Announcements

On Saturday 5 September 2015, the second edition of EMME Summer School was launched at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA), welcoming about 20 eminent speakers in the field of informal science education and communication, and 17 professional participants from the North Africa and Middle East region, preparing to become future Science Center Leaders.

On 12 June 2015, NAMES Board of Directors (BoD) convened during the Ecsite Annual Conference in Trento, Italy. NAMES newly elected President, Ms. Sawsan Dalaq, Director of the Children’s Museum Jordan, presented the strategic plan for her presidency to reinforce and further develop the network. The BoD also initiated discussion regarding the organization of the 5th General Assembly Meeting to be hosted in Amman by the Children’s Museum Jordan; NAMES 2016 would also mark the 10th anniversary of the network.

NAMES 2014 Conference was hosted by "Bursa Science and Technology Center", from Friday to Sunday, 7-9 November 2014. The main theme of NAMES 2014 was "Innovation: Revisiting your Mind".

During NAMES 4th General Assembly Meeting, NAMES Full Members elected a new President for the term 2014/16; Ms. Sawsan Dalaq—Director, The Children’s Museum, JORDAN

Bursa Science and Technology Center will be hosting NAMES Fourth General Assembly Meeting (NAMES 2014), which will take place in Turkey on 7-9 November 2014. The overarching theme of the conference will be "Innovations: Revisiting your Mind".

On 7 June 2013, NAMES Board of Directors (BoD) convened during the Ecsite Annual Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden. The BoD initiated discussing the organization of the 4th General Assembly Meeting upon the confirmation of Bursa Science Center, Turkey, as host. The BoD also discussed the upcoming 1st edition of the Euro-Mediterranean and Middle East Summer School for Science Communication (EMME 2013).

The North Africa and Middle East Science Centers Network (NAMES) held its Third General Assembly Meeting, NAMES 2012, on 5-6 December 2012. The hugely successful event was hosted by Tunis Science City. The success of the conference solidified the status of the Network on the international arena with 100 delegates representing their countries.

Ecsite and NAMES, the two networks of science centers and museums, launched the Euro-Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) Summer School for Science Communication during Ecsite Annual Conference 2012 in Toulouse.

On 5 September 2011, NAMES Board of Directors (BoD) convened during the 6th Science Centers World Congress (SCWC 2011) in Cape Town, South Africa, where NAMES was recognized as co-host of the South African Association of Science and Technology Centers (SAASTEC), one of NAMES’ sister networks. The BoD discussed the 3rd General Assembly Meeting to be hosted by Tunis Science City; they brainstormed potential themes and a diversity of potential subthemes.

On 29 May 2009, Turkey Science Centers Foundation hosted NAMES Board of Directors (BoD) at the Şişly Municipality Science Center in Istanbul. The BoD reviewed the outcomes of the 1st General Assembly Meeting, NAMES 2008, and started planning the 2nd General Assembly Meeting, NAMES 2010. The BoD decided on “Science for Knowledge and Prosperity” as a theme; they also discussed potential subthemes: “New Technology”, “Life Sciences”, and “Sustainable Development”. The BoD also discussed potential joint projects and exchanged information regarding best practices among the members. NAMES Secretary also presented the new network website.