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President's Message
Welcome to ASPAC Conference 2007 in Tokyo!
It will be wonderful to meet again in a great Science Centre, Miraikan, as well as to discover - or re-discover - Tokyo & Japan, which is so rich & unique in its culture, history & beauty.
ASPAC membership has grown since last we met, but we are still very much a family-like network with lots of goodwill, energy and propensity to share & help one another in this region. In the international scene we have increasingly involved ourselves in world-wide Science Centre projects such as APEC Science Centre impact project, IGLO project, and other proposed joint-network projects that will benefit all members from ASPAC, ASTC, ECSITE etc. We are also being represented in the International Program Committee for the next Science Centre World Congress in June 2008 in Toronto. We will have discussions with all full members on the direction that ASPAC will take for the next 10 years, now that we are celebrating the 10 year Anniversary of ASPAC’s inauguration in Bangkok.
In our Science Centre world, we are passionate about what impact we have on the people we touch. Increasingly, we are encouraged that there are many instances where we have been seen by our communities to have made a difference - by the policy-makers, the formal education sector, and the public at large. However there are always more we can do to position ourselves better. In particular, there is more we can do in profiling ourselves with the scientists & scientific communities whose science we want to communicate, not to mention that they are invaluable partners in our business. That’s why it’s so appropriate that ASPAC 2007 is holding this year’s annual conference at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, or Miraikan, which is a role-model for including real scientists & engineers in their programming. Being led by a celebrated scientist & astronaut like Dr. Mamoru Mohri is a tough act to follow, but I am sure we will learn lots from what Miraikan has done in using new communication tools to convey cutting-edge science & technology. It’s so apt that this year’s theme of “Bridging Gaps in Innovative Ways” is held in this new type of science museum that has successfully linked people with state-of-art knowledge & innovation.
The ASPAC conference programming around this theme is also splendid - sharing successful ways & innovative ideas for our science centres to be relevant & sustainable into the future. In a constantly changing world, Science Centres must continue to nurture inquiring minds, science process skills & creative thinking skills in our citizens while promoting Science & Technology and life-long learning. We are an important resource for our countries’ future growth and sustainable development.
Despite all our busy schedules back at our science centres, we are here because we know the coming 3 days will be invaluable for our institutions as well as for our personal professional development. Enjoy the sharing & networking, & have a great time in Tokyo!
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