Ecsite-UK, the UK network of science centres, museums and natural history attractions, has changed its name to Association for Science and Discovery Centres.

The rebranding is part of the trade body's strategy to increase its independence. For the past eight years, the body has been part of The British Science Association (BSA).

By cutting its ties with BSA, ASDC will be able to operate as an independent legal entity with its own finance, banking and IT systems, working from its new office in Bristol.

According to Penny Fidler, director of ASDC, setting up its own office and administrative systems also enables the organisation to act more efficiently as it "strives to offer more events and opportunities for staff across the UK to meet one another, join together for collaborative projects and to share best practice".

She added that the ASDC will continue to work closely with the European Network of Science Centers and Museums (ECSITE).

"There will be no change to the membership structure until January 2010," she said. "Until that time, as in all previous years, 70 per cent of the membership fee will be transferred to ECSITE Europe for its member services and 30 per cent will remain with us. We will be consulting members on a new membership structure over the summer."