The target of the North Africa and Middle East Science centers network (NAMES) is to provide professional development for the science center field in the North Africa and Middle East region. NAMES aims to promote best practices, to support effective communication and to strengthen the position of science centers within the community at large. NAMES aspires to encourage excellence and innovation in informal science learning by serving and linking its members in the Middle East and North Africa Region and advancing their common goals, as well as linking them to the global community of science centers.

NAMES first General Assembly Meeting is to take place on 2-3 November 2008. The theme of the conference is “The Role of Science Centers in Establishing Knowledge-Based Societies in the Region“. One of the keynote speakers will be Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of Bibliotheca Alexandrina; he will be delivering a talk about “Islamic Civilization and Science”. Sub-themes that will be tackled in parallel sessions and workshops will be “Networking and Advocacy” and “Effective Non-Traditional Methods of Science Communication”.