NAMES News

Committed to the notion that science museums are spaces for everyone, but concerned that visitor engagement did not reflect community demographics, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, Texas, USA, launched an initiative to address disparity. Aligned with institutional goals to engage historically marginalized communities and supported by an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant, a collaboration between Evaluation, Volunteer Services, and museum leadership was forged.

NAMES Secretariat Office invites you to read its Biennial Report for 2016-2018, available in both English and Arabic, covering the network’s development and milestones over the past couple of years.

In 2017, Al Nayzak Organization for Supportive Education and Scientific Innovation, Palestine—NAMES Full Member—was invited by the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) to partake in the “Design Squad Global (DSG)” program within the framework of collaboration between ASTC and NAMES. As a result, twenty young Palestinian school students benefited from a unique chance to enjoy a wonderful learning experience in design thinking and engineering, in collaboration with peers from across the globe.

NAMES is pleased to announce the Call for Applications for the Mijbil Almutawa Award 2018; this year's winner will have the chance to participate in the NAMES 2018 conference and benefit from one of the specialized pre-conference workshops.

The science communication field is growing fast in the NAMES region and it is critical for us to learn from best practices around the world. In this light, NAMES 2018 is preceded by TWO Pre-conference Workshops that focus on capacity building in specific areas critical to the growth of science centers and museums. One workshop focuses on exhibits development and the other is about streamlining your content and strategy to attract visitors and stay relevant.

One significant objective of NAMES network is promoting best practices, supporting effective communication, and encouraging excellence and innovation in informal science learning. Within this context, NAMES is developing a platform for shared 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.

NAMES 2018 Conference Program Committee (NCPC) is pleased to announce the Call for Session Proposals under the conference’s theme; 360°: See It All! (الصورة كاملة). 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.

During the Opening of EMME 2017, the first winner of the Mijbil Award, Mohamed Elsonbaty Ramadan—Science Communication Development Officer, the American University in Cairo, Egypt—whose award was a full grant to participate in the Summer School, was presented to the attendees and awarded a certificate and a trophy commemorating his win.

SAVE the DATE! NAMES 6th Biennial Conference and General Assembly Meeting (GAM), NAMES 2018, will take place 24-26 October 2018, back at the Library of Alexandria, Egypt, where it will be hosted by Founding Member, the Planetarium Science Center (PSC), in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of NAMES 1st conference and GAM, NAMES 2008, which was also organized at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, home of NAMES Secretariat Office.

The 3rd edition of the Euro-Mediterranean and Middle East Summer School for Science Communication, EMME 2017, was hosted by Citta della Scienza in Naples, Italy, 10 15 September 2017. It was a HUGE SUCCESS! EMME 2017 attracted 30 participants from 11 countries; Cyprus (1), Egypt (2), Italy (5), Iran (4), Jordan (4),KSA (1), Kuwait (4), Libya (4), Palestine (2), Portugal (2), and Tunisia (1). As usual, the rich program, aiming to foster future leaders of science centers and museums, featured theoretical talks, followed by practical case studies and workshops, tackling the diverse aspects of managing science centers and museums. Daily topics covered Planning for Growth—Philosophy, Strategy, and Budgets; the People in Your Ecosystem—HR and Public Programs; Channeling Science Centers through Marketing, Communication, and Fundraising; Your Building and Exhibits—Management and Maintenance; Explainers, Volunteers, and Educational Programs.