Children’s Museum to host conference to popularise science

AMMAN — The North Africa and Middle East Science centres network (NAMES) conference will be held in Jordan for the first time in October, The Children’s Museum announced on Tuesday.  

The NAMES 2016 Conference will be hosted by The Children’s Museum in Amman, under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania, the museum’s director Sawsan Dalaq told reporters at a press conference. 

The three-day conference, under the theme of “Reach”, aims to exchange expertise in the fields of education and science centres, Dalaq said.  

Subthemes for the conference include “Your Audience”, “Your Content” and “Your Impact”, she said. 

Some 45 keynote speakers and researchers from across the region, Europe and the US will present interactive sessions, and 12 workshops will be held, she added. 

Dalaq, who is also president of NAMES’ board of directors, briefed reporters on the network and its work. 

NAMES was launched on January 30, 2006 during a meeting organised by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Planetarium Science Centre, according to its website. 

The goal of NAMES is to popularise science across the region by enhancing public understanding and involvement in  scientific culture among an increasingly diverse audience.

Hosting the event in Jordan is “a golden opportunity” for the Kingdom to promote an interactive and inspiring educational environment, the museum’s director told reporters. 

“Anyone with a passion for science and knowledge can attend the conference, which opens on October 26,” she added.  

Nonetheless, NAMES 2016 targets leaders of institutions and departments, heads of development and planning in government departments and the commissions that supervise them.

It is also a learning opportunity for people who work in museums or education, she noted. 

People wishing to participate can access the website: http://www.namesnetwork.org/Names2016/Home/Home.aspx to register and those who participate will receive an accredited certificate.