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Registration is now OPEN; hurry and register before 30 April, to benefit from Early Bird Rates for both individuals and groups. The Call for Session Proposals is also open; check out the Session Proposal Guidelines and make sure you submit an exciting proposal for an innovative session before 31 March.
NAMES Biennial Conference is a unique occasion to explore the latest best practices of science communication in North Africa and Middle East, as well as the rest of the world. The NAMES region is where exciting and innovative science communication endeavors are currently being developed; it is the place for new opportunities and fresh perspectives.
NAMES 2018 brings the Network’s biennial conference and general assembly meeting back to the heart of the NAMES region, Egypt; to the cradle of knowledge, the Library of Alexandria. Bejeweling the landmark building and institution, the Planetarium Science Center, one of the very first science centers in the region, is hosting NAMES 2018 conference, 24-26 October, and NAMES 6th General Assembly Meeting, 27 October 2018.
360°: See It All! (الصورة كاملة) is the theme of NAMES 2018. It is a call to look at work in science centers and museums from all angles, functions, and contexts, to be contemporary to where the world is now while we create, connect, and commit.
NAMES 2018 subthemes are:
- Content – Creating Shared Experiences
- Connections – Creating links
- Commitment – Creating your sustainability
For the first time, NAMES conference will be preceded by Pre-Conference Workshops, the details and registration of which will be disclosed within the next few weeks.
The Exhibition Fair Plan, Booth Rental Fees, Benefits, and Guidelines are also due to be made available shortly, so stay tuned!
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Success Stories – Call for Contribution
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Within NAMES objective of promoting best practices, supporting effective communication, and encouraging excellence and innovation in informal science learning, NAMES is developing a platform for online resources. As a starting point, we launch the Call for Success Stories, to be published through ALMANARA e-newsletter and on NAMES official website.
A success story is an informative account or a case study of an inspiring action that made a positive change in people’s lives. Success stories help member organizations spread the word about their achievements, as well as share experiences that others can learn from.
Check the guidelines and share your success story with us.
Inquiry-Based Science Education: 10 Good Practices
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina Planetarium Science Center (PSC) produced the IBSE: 10 Good Practices booklet, with the generous support of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). The Booklet introduces ten IBSE practices implemented worldwide, adopting various approaches. It aims at introducing these practices to newcomers, strengthening already existing projects, and convincing policy makers of the IBSE benefits. We thank the PSC for sharing this valuable resource, and hope these success stories will encourage and inspire our members of all categories to share their valuable stories.
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Letter from
NAMES Executive Director
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Farewell 2017, a great year for NAMES and the science communication world. Welcome 2018, insha’Allah an even better year for NAMES, our members, partners, and the whole world; Happy New Year!
2017 ended with a major science communication event; the Science Centers World Summit (SCWS 2017), which was hosted by the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) in Tokyo, Japan, 15-17 November. Together with sister regional networks—ASPAC, ASTC, Ecsite, Red-POP, SAASTEC—NAMES endorsed the Tokyo Protocol, the purposes of which are to:
-Recognize and utilize science centers and science museums as platforms to help various relevant stakeholders build a better understanding of the challenges of realizing the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) in increasingly diverse communities; and
-Bring to the attention of decision makers worldwide the accomplishments of the science center and science museum field with regard to the SDGs consistent with the relevant action points of the Mechelen Declaration.
On 10 November, together with our sister regional networks, NAMES celebrated the 2nd International Science Centers and Science Museums Day (ISCSMD 2017). In support of the SDGs, NAMES actively participated in the ISCSMD festivities through activities across the region conducted by eight of its members presented on the ISCSMD official website world map. For more information about NAMES participation in the ISCSMD 2017, check out the report prepared by NAMES official representative, Al Nayzak Organization.
Prior to that, together with our European counterpart, Ecsite, NAMES celebrated the huge success of the 3rd edition of the Euro-Mediterranean and Middle East Summer School for Science Communication (EMME 2017), hosted by Citta della Scienza in Naples, Italy, 10-15 September, encompassing 30 participants from 11 countries.
EMME 2017 also marked the celebration of the 1st Mijbil Almutawa Award Winner, whose award was a full grant to participate in the Summer School. The Mijbil Almutawa Award Program (MAAP) celebrates youth in the science communication field in the NAMES region, by encouraging and supporting them to partake in significant network activities and events.
In 2018, in addition to our biennial conference, NAMES 2018, to which we are looking forward with much enthusiasm, NAMES is embarking on a new phase, where more focus will be on developing shared resources and capacity building opportunities for NAMES Members.
Stay tuned to learn more about our new services and collaborative projects!
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SONBOLA Group for Education & Development (SONBOLA) is a start-up grassroots apolitical NGO that started piloting its educational programs Spring in 2014 in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, acquiring its official registration in October 2015 in Lebanon.
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SciTech is affiliated to King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals; the basic aim of the Center is to educate the community in the principles of science and its applications. It is comprised of seven main exhibit halls, which include more than 350 cientific exhibits. There is also a scientific dome, showcasing a state of the art IMAX theater, as well as an astronomic observatory.
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Dr. Linda Abraham-Silver is Eugene McDermott Chief Executive Officer at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science (Dallas,Texas). Dr. Silver previously led science and technology promotion initiatives for the Government of Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC) as associate director. Prior to her work in the Gulf, Dr. Silver spent 8 years as the President and CEO of the Great Lakes Science Center (Cleveland, Ohio) and 13 years with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County as Vice President of Education & Guest Relations.
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The SCWS 2017 was hosted by Miraikan - the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo, Japan, representing Asia and Pacific region. 828 participants from 98 countries from various fields gathered under the theme of “Connecting the World for a Sustainable Future”. They discussed initiatives towards a sustainable future, long-term strategies on global issues, and the new roles for science centers in society.
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On November 10, 2017, science centers and museums around the world celebrated science in conjunction with the UN’s World Science Day for Peace and Development. These community resources work to engage everyone in science and technology learning—and empower individuals to take action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with special attention to support gender equity in the sciences.
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The Erice International School of Science Journalism announces 30 fellowships for applicants from European countries and 5 fellowships for applicants from non-European countries to attend the 2018 edition, 24-29 June, focused on “What’s Next: Challenges and Opportunities for Tomorrow’s Fundamental Physics”.
Fellowships are aimed at science journalists, science communicators, and students in science journalism and communication; fellowships cover:
- The fee of the School, which includes accommodation and meals;
- Transfer from Palermo or Trapani airport to Erice (24 June) and from Erice (29 June);
- Travel expenses to/from Erice (arrival on 24 June and departure on 29 June) for participants from EU countries;
- Transfer from Palermo or Trapani airport to/from Erice (arrival on 24 June and departure on 29 June) for participants from non-EU countries.
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