Project Inspire: Digital Engagement and Innovation by Science Centres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement Examples of innovative digital and community engagement from different sectors, selected to help Science Centres explore new ideas to reach underserved audiences. en-us 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC 2025-04-24 11:17:00 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4a1.png Louvre Abu Dhabi launches the world's first roadside gallery sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224289 The billboard gallery spans 100 km of the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway, and you can tune in to the radio to hear a curator’s take on each work as you drive past. 
Could this idea be used to engage audiences in science projects/sharing content in the areas where they live/work/play? QR codes or links to social, creates a quick and easy way to share too.]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224289 Go Walkeez! sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224292 A physical and digital heritage engagement project. It helps get kids out to explore cultural places and spaces in a fun and interactive way.

Here’s how Go Walkeez works:
Children walk a specially designed sausage dog toy through physical cultural spaces. The dog is linked to a Go Walkeez! app that prompts children with open-ended questions to go search and sniff out material heritage that they find interesting. The children then take photographs of the dog with their spotted findings and share the images online on the Walkies’ website.

Inclusive access and diverse audience participation is one of the key ‘ethos’ of Go Walkeez! It's designed to strengthen a number of different learning skills so for children who struggle with traditional book learning access shouldn’t be a problem. The dogs are cuddly friends to help everyone including those who have difficulties engaging in new spaces to feel more confident and safe.]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224292 TikTok dancing sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224297 BBC Children in Need used TikTok to engage families during lockdown, sharing the videos and creating a buzz to help raise money during lockdown.]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224297 Give the gift of science wonder sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224298 #ShopMuseums campaign launched to promote online museum shops, a nationwide initiative to encourage people to shop directly from museum's websites. 

Could be an idea for next year with gift vouchers, memberships and gifts for centres that have online shops.]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224298 Virtual events/shows/talks sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224300 ...with real live audience!]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224300 Explore science centres by robot sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224301 Drive yourself around the science centre, and with the help of a member of the team have a go at some of the hands-on activities]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224301 Audio tour app sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224303 New app in development at Techniquest science centre to enable non-English or Welsh speaking communities to visit ]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224303 Haptic technology sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224304 Using vibrations to feel objects, sensations or textures using a phone or specific hardware.

Touchscreens and haptic feedback: new forms of interaction
Haptic technology offers users a truly immersive experience when using touchscreens interfaces: direct information transfer between display and the fingertip.

Surface haptics may be defined as providing programmable haptic effects on physical surfaces, making interfaces come to life.

Tactile Haptic feedback recreates the sense of touch, detecting forces and tactile stimuli in the form of vibrations, texture rendering, simulated clicks, pulses, and buzzes…
]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224304 Podcasts sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224306 Create family friendly podcasts run by science centres for families, teenagers, adults and anyone who wants to engage with science via audio.

Some ideas on everyday topics:
- Food provenance 'What's for tea?' The science behind the food on your plate.

- How does the heating work? Snuggle up next to the radiator and listen in - could be linked to reducing heating bills and CO2 emissions.

 - How many t-shirts/tops are there in your drawer? Discuss cotton/materials, where they come from, production, clothing waste and the effects on the environment.

- Fun science quizzes with score boards online/social.]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224306 Making websites 100% accessible sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224310 Fonts, colours, text size, subtitles - how accessible is your website? Do you know about the accessibility widget?]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224310 Eureka's Digital Sensory Guide sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224322 A comprehensive digital guide for anyone visiting Eureka with children with autism, disabilities and those who need extra support. Designed to help with planning a visit in advance, for example the sights, sounds and smells in each area of the centre. The guide also links to photos of the staff who have been specifically trained as 'enablers' to support children during their visit.

Could this lead onto an idea to create digital sensory guides for a range of experiences, such as a playground or going to the supermarket, or how about a digital sensory guide to the human body?]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224322 English Heritage nailing it on TikTok! sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224325 English Heritage took an entertaining and informative approach on the historic sites it manages, starting with a mini-guided tour of Stonehenge with a live stream of the summer solstice sunrise at the prehistoric monument.

Martin Jefferies, social media manager at English Heritage said he hopes access to TikTok’s younger audience will provide the charity with an opportunity to explore different types of content.

“We think that TikTok is a safe space to explore stories that matter most to young people, so things like black history, LGBTQ stories from some of our sites, women’s history as well – it feels like a very safe, welcoming environment”.

English Heritage has over 112k followers on TikTok with over 1.6M likes.
]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224325 Science hacks sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224328 Inspired by life hacks and blind hacks, can you use science to make life easier and fun at the same time? Can you make something easier to understand with a science hack? Or merge science and magic in a hack to wow?]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224328 Lessons in Herstory sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224329 Lessons in Herstory is an app that uses AR to bring to life the forgotten heroes in U.S. history textbooks—women. By putting a new lens on history, this app has the power to inspire the next generation through the stories of powerful women.

Could this app be used to tell the herstory of female scientists too as visitors scan exhibits or images in your centre?]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224329 Online resource bank that provides people with the tools and knowledge they need to build their digital skills sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224333 Resources to help museum people understand and use digital tools and channels, hand-picked by Culture24]]> 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224333 sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224337 2020-12-10 17:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1007224337 Night in the Science Centre... sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1009272972 Science sleepovers with stories, makes and inventions - for real in class/family bubbles or remotely with live link ups.

Centres could collaborate with science kit creators Curiosity Box for kits to send out in advance of the sleep over.]]> 2020-12-11 09:59:15 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1009272972 Collaborations with existing STEM community projects/organisations sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1009276233 Collaborations with companies who already engage communities with STEM.
Example: Kids Invent Stuff duo Ruth and Shaun who run monthly competitions and actually make the winning idea! The design, build and demo of the inventions are filmed and shared on YouTube. ]]> 2020-12-11 10:01:33 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1009276233 UGC sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1010096235 Lots of User-Generated Content
Engage visitors, social media fans and listeners to send in their photos, videos, stories, questions, experiments and ideas to share and use as content. A great way to look at trends, what's on people's minds and keeping people connected. Also good for growing communities online organically using hashtags and collaborations with existing groups.
On a bigger scale, We The Curious used visitor's ideas and questions to create Project What If...]]> 2020-12-11 15:33:55 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1010096235 Partner with Community Radio sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1016933187 Hook up with local radio stations, offer content and ideas for a regular science-themed slot with competitions to win tickets and accompanying online content. Tell stories, go behind the scenes, Q&A, bringing the centre to life and making it fun and engaging to attract new audiences.]]> 2020-12-14 17:23:43 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1016933187 Kid's pages sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1016960436 Add a kids page to your website with all the content created to share on social media. Use it for community groups, families, home schoolers with clear categories for ages/activities. Good for SEO too! Great example from the Tate:]]> 2020-12-14 17:29:03 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1016960436 Science trail/challenge sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1017007465 Mix up the traditional treasure trail with a digital version... Collaborate with shops, cafes, businesses locally and create a trail in your local area with QR codes, clues, problems to solve, challenges, activities and incentives to get families out and about being curious.

Example here of downloadable Treasure Trails in towns and cities around the UK: Things to do in Bristol - The Bristol Harbourside Treasure Trail (treasuretrails.co.uk)]]> 2020-12-14 17:38:06 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1017007465 How to... sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1019443540 Simple how to... videos for communities and audiences to try at home, or outside. Themed according to weather/season/topics.]]> 2020-12-15 10:41:55 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1019443540 Guide to podcasts sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1019524551 YOUR MUSEUM NEEDS A PODCAST: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO PODCASTING ON A BUDGET FOR MUSEUMS, HISTORY ORGANIZATIONS, AND CULTURAL NONPROFITS]]> 2020-12-15 11:24:37 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1019524551 Gaming sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1019534897 Nesta: How to use games to involve the public in decisions about research and innovation policy.]]> 2020-12-15 11:30:27 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1019534897 Science and Art sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1020395319 Public interventions to raise awareness of issues and challenges using art and mixed media...]]> 2020-12-15 15:33:40 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1020395319 Citizen sensing sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1023288693 What is Citizen Sensing?
Citizen Sensing is about empowering people and places to understand and use smart tech and data from sensors to tackle the issues they care about, connect with other people who can help, and take positive, practical action. 

Sensors that collect data are increasingly embedded into our lives – in our mobile phones, streets and buildings, cars and powerlines, even in our kettles and clothes. Too often in this swelling flow of connectivity and information people and places are treated as passive sources of data. What information is being collected? By whom and for what purpose?

Example of a Citizen Sensing Project:]]> 2020-12-16 09:17:18 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1023288693 Bringing communities together using digital sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1037771226 The Eden Project's Big Lunch Community board full of social media posts.]]> 2020-12-22 10:31:52 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1037771226 London Transport Museum sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1082919801 Hidden London virtual tours:
Discover two stations, King William Street and Brompton Road, which have extremely restricted access so we’ll never be able to offer public tours, or the fascinating history of the Holborn, Kingsway and Aldwych area. With these digital tours, you’ll get the special opportunity to take a peek inside with an expert guide via Zoom.

You’ll be able to see a gallery of photos and videos as well as archival footage and never-before-seen footage from our collection as your expert guide takes you through the history of the location. You’ll also get the opportunity to ask your guide any questions you might have.
]]> 2021-01-13 13:40:32 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1082919801 Black2nature sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1082923150 Black2Nature run nature camps for VME children and teenagers, conferences on how the environmental sector (nature, nature conservation, environmental, environmental educators, environmental media and wildlife/environmental film-making) can become ethnically diverse and engage VME people.]]> 2021-01-13 13:41:23 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1082923150 #iwill_campaign sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1082959785 The leaders of tomorrow? Why wait until tomorrow. The #iwill campaign works with organisations to champion young people as leaders of change. #PowerOfYouth]]> 2021-01-13 13:50:13 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1082959785 Tech for change sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1084317173 Technology doesn’t just entertain us and make our lives easier — it has the capacity to change the world for the better, too. Green technologies can combat global warming. Biomedical devices can eliminate barriers for people with disabilities. E-learning can open previously unimaginable possibilities for children. And that’s just scratching the surface. These are the products and technologies that won’t just upgrade our lives — they’ll upgrade our world.]]> 2021-01-13 18:13:47 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1084317173 NUSTEM Electric Chickens and things! sciencecentres https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1107260930 Connect is a project that NUSTEM are running with the Centre for Life, funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority. A 3-year programme where families make digital puppets which react to each other over the internet]]> 2021-01-20 18:57:24 UTC https://padlet.com/sciencecentres/Inspiring_Digital_Engagement/wish/1107260930