Call for presentations

Call for Conference Sessions

We are calling for submissions for the 2026 Conference theme "a sense of place".

This year’s conference explores the role that science centres, museums, exhibitions, programs, collections, and partnerships play in shaping how people understand their place in the world — and how our work is shaped by the people, stories, knowledge and communities around us.

We are interested in presentations, workshops and panels which explore how science engagement connects with place: how we create meaningful experiences for communities, respond to local contexts, build relationships, and ensure our work reflects the people we serve.

We want to hear about the work you are doing within your organisations and communities. How are you creating a stronger sense of connection, belonging, or participation through science engagement? How are you adapting your work to local needs, knowledge and priorities? What challenges have you encountered, and what lessons have you learned along the way?

Inclusive Place-Making

Who gets to shape our sense place? Who gets to access place? How are we increasing access, reducing barriers and decolonising our spaces.

Belonging to Place

Are we fostering spaces where STEM is not only understood, but felt profoundly? Explore how exhibits and programs can centre multiple ways of knowing, meaningful narratives, and emotional resonance to build identity and connection to create a sense of belonging.

Curiosity in Context

Connecting universal discovery with local meaning-making, from global challenges to community stories.

Redefining Spaces

From galleries and pop-ups to outdoor trails and digital platforms, where does science engagement thrive? Explore innovative models that reimagine engagement spaces — physical or virtual — as dynamic environments for curiosity, participation and discovery.

Participation Beyond Outreach

What happens when audiences become co-creators? Share projects that move beyond outreach toward co-design, citizen science, and community-led inquiry — where museums act as conveners, facilitators, and trusted civic spaces.

Imagining Future Places

Museums are storytellers of both past, present and possibility. Share approaches that use data, collections, community knowledge, and creative engagement to help communities envision resilient, hopeful, evidence-informed futures.