ESA at Ecsite 2015
In 2012, ESA and Ecsite combined strengths, networks and capabilities to allow European space programmes and achievements to reach the largest European audience possible.
“Food for curious minds” is the theme of Ecsite’s annual conference 2015 in Trento, Italy, from 9 to 13 June.
Ecsite comprises a European network of more than 400 science centres and museums in 50 countries. Its annual conference is the leading meeting place for science communicators from around Europe to exchange ideas.
Workshop: Space for Life
“We continue our exciting partnership with Ecsite allowing us to share European space achievements with our fellow citizens in all our Member States, thanks to the strong leverage provided by European science centres and museums,” commented Fernando Doblas, Head of ESA’s Communication Department.
As agreed at the last Space Group annual meeting, representatives from museums and science centres will work together on three themes until the end of 2016.
- Climate change: Monitoring the atmosphere and oceans from Space,
- The International Space Station: Living and working in Space,
- Is there life out there?
This workshop also offers museums and science centres the opportunity to meet and talk to representatives from space industries and national space agencies.
Key speakers include representatives of ESA, the Italian Space Agency and Telespazio.
For two days, experts in the fields of Earth Observation, Human Spaceflight and Astronomy, Planetary Science and Exobiology will exchange ideas with museum representatives to discuss projects that could be developed and shared, with the support of ESA, within the Ecsite network.
The Ecsite Space Group facilitates cooperation and exchange among science centres, museums, research institutions, universities, national space agencies and industries all over Europe, to design collaborative projects to better share European space activities with the general public.
Currently, this group comprises more than 70 museums and is led by Marc Moutin, Director of Exhibitions at Cité de l’Espace, France; Ana Noronha, Executive Director of Ciência Viva in Portugal and Maria Menendez, ESA’s Head of Corporate Exhibitions and Events in France.
The Conference
On 11 June, the Space Group is holding a session on “Using space technologies to protect future food supply”.
This will include information on how European satellites provide data and images that allow us see changes in Earth’s land, oceans, atmosphere and ice. These are crucial tools in raising public awareness on the use of natural resources and the importance of protecting our planet.
“Earth Observation Satellites represent an essential and strategic tool to support multiple key societal challenges, for example, food security, climate change and management of natural resources and of the environment” says Simonetta Cheli, Head of Coordination Office of the European Space Agency (ESA).
ESA at the Business Bistro
ESA will also be present at the traditional Ecsite Business Bistro, a place for professionals and institutions to present new science communication tools.
This year, the ESA stand will present the results of the “Hook up with Rosetta” campaign of 2014.
Science centres and museums will be invited to join, share and develop new projects around the topic “Space for life”.
For further information, please contact:
Maria Menendez
ESA Head of Corporate Exhibitions and Events Office, Communication Department
Tel: +33 1 53 69 7167
Email: maria.menendez@esa.int
Fiorella Coliolo
Space Group Coordinator, consultant for ESA
Mob: +33 6 50 03 0885
Email: fcoliolo@exoworld.net
