Welcome to the third edition of the EMME Summer School! You joining us this year is a major step in your professional development in the science centers and museums field and I am sure you will find every session and workshop beneficial and of great value.
The programme was designed for this round of EMME to ensure new topics and areas are introduced for the benefit of the returning participants while also maintaining the basic topics essential for learning about running a science center or museum. I would like to sincerely thank this edition’s wonderful speakers whom are enriching the programme with their experience and knowledge – thank you very much for your time and efforts. We would not be attending this EMME round without the dedication of our Ecsite and NAMES partners who have contributed in thought, planning and effort to make every summer school a success. Most, if not all, of the Partners have joined forces from the early days with a firm belief that such an initiative is much needed to ensure that countries north of the Mediterranean are supporting their friends and colleagues in the South in what is an emerging field in the NAMES region. This partnership and all that it entails is a true example of dedication and in going the extra several miles to contribute to development in the North Africa and Middle East regions. Since its inception, the EMME Summer School was supported and made possible by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) by generously providing funding for each round and supporting each of the hosts.
Their generous financial support reflects true dedication to the advancement of science not only in Kuwait but regionally too and on behalf of NAMES, I extend our gratitude for this support. I also thank Universcience Partenaires who have taken their role as partners in this initiative a step further by funding five grants for attendees from the NAMES region to participate in the EMME Summer School.
These grants create possibilities for individuals from North Africa and the Middle East to attend EMME and benefit from its rich content – thank you! Our hosts this year, Città della Scienza, have been instrumental in being the first to initiate EMME as well as working towards making it a reality. We are elated to be in Napoli to not only enjoy the re-opening of Città della Scienza but also learn from your wonderful team and leadership on perseverance and that the belief the greater cause can turn a tragedy into a story of success.
On behalf of everyone at NAMES, I sincerely thank Città della Scienza’s leadership for believing in this partnership and for hosting EMME 2017.
Last but not least, are the creative people who have been working for several months now on putting together the programme and logistics; whether they are our hosts or members of the NAMES Secretariat Office. Thank you for your outstanding efforts. To all participants, I hope you learn something new every day at EMME 2017, make new friends in your field of work and create wonderful experiences – enjoy!
Sawsan Dalaq, NAMES and the Children’s Museum Jordan