Session Concept:
Today science centres have become integral meeting points for people to engage one another, being viewed as safe, neutral and autonomous. As we deepen into the 21st century and its new challenges, the modes and mandate of engagement within science centres are set to change. Science centres are now faced with connecting to virtual as well as physically present audiences. New and adaptive approaches, taken from various fields reaching from social psychology to virtual and augmented reality are now being appropriated to impel change through engagement. If science centres shall evolve into a completely global operational body, collective efforts must be taken in order for the body to contribute to global change. The session will explore some of the collective and innovative engagement approaches taken up by individuals and science centres from around the globe.