Why the EMME Summer School?

Countries of the Euro-Mediterranean and Middle East share the same history and tackle today the same concerns for the development of the region. Moreover, with the events unfolding in this area in the recent years, there is a need to reinforce a stronger partnership with people and to support democratic transformation and institution-building, with the aim to deliver sustainable and inclusive growth and job creation.
 

By unifying their efforts, science centres can play an important role as agent of change in this framework. This means not only to act in their limited local areas, but also globally.
 

This is the purpose of the project Euro-Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) Summer School for Science Communication, promoted by ECSITE and NAMES and some of their members, which aims to create premises for a long-standing cooperation in the next years.
 

After preliminary working discussions, partners organisations have signed last 1stJune 2012 in Toulouse a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to co-operate in order to launch the project since 2013.
 

The first edition was launched in September 2013 in Granda Spain. It was promoted by two networks, under the auspices of Unesco, TWAS (Third World Academy of Science) and PAM (Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean).

Scope and objectives of the Summer School

The EMME Summer School aims to build capacity among professionals working in the field of science communication; more specifically for the management of science centres, science museums and related programs (science festivals, science clubs, etc.) in the Euro-Mediterranean and Middle East regions.
 

The main objectives of the EMME Summer School are: (a) to consolidate existing science centres in the Euro-Mediterranean and Middle East, their activities and programs; (b) to support the development of new science centers and communication projects in the region; (c) to enhance science centers’ advocacy in society including but not limited to institutions at the national and regional levels; (d) to exchange expertise, practices and activities among professionals in the field; (e) to stimulate the development of cooperative projects among the members of the two networks.
 

The Specific Goal of the Summer School is to set-up a Euro-Mediterranean and Middle East Framework for science centers to reinforce their capacities, to strengthen dialogue and exchange, and to increase the community of players working for public engagement in science in the region.

Who is the summer school aimed at ?

•   The EMME Summer School addresses future leaders in this field by providing them with professional skills and expertise for the development and management of sustainable projects in the future. Beneficiaries are middle profile staff of existing science centres/museums and newcomers (universities, local authorities, associations, etc.) with projects of new science centres and activities in the field of science communication from the Euro-Mediterranean and Middle East regions.
• The EMME Summer School takes place each year in September for a duration of one week (five days), in a different location around the Mediterranean and in the Middle East.
• The training program includes different teaching formats: lectures and theoretical contents, as well as practical workshops, case studies, visits, etc. Speakers and facilitators are chosen for their consolidated experience in the science centre field in order to give participants concrete skills and a knowledge based on practical expertise.
• The EMME Summer School is open to all members of the NAMES and Ecsite networks, in priority to those members located or aiming at being located in the Middle East, in North Africa and/or in Europe, in their geographical definitions.