Science Centre World Summit 2014 heralds the start of a new era

	His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium and Nobel Prize laureate François Englert welcomed the 464 delegates from 58 different countries
	South African delegates who participated in the summit included, from the left: Koki Selepe (DST), Chricencia Moatshe (Mothibistad Science Centre), Gilbert Lekwe (NECSA) and Lerato Molebatsi (Mafikeng Science Centre)
	South African delegates 'pull their weight' at the summit

On behalf of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), SAASTA organised the attendance of 28 South African delegates to the Science Centre World Summit (SCWS2014) that took place in Belgium in March 2014.

The World Summit programme was built up around three main themes: 'Research and communication of research', 'Engaging learners in all settings' and 'New technologies for learning and engagement'.

Twenty of the South African delegates presented papers and 13 were provided with personal experiential learning to develop their skills in science centre management. While many delegates from other countries struggled to get support for attendance from their governments, South Africa had the largest delegation to the summit funded by a government.

The summit was hosted by the Technopolis Science Centre in Mechelen near Brussels, under the leadership of Mr Eric Jacquemyn. Eight South African delegates, including Shadrack Mkansi, Manager of SAASTA's Science Awareness Platform, attended the CEO's forum. The welcome dinner, which took place on the same day, served as a good networking opportunity for all delegates.

Royal welcome

The 464 delegates, from 58 different countries, were welcomed by His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium and Professor emeritus François Englert, Nobel Prize laureate in Physics 2013, at the plenary opening session.

"In order for the SCWS2014 host centre to keep delegates adequately informed about conference activities at all times, the organisers developed a useful Summit App," says Thandamanzi Mtsweni of SAASTA. "This enabled us to find the latest information, view the list of World Summit attendees, speakers and exhibitors, create our own schedule and notes, share thoughts and pictures, and participate in polls," she says.

Mechelen Declaration: The action plan for the future

One of the outcomes of the World Summit is known as the Mechelen Declaration. The document was signed by delegates from within the science centre field and their networks. By so doing, they committed themselves to the following concrete actions:

1. Investigate how to engage even more effectively with local communities and increasingly diverse audiences, and keep the focus on gender differences in engagement.
2. Continue taking actions that have a positive global impact and that will make people everywhere more aware of the opportunities that science and technology hold for the sustainable advancement of humankind.
3. Draw the attention of decision makers and the media to the essential role of public engagement with science and technology by setting up high-profile global activities.
4. Endeavour to leverage the position of science centres as 'trusted' places to introduce the public to new technological solutions and sustainable technologies, and to broaden the potential use of these solutions.
5. Take the lead in developing the best methods for engaging learners and optimising their education in both formal and informal settings using appropriate technologies in widely varying contexts.
6. Engage the public more directly with research, using this engagement to help empower people, broaden attitudes and ensure that the work of universities and research institutions is relevant to society and to wider social concerns on a global scale.
7. Work together in a creative celebration of the International Science Centre Year 2019, encouraging people throughout the world to take part in shared experiences relating to science and technology and society.

The next summit will take place in Japan in November 2017.

By Thembi Mdlalose, SAASTA Science Awareness Programme