XXV ENCUENTRO AMUCYTE

The City of Arts and Sciences and the Association of Science and Technology Museums and Centers of Spain (AMUCYTE) are organizing, within the framework of the 25th anniversary of the Museu de les Ciències, the 25th edition of the Meeting of Science and Technology Museums and Centers of Spain (AMUCYTE).

Under the theme “Science Museums in the Ibero-American Context. The Importance of Walking Together”, this forum will bring together in Valencia directors, professionals, and science communicators from museums, planetariums, and science centers in Spain and the Ibero-American region to reflect on the social role of these institutions in the 21st century.

For three days, from October 1 to 3, the City of Arts and Sciences will host conferences, round tables, and spaces for dialogue addressing the challenges and opportunities faced by science museums: their identity, their social function, their real impact on society, team training, new exhibition strategies, funding opportunities, and international collaboration. It will be a unique opportunity to break boundaries, share experiences, and promote joint projects with institutions across Ibero-America.

The program will begin on Wednesday, October 1 with accreditation. On Thursday, October 2, the inaugural conference “Weaving Networks” will open the day at 10:00 a.m., focusing on models of collaboration between museums in Portugal, Mexico, and Spain. Speakers will include María Emilia Beyer, Director of Universum in Mexico City, and Pedro Russo, Director of Ciência Viva in Portugal and Professor at Leiden University (Netherlands), moderated by Javier Hidalgo, Head of Science Exhibitions and Content at Fundación “la Caixa” and Vice President of AMUCYTE.

At 12:00 p.m., the round table “Professionals Who Transform: Career Paths and Challenges in Science Museums” will be held, a debate on the diverse professional realities in museums, science centers, and planetariums. Participants will include Alejandra Castellanos, Senior Manager of Strategic Development at the American Museum of Natural History in New York; Pere Viladot, founding member of El Museo Transformador collective and former Head of Education at the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona; and Ricardo Rubiales, Director of the Museo de la Luz in Mérida, Mexico, moderated by Mari Carmen Perea, Managing Director of MUDIC.

In the afternoon, the Partners’ Forum will open, providing institutions and companies with a space to present innovation and technology proposals. Participating organizations will include the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), the Natural History Museum of London, and the American Museum of Natural History in New York. This block will be followed by the Members’ Forum, dedicated to short presentations addressing the social role of museums around sustainability, participation, and accessibility.

On Friday, October 3, at 11:30 a.m., the round table “Awareness, Education, and Mediation in AMUCYTE” will take place, focusing on the diversity of educational approaches and best practices in science communication. Speakers will include Antonia Varela, Director of the Museum of the Cosmos in Tenerife and Member of the AMUCYTE Board; Antoni Joan Arrizabalaga, Director of the Museu de Ciències Naturals de Granollers; and María Isabel Torres, Education Department of MIMMA in Málaga, moderated by Pilar López, Deputy Director of the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC) and Head of the Communication and Scientific Culture Area.

The 25th AMUCYTE Meeting invites professionals and the general public to look together toward the future of science museums, sharing experiences and opening new paths to bring science closer to society.

🔴 Live Broadcast
The meeting will be recorded and streamed on the official YouTube channel of the City of Arts and Sciences, allowing audiences to follow the main presentations in real time from anywhere.

Thursday, October 2
• 10:00 a.m. – Inaugural conference “Weaving Networks”
• 12:00 p.m. – Round table “Professionals Who Transform: Career Paths and Challenges in Science Museums”

Friday, October 3
• 11:30 a.m. – Round table “Awareness, Education, and Mediation”