I was recently appointed as the new Director at the Bloomfield Science museum Jerusalem, after being in the museum for the last 8 years, 4 of them as deputy director. I hold a B.Sc. degree in Life Sciences and a M.A. in Public Policy.

Bloomfield Science Museum, Jerusalem is a recognized museum of science and technology, a center for informal scientific education and a space for science communication.

The museum believes that as an informal science-based educational and as a cultural organization, it has a key role in raising awareness, fostering understanding and sparking interest in diverse fields of STEM. To this aim, the museum provides a consistent, stress-free, immersive and fun educational experience that combines different disciplines and appeals to all ages. By presenting the fields of STEM as an integral part of everyday life in an accessible and exciting way, museum visitors are motivated to delve further, to ask questions and to continue the learning process long after the visit is over.

Approximately 250,000 visitors come to the museum each year, including about 70,000 students who visit the museum as part of the educational system. All activities in the museum are offered in Hebrew and Arabic.

The Museum is one of Israel’s most prominent institutions for informal science education and communication, providing life-changing experiences and fostering dialog between various sectors of the community. The mission of the museum is to arouse curiosity and to deepen understanding of the natural and technological worlds. As a cultural anchor in the city of Jerusalem, the aim of the museum is to stimulate creativity and inspire innovation. We see ourselves as a vibrant hub, with activities that spark the interest of visitors of all ages, promote scientific careers, and change general attitudes to science and technology. The Museum enables Israeli young people to maximize their potential through science and technology, regardless of their socio-economic status, ethnic background or gender.

We are part of many international programs, including researcher’s night, makers fair, student parliament and other public engagement annual projects. Our day-to-day mission is to engage public into science by our exhibitions and programs we are running.

I am a board member since 2022 and the treasurer since 2023. Ever science joining the board I enjoyed being a part of such a caring group of professionals. I am happy to say that the organization contributed me professionally and that I was able to have an impact on the organization, as well. I feel I have just started and have much more to contribute.

EUSEA is the most important international platform for the sharing of knowledge in the field of public engagement in science education. As this field is a central part of the mission of the museum and, as I see it, as one of my personal challenges, as well. I seek an opportunity to be able to advance this mission in the international level.

I believe that by becoming the EUSEA president I can continue the organization’s collaborations and seek new ones. We need to keep thinking on new fields to explore and new projects to participate in. we need to further connect organizations and promote new ideas and programs.  EUSEA should be a major player in the field of science communication.

I’m Ken Skeldon and lead Research Engagement at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. I am current Vice-President of EUSEA, a role I’ve had since July 2022. I am from Glasgow originally, and my recent move back was in part due to family (I’m a fairly recent Dad to a little boy called Jack) and to take up my exciting current position in the University’s flagship new Advanced Research Centre (ARC). Before returning to Glasgow, I was Head of Public Engagement at the Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge and before that, Head of Public Engagement, Festival and Events at the University Aberdeen. One of my career highs was as Chair of the Board of Aberdeen Science Centre (Scotland’s oldest Science Centre, and the UK’s second longest established) helping to shape a successful capital development project which ultimately transformed the centre for future generations. I began my career as a researcher in physics, and my PhD is in Gravitational Waves Detection. In 2005 a career changing period began for me when I won a Fellowship from NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology, and the Arts) that catalysed my move into professional public engagement. Since then, I’ve worked on some incredible projects and with some of the most amazing, enthusiastic people from around the world.
You can find out more about me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-skeldon-mbe-141b1a2a/

I’ve been involved in public engagement for some 25 years and a public engagement professional for the past 16 years. I’ve seen, and helped shape, some of the big changes in public engagement over that time, especially within the UK higher education sector. I’ve also worked outside the academy, in the cultural and third sectors – including science centres, museums and festivals. I have provided some further detail in my companion application to be re-elected as an ordinary Board Member, and summarised more briefly some key achievements here:

• Science engagement and outreach: I’ve been a passionate communicator of science since my PhD days, developing and presenting science shows to well over 100,000 people around the UK and internationally. I’m particularly passionate about reaching audiences for whom science and research seems out of reach or inaccessible.
• Media and consultancy: I have presented content for the BBC, National Geographic and developed exhibits for the London Science Museum, Questacon and Saatchi. I’ve been recognised for my science engagement work through a Nature/Royal Institution Niche Prize for Science and Art, a NESTA Fellowship and a Queen’s honour (MBE).
• Engaged research: I’ve played leading roles in major culture change projects from the European Commission, UK research councils and Wellcome Trust. For the past 6 months I have chaired the Open Lab Council for CIVIS, one of the big European University Alliances. Together with my teams over the years, I’ve supported thousands of researchers to get involved in public engagement.
• Programme management: I have led busy festivals and events teams for the past 15 years involving strategic oversight, raising funds and operational delivery. Over this period I co-founded two of the UK’s European Researchers’ Nights and secured the bid to host the British Science Festival to Aberdeen in 2012 – one of Europe’s largest travelling festivals.
• Sectoral connectivity and experience: I have been actively involved with EUSEA, PCST and ECSITE for over 10 years. With EUSEA, I’ve contributed to the Madrid, Vienna, COVID-19 virtual, Cork and Bolzano conferences. I am an expert reviewer/contributor on several research programmes and funding schemes, including for Science Foundation Ireland and Wellcome. In 2016, I led the bid to bring the global PCST conference to Scotland and currently serve on its Local Organising Committee, leading up the delivery at the end of May of next year.

I am more conscious than ever of the importance of EUSEA (and public engagement more generally) as providing a safe and inclusive space for dialogue and collaboration. In a complex and often divisive world, EUSEA can spotlight and provide the means for discussing important issues for example around trust in science, citizen participation, tackling disinformation and providing a forum for debating the societal impacts of emerging research fields. As a passionate advocate for public engagement, I share an interest in all these aspects of EUSEA’s work and as current Board Member and Vice-President I am also well aware of the challenges in securing a strong and confident position for EUSEA moving forward. Above all EUSEA exists for and with its members, and so continuing to grow the organisation’s relationship (and relevance) for members would be a primary objective I am very much keen to support.

I also come to this as someone who for several years felt frustrated by the disconnect from European partners and collaboration imposed by the UK’s decision to leave the EU. However, the UK has now rejoined the Horizon Programme from January, and so it does show that change can happen. It is from this renewed sense of connection with European friends and colleagues that I have decided now is the right time for me to put myself forward for the role of the next EUSEA President.

I would therefore embrace the opportunity to take the baton from my friend and colleague Cissi Askwall, who has done such an amazing job as EUSEA President over the past few years and to build on the great work being advanced with my colleagues on the Board and Executive Director’s Office.

Having seen many changes in the public engagement sector over the past couple of decades, I have concluded that EUSEA more than ever needs to be responsive and adaptive, while also confident in its reputation and ability. With its Board, Executive Office and members, EUSEA comprises an unparalleled body of expertise to be the leading voice for engaged research practice in Europe.

Should members put their trust in me to be the next EUSEA President, there are four areas I would like to prioritise with colleagues to fulfil this ambition and advance EUSEA’s work:

1. Sustainability: For EUSEA to have confidence in its future ability to deliver for members, we need to ensure a financial model which safeguards core member services and initiatives. I would work with the Board to forge a plan that strives towards a stable income projection for core costs and activity. Competitive grant opportunities and other diversification of income should allow for growth and enrichment, for example exploring further projects within the WIDERA, COFUND or other Horizon Europe opportunities.
2. Membership: As an incoming President I would like to take time to look across EUSEA’s membership, understand better members’ needs and work with colleagues to develop new services of value to existing and new members. This builds on the great work done over the past couple of years around the Hotpots, Science Engagement Platform and redesign of the website. Further initiatives I think would have broad appeal include a more active members’ area, linked clearly from the EUSEA website, and which could feature a dynamic ‘exchange forum’ allowing members to quickly post ‘needs’ and ‘offers’ and sparking greater sharing and collaboration.
3. Advocacy: EUSEA is, and should be, a confident leading voice for engaged practice within the European research landscape. With the recent appointment of Cissi to the Chair of the Commission’s Mutual Learning Exercise in Public Engagement in Research and Innovation, EUSEA’s standing is enhanced further. As incoming President I would prioritise action in this space, benefitting from the wealth of experience across the EUSEA membership and joining with like-minded partners to advocate for a strong and more explicit role for public engagement within the next framework programme.
4. Partnership: This is an oft-used term – after all, who would not want to partner to add value and strength to deliverables. However, there are some entities in Europe where EUSEA has not traditionally sought to collaborate, and where I think there could be mutually beneficial potential. To give two examples, I have been amazed by the rise and activity of the European University Alliances. Having myself chaired one of the Alliance’s (CIVIS) Open Lab committees for the past 6 months, and seeing new Alliances come online, I am struck by the synergy in their ambition around civic, public and multi-stakeholder engagement and the interests of EUSEA. There are both membership and joint-programming opportunities to explore, possibly also income generating activity.
   Another example I would highlight is EARMA, the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators. Having been involved in the UK ARMA for several years, I know how beneficial it can be to cultivate strong connections with institutional teams supporting grant making, researcher training and development. For EUSEA and members, there’s potential around training and inclusion in the dissemination or engagement plans within major research grants.

To conclude, I firmly believe there is a unique and important role for EUSEA within the European engagement landscape and my experience in public engagement settings across Europe and beyond places me in good stead to take on the challenge of next EUSEA President.

I would be honoured to have the trust and support of members to lead EUSEA through its next exciting chapter and if elected will give the position my full and unwavering commitment.

EUSEA Presidency Candidates

I was recently appointed as the new Director at the Bloomfield Science museum Jerusalem, after being in the museum for the last 8 years, 4 of them as deputy director. I hold a B.Sc. degree in Life Sciences and a M.A. in Public Policy.

Bloomfield Science Museum, Jerusalem is a recognized museum of science and technology, a center for informal scientific education and a space for science communication.

The museum believes that as an informal science-based educational and as a cultural organization, it has a key role in raising awareness, fostering understanding and sparking interest in diverse fields of STEM. To this aim, the museum provides a consistent, stress-free, immersive and fun educational experience that combines different disciplines and appeals to all ages. By presenting the fields of STEM as an integral part of everyday life in an accessible and exciting way, museum visitors are motivated to delve further, to ask questions and to continue the learning process long after the visit is over.

Approximately 250,000 visitors come to the museum each year, including about 70,000 students who visit the museum as part of the educational system. All activities in the museum are offered in Hebrew and Arabic.

The Museum is one of Israel’s most prominent institutions for informal science education and communication, providing life-changing experiences and fostering dialog between various sectors of the community. The mission of the museum is to arouse curiosity and to deepen understanding of the natural and technological worlds. As a cultural anchor in the city of Jerusalem, the aim of the museum is to stimulate creativity and inspire innovation. We see ourselves as a vibrant hub, with activities that spark the interest of visitors of all ages, promote scientific careers, and change general attitudes to science and technology. The Museum enables Israeli young people to maximize their potential through science and technology, regardless of their socio-economic status, ethnic background or gender.

We are part of many international programs, including researcher’s night, makers fair, student parliament and other public engagement annual projects. Our day-to-day mission is to engage public into science by our exhibitions and programs we are running.

For the last 8 years I’ve been a science and innovation communication senior lecturer at the University of Malta. The organisation is Malta’s leading higher education institution and closely tied to its socioeconomic growth. I have helped setup policies, committees and activities to improve its social impact nationally. I manage a Science Communication office with a team of 10-20 staff members and interns, who help me co-ordinate and partner in several large-scale EU projects (involving EUSEA or EUSEA-partners in several proposals). I am a board member of EUSEA (seeking re-election) and the secretary of the NGO the Malta Chamber of Scientists and Malta Climbing Club. I am an active science communication practitioner and public engagement scholar having created numerous creative activities while publishing peer-reviewed papers.

For more: myLinkedIn Profile

I would bring over a decade of science communication practical and scholarly experience to EUSEA. I run an intensive, international science communication summer school called STEAM and a Science, Arts, Entrepreneurship course called SciCultureD, started two EU projects that are bringing nature-based solutions through research and creative engagement to Maltese communities, and co-ordinate and partner in Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ projects. In Malta, I create innovative science communication events through the NGO the Malta Chamber of Scientists, then nurture teams and funding structures to sustain them having trained dozens of staff members and close to a hundred interns. The largest activity I have founded is the national science and arts festival Science in the City, which attracts over 6% of the Maltese population every year. I have published peer-reviewed papers in the journals Research for All & PLOS ONE.

In Malta, I have strived to encourage a scientifically aware society and help develop informed opinions, while developing a culture of public engagement to change the process of governance at the University of Malta and nationally. I want to continue spreading these values throughout Europe.

For more about Science in the City: https://scienceinthecity.org.mt/

I have been a board member since 2020. I believe that our field needs to continuously innovate and find evidence to increase our impact, effectiveness and adapt to Europe’s vast challenges. I have hosted several EUSEA members in my sci comm office, helped run EUSEA Hot Pots and other activities to encourage the community to discuss issues such as how to involve diverse groups in science communication activities, adapt festivals to online spaces due to COVID health restrictions, and inclusivity and equity in science communication, which I will continue encouraging. Europe and EUSEA have new challenges that I want to help the community address.

I believe my main contributions will be excellent networking and team building skills to grow EUSEA’s membership. To address the challenges facing Europe, EUSEA needs to work with other networks to engage the EC & EP with a united message. I also think that EUSEA should help support and encourage the development of more high-quality intensive training courses in public engagement. Another key issue is to continue lobbying with policy makers to strengthen science communication and how research is conducted. I will continue involving EUSEA in my projects and activities, sharing my project outputs and research findings with EUSEA and its members to support others in this field.

Justice, inclusion, equity and diversity in Public Engagement activities are key issues that our community faces. I want EUSEA to strive to encourage more practitioners to effectively incorporate policies, initiatives and processes within their own institutions and practice.

I will endeavour to encourage and empower existing EUSEA members to be able to further contribute to the EUSEA network. I will encourage the EUSEA board to review its processes to make it easier for members to impact the community. I will also encourage EUSEA to continue developing collaborations with science communication, education and public relations networks to effectively lobby the EC and EP together.

I believe that EUSEA would be able to increase benefits for its members by successfully applying for more EU projects. I will continue to involve EUSEA in several EU projects in the Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ programmes and other opportunities I spot through my network.

I would like to express my interest in joining the board of the European Science Engagement Association. As a multilingual communications and public engagement specialist with broad experience in international relations, EU policy, and advocacy, I believe I possess the skills and expertise necessary to make meaningful contributions to EUSEA’s mission and vision.

In my current capacity as International Relations and Communications Manager at Vetenskap & Allmänhet (VA, Public & Science), I’m involved in various initiatives that bridge the gap between science and society. Managing numerous ongoing and past EU projects, as for example GENDERACTIONplus, ORION Open Science and the new Inspiring ERA project, and my role as the Hub Manager of Falling Walls Engage Hub Sweden, has equipped me with useful insights and deep understanding of effective science engagement strategies at national, EU and international levels.

My journey in public engagement has been rich and diverse. As a former National Contact Point for Science in Society and Science with and for society in the EU Horizon 2020 and FP7 Research & Innovation programmes, I have navigated the complexities of the EU R&I landscape and helped influence EU policy on science and society interaction. Furthermore, it has provided me with a thorough understanding of European collaborative project management and policy implementation. Currently, I’m a member of the national reference groups for the Horizon Europe WIDERA programme and ERA Forum, as well as a national expert in the European Commission’s Mutual Learning Exercise, MLE on Public Engagement. Additionally, my involvement in various national and international collaboration projects both at my current position and while working for the European Commission has given me invaluable insights into fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration across sectors, science disciplines and in multicultural settings.

My interest in joining the EUSEA Board stems from a passion for promoting science engagement, making science accessible for all and fostering collaboration on both European and international level. I firmly believe that my work experience, skills, and dedication align closely with EUSEA’s mission, and I am eager to contribute to the association’s continued development and success.

Looking towards the future of EUSEA, I envision a dynamic organisation that serves as a beacon of excellence in science engagement across Europe and beyond. An association that stimulates learning exchanges between individuals, national organisations and provides a platform for the scaling up of activities and collaborations. At the same time an organisation that empowers the local and regional practitioners as well as the uptake and testing of innovative methods and processes. I am committed to working together with fellow board members to drive innovative initiatives, strengthen partnerships, and amplify the voice of citizens and societal actors in science.

My name is David Price and I am the business development manager for the UK based social enterprise company Science Made Simple. A position I have held for the last 17yrs.

• I proactively network within the sphere of STEM communication to seek collaborative working opportunities for Science Made Simple, both in the UK and around the wider world
• I work as an award-winning STEM communication trainer for Science Made Simple and the Famelab international researcher presenting competition. With a specialism in the use of street performance techniques in public engagement.
• I work as an award-winning performer and writer of science shows and street science sets both in the UK and around the wider world.

• I have been a fulltime science communication operative for the last 26yrs, firstly as an exhibit builder and then science outreach manager for the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester and latterly as a manager, trainer, and performer for the limited science communication company Science Made Simple.I have worked in over 50 countries as a trainer performer and writer of public engagement materials constantly communicating with clients and stakeholders to ensure high quality engagement.In both the Horizon 2020 projects Perform and Our Space Our future, I gained experience of working in large multi stakeholder collaborative projects.Working alongside the community liaison officer in my museum days taught me the paramount importance of listening to communities in helping them to take an active part in the development of public engagement projects.

• To aid in the shaping of the future of the European landscape of public engagement.

• I love EUSEA’s championing of science for all and will strenuously seek to further widen the basis of EUSEA as a knowledge sharing platform. I have served on the boards of The British Interactive Group and the lightyear foundation and would use this experience in the service of Eusea.

• To use my networking and collaborative skills experience to aid Eusea in current and future projects.

• To increase the scope and quantity of public engagement training services provided by EUSEA.

• My career to date has been one of major connectivity with the grass roots / shop floor science communicators, it would be my aim as a member of the board to increase the membership and participation within Eusea of such science communicators and work to keep UK science communication excellence within some part of a European framework.

I’m Ken Skeldon and lead Research Engagement at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. I am current Vice-President of EUSEA, a role I’ve had since July 2022. I am from Glasgow originally, and my recent move back was in part due to family (I’m a fairly recent Dad to a little boy called Jack) and to take up my exciting current position in the University’s flagship new Advanced Research Centre (ARC). Before returning to Glasgow, I was Head of Public Engagement at the Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge and before that, Head of Public Engagement, Festival and Events at the University Aberdeen. One of my career highs was as Chair of the Board of Aberdeen Science Centre (Scotland’s oldest Science Centre, and the UK’s second longest established) helping to shape a successful capital development project which ultimately transformed the centre for future generations. I began my career as a researcher in physics, and my PhD is in Gravitational Waves Detection. In 2005 a career changing period began for me when I won a Fellowship from NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology, and the Arts) that catalysed my move into professional public engagement. Since then, I’ve worked on some incredible projects and with some of the most amazing, enthusiastic people from around the world.
You can find out more about me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-skeldon-mbe-141b1a2a/

I’ve been involved in public engagement for some 25 years and a public engagement professional for the past 16 years. I’ve seen, and helped shape, some of the big changes in public engagement over that time, especially within the UK higher education sector. I’ve also worked outside the academy, in the cultural and third sectors – including science centres, museums and festivals. I have provided some further detail in my companion application to be re-elected as an ordinary Board Member, and summarised more briefly some key achievements here:

• Science engagement and outreach: I’ve been a passionate communicator of science since my PhD days, developing and presenting science shows to well over 100,000 people around the UK and internationally. I’m particularly passionate about reaching audiences for whom science and research seems out of reach or inaccessible.
• Media and consultancy: I have presented content for the BBC, National Geographic and developed exhibits for the London Science Museum, Questacon and Saatchi. I’ve been recognised for my science engagement work through a Nature/Royal Institution Niche Prize for Science and Art, a NESTA Fellowship and a Queen’s honour (MBE).
• Engaged research: I’ve played leading roles in major culture change projects from the European Commission, UK research councils and Wellcome Trust. For the past 6 months I have chaired the Open Lab Council for CIVIS, one of the big European University Alliances. Together with my teams over the years, I’ve supported thousands of researchers to get involved in public engagement.
• Programme management: I have led busy festivals and events teams for the past 15 years involving strategic oversight, raising funds and operational delivery. Over this period I co-founded two of the UK’s European Researchers’ Nights and secured the bid to host the British Science Festival to Aberdeen in 2012 – one of Europe’s largest travelling festivals.
• Sectoral connectivity and experience: I have been actively involved with EUSEA, PCST and ECSITE for over 10 years. With EUSEA, I’ve contributed to the Madrid, Vienna, COVID-19 virtual, Cork and Bolzano conferences. I am an expert reviewer/contributor on several research programmes and funding schemes, including for Science Foundation Ireland and Wellcome. In 2016, I led the bid to bring the global PCST conference to Scotland and currently serve on its Local Organising Committee, leading up the delivery at the end of May of next year.

In my current role as Deputy Head of Public Engagement and Impact at the Natural History Museum in Berlin, I focus on strategy, policy, research, and leadership in Public Engagement (PE), from an individual to an international level. Previously I was Head of Public Engagement for the University of St Andrews in Scotland, and the founding Chairperson of the Scottish Public Engagement Network in a phase where we administered a £1M devolved fund from Wellcome for PE in Scotland. I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh where I sit on the PE committee, community-led research committee, and the research awards committee. Prior to roles in engagement, I was a researcher in tropical medicine, always including PE in my work.

Some recent examples of my PE work include:

• Developing institutional strategies and activities for embedding PE for St Andrews University, the Centre for Energy Ethics, and currently for two new Research Centres being established in Berlin. I also led on the first Europe-wide European Researchers’ Night and worked with under engaged audiences such as rural communities, communities of low socio-economic means, and prison learners and their families.
• I support national and international evidence-based policy dialogues for PE. For example, a pilot on supporting PE in South Africa and Germany is now forming the basis for planned bilateral collaborations.
• While fully acknowledging that research on the needs and impacts on non-academic audiences is essential, there is a startling lack of research that directly addresses the needs of PE professionals. I am actively addressing this lack through establishing practice-led research strands in all my projects.
• I make it a personal guiding principle to increase access to training on leadership skills and attributes for PE practitioners. I regularly contribute to training on the subject of leadership, e.g. the Change Makers Academy from BSOPE and AESIS training. I also act as mentor to early career PE practitioners from South Africa, Tanzania, and across Europe.

My interest in joining the EUSEA board is based on a desire to serve the membership. I want to listen to the needs of the membership now and in the future, and help steer EUSEA to deliver on these.

As a member I have found EUSEA an invaluable source of peer support, knowledge exchange, and a stimulus to critical thinking in our field of practice. It is also a stage that advocates for recognition of the professional standing of the PE sector, and highlights our pivotal roles in developing a healthier research culture. I will directly contribute to ensuring these established achievements continue, and evolve when needed.

These goals will require diverse perspectives from Europe and beyond. My past and present work includes international perspectives, exchanges, and collaborations which will directly contribute to this. I am also someone who has regular interactions with PEP professionals from all career stages, which I exemplify through my training and mentoring roles, and through initiatives such as the PEP journal club.

I would like to see EUSEA continue to consolidate on our core activities of support, peer exchange, and advocacy for members, with a primary focus on developments in the European field. I would also like to bring further internationalisation and a deeper reflective practice to EUSEA. Specifically, I believe we have to create a focus on learning from, and contributing to, a global effort in encouraging research and society to engage. Only by doing this can we address cross-border issues such as climate change, trust in research, and a growing epidemic of mis-information. With regards reflective practice, I will encourage EUSEA to take an active position on evidencing the value of PE. In this way we can deliver stronger evidence-based advocacy for members.

Additionally, I would like EUSEA to take a lead on developing a ‘network of networks’ with similar associations globally, bringing wider opportunities for EUSEA members to learn from and contribute to their own goals and objectives, professional and personal. As a step in this process, I would like to see EUSEA support our membership to consider deeper, more reflective evidencing of the impacts of their practice, and consider how this evidence can be presented in ways that directly influence those who influence our work.