Donna Speed shared the recent history of We The Curious, a Bristol-based science centre, with the AVEA conference in Waterford.
The museum faced a major fire in 2022, leading to a two-year, multi-million-pound restoration project, reopening in 2024. Community engagement drives exhibitions like Project What If, built on seven key questions from 20,000 public submissions.
Staff solidarity saved 19 jobs during COVID by voluntarily reducing hours, demonstrating a strong organisational culture.
A 2025 protest over a historical donation tested the museum’s purpose-led approach, with staff managing a takeover to ensure safety. The centre rebranded from At-Bristol after community consultation with nearly 1,000 responses.
Donna Speed shared: “Imagine a world where everyone is included, curious, and inspired by science to build a better world together. The staff response was incredible. They read the situation, in a way, that kept everyone safe. Leading by purpose and putting people first will always lead you to keep conversations and situations.”
