challenges of emerging science centres in Croatia.
Bojan Baletić (dean of Faculty of architecture), Mateusz Kot (Copernicus Science Centre), Helena Matuša (Science Edutainment Centre Zagorje), Ana Kralj (Science Centre in Čakovec)
6. Local communities and science centres – Roberto Vdović
How can a local community approach the issue of building its own science centre? How can a local (historical) building be transformed into a science centre? What is going on in Croatia in this area? Enhancing collaboration with local science centres through networking and partnerships. Can a local cultural institution become an independent science center? Can an annual meeting sustain a partnership? What tools should be used to create a network of partners? Our approach is rooted in the philosophy of being a partner, not a mentor, ensuring our collaborators achieve independence and create a mutually supportive network.
Mateusz Kot, Helena Matuša, Ana Kralj, Petar Čuček
7. Presentation of science centres and science museums – Anja Batel
Firsthand experiences on the creation and work of science centres and science museums. Deep dive into the challenges, opportunities and success stories.
Mateusz Kot (Copernicus Science Centre), Marijo Zrna (Technical Museum Nikola Tesla), Helena Matuša (Science Edutainment Centre Zagorje), Ana Kralj (Science Centre in Čakovec), Miha Kos (Hiša eksperimentov)
8. Investing in science popularizers – Krešimir Čanić
Overview on everything that has been done in this area in the recent years in Croatia and what is yet to come.
9. Keynote speech
Gregory Gage, an award-winning American neuroscientist, entrepreneur, author and science communicator, will deliver an exciting keynote speech. Greg is focused on spreading the knowledge about the human brain, and most importantly on the development of affordable technology for the education of primary school and high school students. He is one of the prominent speakers at the TED conferences and he has several TED talks online, each supporting his mission of spreading knowledge about neuroscience.
10. STEM Show – Homo Sapiens
Experienced science popularizer Krešimir Čanić will present a STEM show entitled “Homo Sapiens”.
11. Tools for schools
Be inspired by hands-on activities and demonstrations (Makey Makey, How do our brains work?).
Krešimir Čanić, Wojtek Janos
12. Various formats, events and activities, available spaces – Anja Batel
An important part of building a community is involving people and using tools in different activities. The accent in this session is on spaces. How can exciting activities be presented in totally different spaces? How can spaces contribute to activities?
Margareta Miloš, Anita Čorak, Jelena Červenjak Kmoniček, Carlo Fonda, Jeffrey Roe, TBC (SP)
13. Cooperation of NGOs and preschool institutions
Dive into science popularization in nursery schools.
Lucija Bašić, Roko Lukenda, Edita Rogulj
14. Presentation of events – Anja Batel
An exciting presentation of innovative activities. Look into workshops, festivals, maker faires, science picnics etc., taking into consideration different target groups, audiences etc.
Carlo Fonda, Jeffrey Roe, Sokol Shurdhi, Mateusz Kot, Tin Valetic, TMNT
15. Final thoughts – conclusions & next steps – Roberto Vdović
Day 3 – Saturday, 28 September 2024
Visit to Maker Expo Zagreb
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