In the UK and Europe existing science centres and museums are currently being renewed and redesigned and new science exhibitions are being developed. Managers and designers devise and plan novel kinds of exhibit and exhibition to create new ways to communicate science and to engage the public in science. Relatively little is known about the themes and issues that drive the planning and design of future science exhibitions. We also know relatively little about the practical and intellectual expertise that informs the design and development of novel science exhibitions.

In this context, we are currently undertaking the first phase of a research project funded by the ESRC ‘Science in Society Programme’. The project involves extensive research of visitors’ conduct and interaction in science centres and museums and ethnographic research of exhibit and exhibition design. The project is particularly concerned with the ways in which visitors engage and participate with novel exhibits and exhibitions. It also considers the practices and resources that exhibition managers and designers bring to bear when planning and developing new and novel exhibits and exhibitions.

As part of the project we thought it would be interesting and fruitful to arrange a number of colloquia in which curators, designers and museum managers meet to discuss the design and evaluation of exhibits and exhibitions. For this first colloquium we would like to invite managers, designers and other experts involved in the design, development and evaluation of science exhibits and exhibitions who will play a key role in the planning and design of new science exhibitions, both in the UK and Europe.

The workshop will be held on the 9 June 2004 at King’s College London.

Christian Heath, Dirk vom Lehn & James Bradburne

Contact address:

Work, Interaction & Technology Research Group

The Management Centre

King’s College London

Franklin-Wilkins Building

London SE1 9NN

Tel. +44 (0)20 78484314

{Christian.heath, dirk.vom_lehn}@kcl.ac.uk