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The First Science Centre World Congress held in Vantaa, near Helsinki, from June 14 to June 18 was the occasion for an interesting gathering of many people from all around the world interested in mathematical exhibits and, more generally, for showing mathematics to general audiences.
One main point of note is the strong interest in mathematical exhibits - in particular in those which are cheap yet "with content"- coming from museum activities in Asian countries : Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia,...
Another interesting discussion centered around the very ambitious project of the Museum of Science in Barcelona : Mathematics in daily life. This project is carried at a European level. The author is C.ALSINA. J.WAGENSBERG and M.DEMAZURE asked for collaboration.
Even though mathematics are not a material, tangible, thing, interest in mathematics can be stimulated by exhibits that are beautiful or mind-teasing, or both!
There was a general agreement among the participants in this round table, that it is a non-trivial but useful task to pursue, through the year 2000 and thereafter.
Jean Michel KANTOR
Universite PARIS 7