07 Nov 2016

Good deeds quietly done

by Liz Terry

When illness strikes, it’s normality which suffers, along with time with loved ones and family fun. But there are charities working hard to mend this gap, by offering seriously ill children and adults the opportunity for days out, with all the care they need to make these the best they can be. [more...]

07 Nov 2016

Shifting practices and techniques in face-to-face facilitation

by Brad Irwin

The thinking around face-to-face interactions in science centres and museums is changing. Previously, “explainer” was the go-to-noun for people who interacted with the public within our institutions, the key figures who were responsible for connecting scientific ideas to visitors’ hearts and minds in new and meaningful ways. [more...]

07 Nov 2016

Every waterpark has a story – make sure your staff are telling it

by Aleatha Ezra

Hundreds of waterpark professionals came together for the World Waterpark Association Show, held from 11-14 October in New Orleans, Louisiana. [more...]

07 Nov 2016

Four facilities host US Department of State’s first Zoohackathon

by Jennifer Fields

Poaching and wildlife trafficking are decimating populations of animals such as elephants, rhinoceroses, and tigers. The US government is working with governments and members of the public around the world to reduce demand of these products. [more...]

01 Sep 2016

High-tech Place-Shifting is a new dimension for attractions to explore

by Liz Terry

New technology is giving us the power to Place-Shift experiences to create on-demand, immersive attractions in any location. Combining live streaming, haptics, AR and virtual reality with authentic artefacts and storytelling, this thinking will open up huge new markets for growth. [more...]

01 Sep 2016

New trends drive up attendance in waterpark industry

by Aleatha Ezra

The TEA/AECOM Theme and Museum Index was recently released, charting attendance figures in the global attractions industry in 2015. [more...]

01 Sep 2016

Education is the only antidote to disease of fear and hatred

by Michel Buchel

People feel uncertain and scared amid current events in Europe and beyond, including the Brexit, the coup in Turkey, racial tensions in the US and terrorist attacks around the globe. These events impact on our daily lives as global trends increasingly influence local situations. [more...]

01 Sep 2016

Aquariums and zoos fight to save critically endangered vaquita

by Jennifer Fields

With approximately 60 individuals left in the upper Gulf of California, the vaquita is one of 10 signature species included in AZA’s Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) programme. The AZA community is focusing expertise and resources on projects to ensure this critically endangered small porpoise species is not lost forever. [more...]

03 May 2016

Exercise vs diabetes

by Kate Cracknell

The fitness and physical activity sector has been given another exciting opportunity to prove itself in the preventative healthcare arena: a new NHS-led national Diabetes Prevention Programme called Healthier You [more...]

07 Apr 2016

Prevention in the spotlight

by Kate Cracknell

These are the facts: around 40 per cent of all deaths in England are linked to bad lifestyle choices, and NHS England spends more than £11bn a year treating illnesses caused by the effects of bad diet, inactivity, smoking and alcohol consumption. This is the stark reality of the health crisis in the UK – one that’s mirrored in many other countries around the world. [more...]

04 Mar 2016

How is your science centre responding to the refugee crisis?

by Julie Becker

No one can ignore the headlines. Migrants have been arriving in Europe in unusually large numbers, causing reactions from unconditional solidarity to pure xenophobia – and all the complex shades in between. [more...]

02 Mar 2016

AZA training course equips future leaders of zoos and aquariums

by Jennifer Fields

It’s imperative that the next generation of executive directors of AZA-accredited zoological facilities are trained, educated, and prepared to lead their communities in environmental stewardship while advancing their facility with strong business and operational skills. [more...]

02 Mar 2016

Waterpark professionals benefit from finding a work-life balance

by Aleatha Ezra

In October, the World Waterpark Association hosted its 35th symposium and trade show in Palm Springs, California. Known for its in-depth education program and community-building networking events, the WWA Show welcomed attendees from 30 countries. [more...]

02 Mar 2016

Staying ahead

by Liz Terry

After decades of crazy inventions being the stuff of sci-fi, this year marks the point where they hit the mainstream, with affordable tech coming to market in everything from VR to drones, robots and augmented reality. We need to grab it with both hands, figure it out and make it our own. [more...]

05 Feb 2016

When sport meets fitness

by Kate Cracknell

Sport is just one part of a far larger entity that is physical activity, observed Jennie Price at the ukactive Summit in November – hardly a shocking revelation in itself, but nevertheless an interesting perspective coming from the CEO of Sport England, whose mission up to this point has been to develop grassroots sport across the UK. [more...]

05 Jan 2016

Upgrading the industry

by Kate Cracknell

The National Living Wage is coming, and operators across the UK will be trying to work how they can afford it. It will certainly be a challenge in a sector that has long relied on fairly low-paid staff, but we believe it presents an interesting opportunity to upgrade the industry. [more...]