Image via Conor Horgan
Science Gallery International (SGI) has announced that Italian science communicator Andrea Bandelli is to be its new CEO, beginning his role on 1 May.
Andrea Bandelli is be brought in following the announcement towards the end of last year that the SGI’s founder and CEO, Dr Michael John Gorman, was to step down.
Gorman had stated at the time that he was to pursue a new role in the German city of Munich, but would be remaining with SGI in an advisory role as chairperson of the SGI Executive Council.
As for Bandelli, the Italian is recognised as having championed the use of the internet as a collaborative educational platform in schools and museums in his native country in the early 1990s.
He has also led, managed and evaluated several international projects linked with science, art, democracy and public participation, many of which were a collaboration with Ecsite, the European network of science centres and museums.
Bringing SGI to five continents
Bandelli’s appointment as CEO comes as the SGI embarks on its international expansion following the completion of a €1.1m funding deal last year, with additional Science Galleries to open in London, Melbourne and Bangalore in the coming months and years.
Throughout his career, Bandelli has been heavily invested in the topic of public engagement with science and is currently conducting doctoral research on scientific citizenship and the role of public participation in science centres.
Bandelli has previous experience working with SGI, having been a principal evaluator between 2013 and 2015.
Speaking of his appointment, Bandelli said: “Through my own work I have seen the Science Gallery approach first developed at Trinity College Dublin grow to become a leading model for public engagement with science and art.
“Now, I want to bring this approach to all five continents, and ensure that the Global Science Gallery Network continues as a model of collaboration and innovation in public engagement.”
Adding praise for his appointment, the chair of SGI, Chris Horn, said: “Andrea has a deep appreciation of the interplay of science and the arts and is respected internationally for his work directing collaborative projects that aim to provoke public engagement, creativity and discovery.”
