Toulouse to host ECSITE

ECSITE, the European Network of Science Centres and Museums, is to meet in Toulouse, France, at the Cité de l’Espace and the Pierre Baudis Congress Centre from 29 May to 2 June. The theme will be “Espace et Temps Illimités” (Space and Time, Unlimited).

Created 20 years ago, the ECSITE network unites more than 400 institutions from 50 countries. Its members, whether they are museums, centres, events, zoos, aquariums or even universities, thus share their know-how in the field of popularising science. With its mission of communicating the space culture to as many of the population as possible, the Cité de l’Espace in Toulouse is obviously part of ECSITE.

The main theme of this network’s 2012 Congress supported by the European Commission is “Espace et Temps Illimités” (Space and Time, Unlimited).
Toulouse’s space adventure park and its city, a municipality overflowing with knowledge, stand out as special destinations!
Programme Director for the Cité de l’Espace, Marc Moutin explains that this subject of unlimited space and time is “a scientific theme that is not only dear to us, but is also an allusion to communication areas that are increasing with the Internet networks and physical areas which are scientific cultural centres to be visited”.
This ECSITE theme is to be covered and developed from 31 May to 2 June at the Cité de l’Espace and at the Pierre Baudis Congress Centre. The professional congress will therefore see more than 1,000 science popularisation specialists staying in Toulouse for a full 70 session programme of conferences, round table discussions, workshops and debates.



Worthy of note is the presence of Carlo Ratti, Italian engineer and architect, Director of the SENSEable Laboratory at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, where the computer for the Apollo manned lunar missions was designed) as well as Martin Rees, Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics at Cambridge University.

With the Pierre Baudis Congress Centre’s “Business Bistro”, participants at the congress will be able to find out all about the latest offers from science museum and centre suppliers: scenographers, audiovisual and interactivity specialists, etc.



The official ECSITE website

The general public is not to be left out with the “Citoyen des Sciences” (Citizen Science) Village co-ordinated by CIRASTI. Both big and small alike will be able to take a look at the many events and exhibitions, on the esplanade at the Pierre Baudis Congress Centre, from Thursday 31 May to Sunday 3 June.
Citizen Science on the Internet

On 1 June, the Cité de l’Espace will be hosting the “Congrès Scientifique des Enfants” (Children’s Science Congress) in partnership with the Toulouse Town Council, Toulouse University and Toulouse Science Academy. 140 pupils from 6 primary schools aged 8-10 are therefore to take part in a scientific congress designed especially for them.



And finally, from 1 to 3 June, the Cité de l’Espace will stage the Défi Solaire (Solar Challenge) where miniature vehicles will compete against one another in an endurance race using just one form of power, that which comes from the Sun!



The official 2012 ECSITE partners are listed below.



Published on 24 May 2012
Photo credits : Cité de l'espace/ECSITE/Planète Sciences