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NE Science Centre Head Elected Chair of National Body

The head of Newcastle’s Centre for Life has been elected UK Chair of a European body which represents over 70 science centres, museums, botanic gardens, aquariums and zoos in the UK.

Life Centre Director Linda Colon has been appointed head of the European Network of Science Centres and Museums (Ecsite-uk).

The body is part of a -wide initiative, set up to give the expanding number of science centres a strong national voice in the work of science communication. Science and Discovery Centres currently attract over 11 million visits each year. Ms Conlon, who will chair the body for the next 2 years, takes over from Professor John Durant, formerly Chief Executive of At-Bristol, who has since moved to head up the in <>. Members of Ecsite-uk include ’s and , < > and the Eden Project.

Ms Conlon has been a member of the Ecsite-UK board for four years, and also chairs Ecsite’s European Development Committee. She said: “Science Centres have a big part to play in making science both accessible and understandable to a non-specialist audience, particularly children. They do this in a hands-on and imaginative way helping people to ‘learn by doing’.

Science Centres also improve awareness of a wide range of contemporary science such as climate change, bio-diversity and stem cell technology. “They also help people to make informed choices about areas of science that are developing at an incredibly fast rate. I look forward to working with my colleagues to raise the profile of this sector and to gain a better recognition for the valuable work it undertakes.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .