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At-Bristol’s new Chief Executive is announced
Dr. Goéry Delacôte, a renowned French scientist and science educator has
been recruited as the new Chief Executive for At-Bristol, the South West’s
award winning flagship science centre.
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For the past fifteen years Dr. Goéry Delacôte has been
the Executive Director of the Exploratorium in San Francisco, the
internationally celebrated science museum. He was formerly Professor
of Physics at the University of Paris, Chairman of the Board of the
Palais de la Decouverte (the famous French science museum), and
Director of the Science and Technology Information Division of the
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS).
As previously announced, Professor John Durant, the
present Chief Executive, will be leaving At-Bristol in the summer to
take up a new position as a Professor at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology and Director of the MIT Museum in Cambridge,
Massachusetts. During John’s period in office, At-Bristol has
successfully established itself as one of the leading independent
science centres in the country, winning numerous awards for its
buildings, exhibitions and programmes. |
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Dr. Goéry Delacôte commented: “At-Bristol is one of the top millennium
science centres in the UK. It is a young, flexible, dynamic organisation,
with a strong board and a dedicated and enthusiastic staff. Since its
inception It has had two talented leaders, Gillian Thomas and John Durant;
and it has enjoyed the support of Professor Richard Gregory, one of the
creators of hands on science in Europe.
With the support of the Board and all the staff, my aim is to develop
At-Bristol into a European leader in exhibit design and educational and
media based programmes in science and technology. At-Bristol will become
the hub of a UK and European network of partner science centres, museums,
schools and universities. We will also form an alliance with the
Exploratorium in San Francisco, a leader among US science centres, taking
the benefit of the strength of both places to gain an even larger impact
on the field of science education worldwide.
This is an ambitious and exciting agenda and with the help of all
At-Bristol's many supporters I am convinced that it can be achieved. I am
thrilled to come and lead this process.”
Professor John Durant, the current Chief Executive of At-Bristol,
commented: ”I’m absolutely delighted with this appointment. At-Bristol is
a young, enterprising and extremely successful science centre, with a
strong and expanding programme of exhibitions and educational services.
Under Goéry Delacôte’s leadership, I have no doubt that At-Bristol will
now go on to become a leading centre for informal science education
internationally.”
Peter McIlwraith, Chairman of At-Bristol, added: ”Over the past five years
John Durant has led At-Bristol with great distinction. It is a compliment
to what he and his staff have achieved that we have been able to attract
such a senior figure in the science centre community as Goéry Delacôte to
take his place. Goéry comes to us from the most famous science centre in
the world, the San Francisco Exploratorium, and his considerable
experience is just what At-Bristol needs as we look to expand our work –
locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.”
Dr. Goéry Delacôte is due to start his position as Chief Executive of
At-Bristol in September 2005.
To contact the At-Bristol Press Office, please call Annabel Iles:
Tel: 0117 915 7152, fax: 0117 915 7200 or email
annabel.iles@at-bristol.org.uk
Note to Editors:
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Dr. Goéry Delacôte will be available for press
interviews between 4.00pm and 5.30pm on 24 May and again at the same
time of day on 25 May (please see At-Bristol press office for contact
details).
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At-Bristol, a registered
charity, has won 13 awards since opening in 2000 including the Good
Britain Guide 2001’s ‘Family Attraction of the Year’ and ‘Large Attraction
of the Year’ in the England in Excellence Awards South West. It consists
of three attractions:
Explore-At-Bristol - a hands-on science centre, IMAX® Theatre-At-Bristol
- the largest cinema screen in the west of England and Wildwalk-At-Bristol
- a journey from the origins of life to the ends of the Earth.
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It is a Landmark
Millennium Attraction whose principal partners include the Millennium
Commission (£44.3 million), the South West of England Regional Development
Agency (£17.1 million) and Bristol City Council (£15.7 million).
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