The Ecsite Annual Conference 2017 kicked off in Porto, Portugal, with some award winners, which were unveiled during the opening ceremony this morning (15 June).

The Mariano Gago Ecsite Awards acknowledge the best projects in the science centres and museums sector, which encourage science communication and engagement.

In the Smart and Simple category, TRACES - Espace des Sciences Pierre-Gilles De Gennes in Paris, France, claimed the honour for its Frugal Science exhibition.

Frugal Science looks at how to recycle and reuse scientific instruments in order to save money and materials, looking at frugal science projects across the globe. It's complemented by a parallel track of workshops, round tables and conferences in which science professionals and the public collaborate and share ideas.

"The jury was deeply impressed by the innovative, smart approach this project takes on both exhibition making and tinkering," said Sharon Ament, chairperson of the jury and director at Museum of London. "We were inspired by the idea of the exhibition as a living thing, which might well be a new museological paradigm; an experience co-constructed with visitors and curated and narrated by an 'exhibition biographer'."

In the Sustainable Success category, Dialogue Social Enterprise won the award for an exhibition concept called Dialogue in the Dark. The Hamburg, Germany-based organisation created a multi-sensory experience that takes place in pitch black, where visitors are led by blind people through different everyday environments. The first exhibit took place in 1988, designed to challenge people's perceptions of blindness, and has since travelled to 180 cities.

"The jury was humbled by this project's social relevance, its ambition to trigger deep change in participants and its impact on visitors, hosting organisations and ambassador-guides," said Ament.

Finally, NOESIS - Thessaloniki Science Centre received a special mention for its work with children in the city's refugee camps. The refugees are offered programmes in their native language, helping them learn and integrate with the local community.

"This initiative is an inspiration for our field, strongly echoing Ecsite's values of inclusion, diversity and active citizenship," Ament said.

The attraction dedicated the award to the many hundreds of people who have lost their lives making the crossing to Greece.

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