Overview
The Ecsite Directors Forum is an annual meet up for Senior Managers from Ecsite Full and Associate members. Multiple representatives per organisation are welcome. The 2025 Ecsite Directors Forum is hosted by Ciência Viva at the Pavilion of Knowledge in Lisbon, Portugal on 20 & 21 November (+ optional networking tours on 22 & 23 November). The Directors Forum is the ideal opportunity to build relationships and network with peers from across Europe in this 2-day Forum which offers a confidential platform to share expertise, debate and exchange knowledge with one another. |
|
Programme
At this years Ecsite Directors Forum, Bart Brandsma, a Dutch philosopher and journalist renowned for his groundbreaking work on depolarisation strategies in society will deliver a keynote on his conflict management framework. Followed by an afternoon of facilitated workshops where participants will apply the framework to their own polarisation case studies. The Ecsite Board and Team will share updates on future new activities for 2026, before a networking dinner joined by writer Afonso Cruz. Friday will focus on sharing insights from the workshops, discussions, and a look ahead to Ecsite’s upcoming 2026 events, ending in a lunch. There is an option to visit the Oceanário de Lisboa included in the Directors Forum fee (limited places) |
|
POST DIRECTORS FORUM TOURS
For those who would like to make the most of their trip to Portugal, participants have the opportunity to join longer Post Directors Forum Tours. The team at Ciência Viva have pulled together a wonderful package of tours (for an extra charge) to visit other science centres within the Ciência Viva network. |
|
Tickets
A ticket to the Ecsite Directors Forum includes lunch on 20 & 21 November, Dinner on 20 November and coffees breaks throughout.
Ticket price: €285 incl. 0% VAT.
€15 from each paid registration will be donated to an environmental legacy project selected by Ciência Viva.
Practical Information
The Pavilion of Knowledge is located just 3.5km from the main Humberto Delgado Airport.
The nearest Train station is Oriente Station which is just over a 10 minute walk to the Pavilion of Knowledge or you can take bus numbers 728 or 26B to Oceanário Lisboa (Lisbon Aquarium)
Our host has recommended the Ikonik Lisboa hotel which is only a 5 minute walk from the Pavilion of Knowledge.
Pavilion of Knowledge address:
Pavilhão do Conhecimento - Centro Ciência Viva
Largo José Mariano Gago, nº1
Parque das Nações
1990-073 Lisboa
Speakers
Bart Brandsma
Bart Brandsma is a Dutch philosopher and journalist renowned for his groundbreaking work on depolarisation strategies in society. He is the author of “The Spiral of Polarization” and he developed the Frame Theory; a practical model used across Europe to address rising social tensions. Brandsma works closely with governments, police forces, educators, and civil society organizations, offering tools to navigate conflicts and promote dialogue. His approach shifts the focus from debating extremes to engaging the "silent middle," fostering constructive communication in divided communities. He works worldwide, from Cambodia, Lebanon to Congo, and in Europe from Helsinki to Barcelona, from Belfast to Kyiv. His company, Inside Polarization VOF, was created to deliver means and tools to professionals who need to show strong leadership in the challenges that us-thinking poses in our time.
Afonso Cruz
Afonso Cruz is a Portuguese multidisciplinary artist, author of more than 40 books, among novels, theatre plays, picture books, juvenile novellas, poetry, photo-text, poetry, non-fiction and essays. His books are published in more than 20 languages. During his career he received many awards, such the EU Prize for Literature for the novel Kokoschka’s Doll. He also works as a filmmaker, an illustrator, and a music writer. He studied at Escola Superior de Belas Artes de Lisboa and at Instituto Superior de Artes Plásticas of Madeira, in Portugal.
Questions? Contact us at members@ecsite.eu
Ecsite, 89/7, Avenue Louise, Louizalaan, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium VAT number: BE0443 655 135 |  Follow us on social media
|
