The next edition of the Talent City conference, taking place on 14th-15th October, brings a completely new programme block. On Thursday, 15th October, a stage dedicated to science centres and informal education will open for the first time at the Great World of Technology. It is being prepared by the World of Technology together with the Czech Association of Science Centres. The first day, Wednesday, 14th October, will be dedicated to workshops for kindergartens and primary schools, which will take place at the World of Technology and other locations in Ostrava.
Participation is free, registration is only required - HERE
The aim of the stage is to present inspiring approaches and specific programmes through which science centres and other informal education institutions support children's curiosity, interests, talents, and abilities. It will also demonstrate how to create opportunities for discovering the potential of children and young people. The stage is primarily intended for staff of informal education institutions who prepare and implement educational, interest-based, or leisure activities for children and young people, as well as for their management. However, it is also open to parents, workers from organisations supporting children and youth, and all other interested parties in the development of children's curiosity and talent.
Stage programme:
- 9:00 – 9:55 Introductory Inspirational Marketplace
- 10:00 – 10:50 Moderated Debate – From Curiosity to Talent – speakers Andrea Hoffmannová, Jakub Rybář, Roman Chvátal
- 10:50 – 11:30 Break
- 11:30 – 13:00 Moderated Impulses of Cooperation, Inspiration and Sharing or How We Do It Here
- o Block 1) 11:30 – 11:50 Science Centres as Spaces for Discovery and Talent Development – speakers Eva Dušková (iQLANDIA), Monika Tomečková (VIDA!), Gabriela Macurová (World of Technology)
- o Block 2) 11:55 – 12:15 From Curiosity to Long-term Development – programmes of science centres for gifted children – speakers Jitka Mutínská (Techmania Science Centre), Šárka Kostková (Fortress of Knowledge), Halina Šimková (SFÉRA Pardubice)
- o Block 3) 12:20 – 12:40 Competitions and Challenges as a Path to Talent Development – speakers Tomáš Gráf (Astronomical Olympiad), Jakub Holub (ESERO), Marek Kovář (Pangea)
- o Block 4) 12:45 – 13:05 Laboratories, Clubs and Educational Programmes for Gifted Children – speakers Jitka Richtová (OpenLAB), Petra Matulová (Bioskop), Hana Kalusová (Children's Mensa), Jeanne Bočková (Centre for Talented Youth)
- 13:05 conclusion, possibly continuation of the discussion
- Programme subject to change
The Talent City 2026 conference has received the patronage of the wife of the President of the Czech Republic, Eva Pavlová, and is being realised thanks to financial support from the statutory city of Ostrava. The conference is co-financed from the Erasmus+ project Talents Without Borders, project number: 2026-1-CZ01-KA121-SCH-000406781 and Europe Direct Ostrava.
