The Beacon of the Year award is a lifetime achievement award for science engagement professionals in Europe and is awarded to inspirational individuals who have spent a career making a difference in science engagement. It was presented at the 2023 Ecsite Conference held in Malta in June.
Announcing the award, Chair of the awarding jury Maya Halevy said: “your work had a significant impact on the Ecsite community, strengthening the work of museum practitioners and inspiring the research community. You champion the role of science engagement in addressing wicked problems, promoting constructive dialogue in an increasingly post-factual, science-skeptical world. Your participation in the debate counteracts polarisation and encourages constructive dialogue."
A Professor of Science and Environmental Education at IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society, Justin’s research focuses on learning and engagement in and out of schools. After studying for a degree in Chemistry, Justin trained as a teacher and taught in London schools before joining King’s College London in 1989, where he worked as a researcher and teacher educator until 2014.
Justin was President of the European Science Education Research Association (ESERA) from 2007-11 and is President of the UK National Association for Environmental Education. He is Chair of trustees of the Exeter Science Centre. He edits the journal, Studies in Science Education, and is an editor of the International Journal of Science Education.
Professor Dillon said: “I am delighted to receive this award from the Ecsite community of science engagement practitioners and researchers. I have enjoyed working with brilliant individuals in world-class museums, science centres and botanic gardens for decades. I've always felt that the impact of our research is greater in this sector than with schools because they have more control over what they do and how they do it.
"I have learned so much from my many collaborations and hope that while this is a lifetime award - there will still be opportunities to continue learning and sharing.”
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Credit: Courtesy of Ecsite.