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Q&A with Alan Brien

TEN met with President of ASPAC and CEO of Scitech, Alan Brien, to discuss the organisation’s history; from its foundation in the early 90s to the “inspirational science camp” theme of this year’s conference in Manila.

TEN: Could you explain a little bit about your role, and responsibilities?

Alan Brien: I was elected as President of ASPAC at the end of 2013 and will serve a two year term from 2014 to the end of 2015. As the CEO of Scitech, in Perth Western Australia we have been a founding Member of ASPAC and have been attended ASPAC Conferences since 1997. I have been elected by our 47 full members from the across the Asian-Pacific region with the main aim being to foster co-operation and collaboration on the best practice for the management and planning of interactive science centres. I lead an Executive Council that comprises eight elected representatives and we have a very dedicated Executive Officer, Mr Yip who is based in Hong Kong. We are very fortunate that Mr Yip is an honorary executive officer; especially given his rich science centre experience at the Hong Kong Space Museum and Science Museum (from 1981 to 2007). And more recently at the Macao Science Centre where he was the founding Executive Director and Chief Curator (from 2007 to 2013).

I have been the CEO of Scitech since 2000 and during this time we have expanded our science programs from 160,000 visitors each year to 300,000 and a further 180,000 through our Outreach services. Scitech’s outreach programs operate over the world’s largest area with a fleet of 6 trucks, travelling in excess of 50,000 per year.

Scitech has 139 staff and we are also Australia’s leading designer and manufacturer of interactive exhibitions. We currently have 12 exhibitions available for tour. In the past month two Scitech exhibitions (Speed and Top Secret) and opened in Berkeley California and the Lawrence Hall of Science and COSI in Columbus Ohio respectively. Scitech exhibitions are very popular across Australia and Sth East Asia.

TEN: Have you always been involved with science and technology?

AB: I have a Master’s in Education with a major in management; I was formerly the Director of Sport and Recreation at the University of Western Australia; from there I worked at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra in international sports promotion and programming. More recently I have been involved in park management and the introduction of concerts, festivals and night movies in public parks.

I arrived at the science centre asking the question, “Wouldn’t you prefer a scientist as the CEO?” . My Chair responded that’s not what we are seeking. We need a business manager with leadership skills to grow the business and connect with government and industry to improve our stakeholder relations. And that is what I have been doing for the past 15 years!!

TEN: Can you tell me a little bit about the history of ASPAC – how did it get started?

AB: There are mixed memories of how ASPAC was started, with a number of claims of its initiation. After an initial exchange of mails that can be tracked between a number of parties including UNESCO, the first formal discussion with record can be traced to a meeting held on November 6 1995 in the then Singapore Science Centre (now renamed as Science Centre Singapore) with participants from the host, Scitech Discovery Centre, The Investigator Science & Technology Centre, National Science Centre for Education of Thailand, National Science Centre and Petronas of Malaysia.

Some participants that had attended the ASTC found the issues covered there were very American, with very few Asian participants, and considered that the issues facing Asian Science Centres were very different. Asia was a growth region and an exchange of training and marketing programmes would be beneficial to all science centres, and advantageous in the area of sharing resources such as the cost of travelling exhibits. An interim committee was formed in 1996 and the inaugural meeting of ASPAC was held in Bangkok hosted by the Science Centre for Education from May 5 – 6 1997. The first ASPAC conference was held from September 3-5 1998 in the China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing.

TEN: How would you summarise its aims?

AB: The original aims of ASPAC are to encourage communication, information exchange, staff exchanges and collaboration amongst science centres of the region, to act as a supportive body of informed opinion which can be consulted by members and others on the trends of science centre development, to encourage and facilitate the exchange of hands-on, interactive exhibits between members, to share information and experience on the science centre activities, and to promote collaboration with commercial companies and other specialist groups to achieve common aims. After over fifteen years of development, ASPAC decided to augment its aim in 2014 to include also to promote excellence and recognize outstanding quality in science centre products and services across the Network, and to support and collaborate with other science centre networks worldwide.

TEN: How many people usually attend the conference each year?

AB: Our conferences are held each year and they rotate across the region and they reflect the diversity of the region; hence each conference has a unique flavour and cultural experience. Over the past few years we have gathered in Brunei (2014); South Korea (2013) we generally have between 130-150 delegates attending each conference.

TEN: Why was The Mind Museum the right venue for the conference this year?

AB: Although ASPAC has the Philippine Science Centrum as one of its founding members, this is the first ASPAC conference to be held in Philippines.Without any government support, The Mind Museum demonstrated an important model of starting and operating an interactive science centre through its own fundraising effort and its programmes to sustain public participation.

As there are still many places in ASPAC region without a science centre, attending the conference, experiencing the museum and meeting with the staff working there will be a beneficial exchange. As ASPAC is also an area with growing number of science centres, many science centre network professionals outside the region and international companies looking for opportunities in Asia will also join the ASPAC conference, to help fulfil the aim of the conference: “an inspirational science camp”.

TEN: Why is it important, for you, to engage the wider public with science and technology?

AB: Social and economic prosperity is dependent on a country’s global competitiveness and its capacity for innovation and investment in science and technology. Where countries have a strong economic forecast it is possible to see a direct link between science education and public access to scientific information. Science Centres and Museums play a valuable role in introducing young children and parents to the exciting world of science and technology. We motivate and create interest and we support the work of classroom teachers in presenting science in a relevant and engaging manner. We create the scientists and technologists of tomorrow as well as a scientific literate community.

TEN: What are the challenges that come with this?

AB: The ASPAC region comprises over 60% of the world’s population and is the most diverse in economic standards; raising STEM teaching and learning across the region is critical for social and economic advancement. Ensuring our teachers are well supported and have access to the latest technology is a vital role for science centres across the region. The other major area of concern is creating STEM engagement opportunities for our young people (12 yrs to 18yrs), both in their schooling and also in leisure time. Motivated young people are critical to address future problems especially around climate, energy, food and water and global health.

TEN: What does the future hold for ASPAC?

AB: ASPAC operates in one of the worlds fastest growing regions; science centres are recognised as one of the most trusted and valuable community assets for public science education and encouraging further studies in STEM. ASPAC as a network must continue to share and collaborate across the region to ensure we are all making a true impact in our respective communities.