Metaphors for the “žcommons” in the media

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Metaphors for the “žcommons” in the media

Author: Franzisca Weder – University of Queensland, School of Communication and Arts, Australia

Co-author:
Nikolá Dobric – Alpen-Adria University of Klagenfurt

What a nice title: Communicating the Sustainable Development Goals – For Everyone![1] However, not only the United Nations offer tools, means and workshops like this to communicate sustainability and the related 17 “goals”. National and international consultants advice to tell the “sustainability story”, use “pics more than words” or other strategies to “associate your brand with sustainability”. Nevertheless, coming from a science communication perspective, we seem to just beginning to get to grips with the gravity of the challenge of communicating sustainability.

At this stage, we’re “trapped” in a pilot study on value-based messages about environmental goods (air, water and soil) in the media and how they change as they travel in the public sphere, understood as „sphere of influence created when different individuals engage each other in communication – through conversation, argument, debate, and questions – about subjects of shared concern or that affect a wider community” (Cox, 2013, p. 6). Therefore, we would love to put our idea and first insights from the pilot study up for discussion at PCTS and learn about arguments and metaphors for the “commons” (in general and related to the SDGs) in the scienctific, political, and economic discourse as well as in the media – and about the differences across cultures.

[1] http://www.un.org/webcast/pdfs/160421pm-sdgs-com.pdf, 28.09.2017.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Idea in progress
Theme: Stories
Area of interest: Comparing science communication across cultures

Public problematization of water supply and the risk of scarcity

Author: Franzisca Weder – University of Queensland, School of Communication and Arts, Australia

Co-author:
Denise Voci – Alpen-Adria University of Klagenfurt

By 2025, half of the world’s population, which is 1.8 billion people, will be living in water-stressed areas and an estimated two-thirds of the world population will be confronted with the unavailability of sufficient (drinking) water to meet their own needs (WHO, 2015; UN, 2014). Water supply and water scarcity are complex, sometimes abstract, global as well as very specific, local and regional problems, which often have invisible symptoms and require long-term solutions.

As often mentioned in the sustainability debate (see Dade & Hassenzahl, 2013; Allen, 2016; Godeman & Michelsen as an example), the key to sustainable development is that an issue is problematized in the public and stakeholders are involved in consumption/use, maintenance, cost recovery, and continuing support to realize sustainable resource management.

Whereas dry countries and regions (USA/California, Southern & Western Europe or Australia) are constantly facing water scarcity as one of the major effects of climate change, water-rich countries (Central Europe, Canada or New Zealand) seem to be not directly affected by physical scarcity of water. But interistingly enough, there seems no difference regarding the degree of problematization and therewith awareness of water scarcity as a “problem”.

The question for us is how to stimulate the power of public deliberation and conversations about enablers and barriers of sustainable water supply with evidence based information & data – even in countries where water scarcity is not an experienced reality yet or strategically kept away from the public agenda?

In our visual talk we will offer a video clip with some “impressive” bits of qualitative interviews which were conducted in Australia & across Europe in 2015-2017 with farmers, irrigators, politicans, activists, scientists and lay persons, pointing out the problem of individual numbness as well as unconsciousness in water consumption and conservation and the missing link to sustainability.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Visual talk
Theme: Society
Area of interest: Investigating science communication practices

Reflexivity on contradictions

Author: Franzisca Weder – University of Queensland, School of Communication and Arts, Australia

Co-author:
Larissa Krainer – Alpen-Adria University of Klagenfurt

With our presentation, we discuss how and how much “sustainability communication” challenges so far debated concepts of science communication. We put journalists, bloggers and communication strategists on the stage and ask for the potential as well as barriers of communicating sustainability in the media.

The state of art in science communication as well sustainability science right now includes remarkable breadth (Krcmar et al., 2016). However, this creates complicated challenges for those interested in sustainability communication (Dade & Hassenzahl, 2013; Allen, 2016). Sustainability communication requires a transdisciplinary approach (Godeman & Michelsen, 2011) which implies critical methods (Downing et al., 1995) like intervention research (Lerchester & Krainer, 2016) and story tracking with narrative interviews (Weder, 2017). Thus, we asked journalists, blogger and PR people in Central Europe (n = 25, 2009; n = 50, 2017) to tell the stories they relate to sustainable development and discuss the potential and barriers in communicating about and for sustainable development.

The interviewees point out economic interest of media corporations, short-term orientation and local interests as the main barriers in communicating an issue like sustainability. Their stories show that science communication in today’s public media needs critical journalism with a deeper understanding of ethics. Here, sustainability related issues can acts as “best practices” by showing contradictions in our society and critique of our social order.

By knowing about the selectivity of the interviewed communicators as the major limitation of our study, the sustainability issue seems to challenge science communication and related research. It not only marks a new type of “content” that has to be communicated. Journalists in particular realize that with their reporting on sustainability related issues and by offering reflexivity on existing paradoxes and contradictions, they contribute to sustainable development as well.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Individual paper
Theme: Stories
Area of interest: Building a theoretical basis for science communication

Defining public attitudes and understanding of human gene therapy in Australia

Author: Michel Watson – Australian National University, Australia

At a time where gene-editing tools and technology are becoming more efficient and cheaper, human gene therapy has never been more readily available to the public. It is therefore crucial to understand the public’s attitudes and awareness surrounding this technology in order to better align our regulations and policy with what Australian citizens deem acceptable. A national online survey was published late 2017 to assess the Australian publics’ attitude towards, and currently held beliefs of human gene therapy. A summary of the results from this survey will be presented at the 2018 Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference, Dunedin. As this therapy raises clear risks and ethics which will affect all citizens, the public must be allowed to have their say in the future regulations of this therapy. This survey will help contribute to the development of policy around the regulation of human gene therapy technology and its practices in Australia.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Individual paper
Theme: Society
Area of interest: Influencing policies through science communication

Empirical study on the golden ratio in Chinese landscape paintings

Author: Guoyan Wang – University of Science and Technology of China, China

Co-authors:
Jiafei Shen – University of Science and Technology of China

The golden ratio plays an important role in harmonious aesthetics. However, because of ambiguity in empirical evidence, it is often critiqued and thus quite controversial. Some researchers have attempted to analyze the golden ratio using a large variety of persuasive analytical methods of sample statistics but have only obtained evidence against the golden section in art. Examples of the golden ratio in both the natural and man-made world can always be found while no persuasive empirical evidence has been presented thus far.

The object of this study is one of the oldest visual arts: Chinese landscape paintings, which convey the eastern beauty of “psychological harmony”. Using computer image recognizing and processing technology to quantitatively analyze their typical characteristics, we analyze 710 paintings from the Palace Museum and the National Art Museum of China. In particular, we apply blank-leaving to comprehensively analyze the pixels of the paintings. The data shows that the quantified blank-leaving in classical landscape paintings is in accordance with the golden ratio of mathematics. The paintings range in date over thousands of years and this emphasizes a stable painting composition style, thus providing statistical, empirical evidence for the universality of the golden ratio in Chinese landscape paintings.

In addition, the data reveals that, in the past century, the blank-leaving of modern landscape paintings has gradually deviated from the golden ratio and the painting composition style has shown a trend of diversification. This reflects that classical visual arts have been greatly impacted by the modern pluralistic trend of thought.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Individual paper
Theme: Society
Area of interest: Comparing science communication across cultures

Biology in the media – An analysis of a communication magazine in Brazil

Author: Juliana Wallner Werneck Mendes – University of Sao Paulo Brazil

Co-authors:
Alessandra Bizerra – Universidade de Sao Paulo

Science communication is a channel connecting the academic world and the non-specialist public. It is commonly considered a simplified reflection of science production, but it is a unique discourse category that is modified by society’s dynamics. In the past few years, public’s relationship with the information flow went through intense changes, as obtaining information became much faster due to the internet.

Science communication magazines are an important vehicle for disseminating information. But have they been keeping up to these changes? Were there modifications in which topics they choose to publish? Do the public preferences affect their content? To help shed some light on this questions, this work aims to analyze how a communication magazine approached biology issues 20 years ago, and how it does now.

Superinteressante is the science communication magazine with the largest monthly circulation in Brazil. Analyzing the number and subject of articles it published regarding biology, we observed a significant increase in articles about “neurology”, “evolution” and “health”. “Zoology” and “genetics” decreased. In the qualitative discourse analysis performed in four selected articles, we observed a decrease in the text depth regarding biological information.

The analyses show that changes in topics addressed by Superinteressante are not directly related to the volume of scientific production; we need to take into consideration different factors, as society is not a passive element in this relationship. The approach regarding biology topics in Superinteressante changed according to its public’s profile, specially the new relation between society and the information flow. These modifications do not result, however, in a bigger public participation. Superinteressante often detaches its public from the processes of science production, as most of the mass media does. We expect this discussion can contribute to the planning and application of new communication strategies.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Show, tell and talk
Theme: Science
Area of interest: Investigating science communication practices

Age-specific opportunities and challenges found engaging the public in science

Author: Julia Wallace – Carleton University, Canada

Co-authors:
Pam Wolff – Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Science communication and public engagement activities are often geared towards children and their caregivers. Science centres and museums tend to focus on the hands-on and dazzling, exciting curiosity while catering to a child’s brief attention span.

These techniques are particularly unsuited to seniors, however. This increasing, and increasingly influential demographic, also deserves the opportunity to be informed despite the fast pace of scientific advance. Discoveries in the fields of ageing and health care may be particularly relevant, but many seniors show a desire to keep informed of all aspects of scientific advances from nanotechnology to cosmology. To meet this need, the material must be presented in an accessible manner, without having its complexity masked or stripped away.

Both cases – captivating children and keeping seniors connected and informed – are critically important to the science community. Recognition of the value of fundamental science waxes and wanes among politicians, but public and political views are often a self-reinforcing loop, and an informed and engaged population is the best defence against the devaluation of science and evidence based decision-making.

Carleton University has outreach programs to bring science to all ages, from mini-courses and summer day camps for children, to Science Cafes geared towards adults, to Learning in Retirement programs for seniors. We will share and discuss the opportunities and challenges we found engaging with audiences of all ages.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Show, tell and talk
Theme: Society
Area of interest: Influencing policies through science communication

If you want to go far, go together – partnerships to create African science centres

Author: Graham Walker – CPAS, Australian National University, Australia

As science communication becomes a global endeavour, organisations in affluent developed and poorer developing countries are establishing partnerships to build science communication capacity. It seems both apt and morally responsible that societies that place value on communicating science should share such practices with disadvantaged societies in which it is absent. This raises practical questions, e.g. which models are effective; what are the barriers and promoters to building capacity? In addition, there are deeper philosophical questions with profound practical implications – e.g. how can programs be relevant, acknowledge place and culture, ensure ownership, and not repeat colonialist mistakes? Critically, which approaches do organisations in developing countries want?

This paper addressees these questions using a case study of an Australian National University capacity building program Science Circus Africa which aims to develop science centres, science outreach programs and broader science communication capacity across Africa. While science journalism, training of scientists and other forms of science communication are developing across the continent, science centres and informal science learning and programs to develop them are sadly lacking – the vast area between South Africa and Egypt has only three science centres. Science Circus Africa – working hand in hand with passionate African partners – is making progress to change that.

The program includes training and outreach projects reaching over 68,000 people in seven countries – with the African organisations trained now reaching far more – along with intensive training for African science communicators in Australia. To answer the questions above, longitudinal quantitative and qualitative research on the training program will be presented – focussing on the often-overlooked viewpoints of trainees – along with reflections on programs in Africa which the author has been running since 2003. This evidence will be distilled to establish the qualities of effective science communication capacity building for the developing world.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Individual paper
Theme: Society
Area of interest: Comparing science communication across cultures

Getting all emotional about communicating science

Author: Graham Walker – CPAS, Australian National University, Australia

Emotions are a key aspect of effective science communication (Davies & Horst, 2016), but which emotions are critical and what is the underlying mechanism of eliciting them? This performance answers this question using the medium of ‘science shows’ – presentations combining live science demonstrations with dramatic delivery – as used in science centres globally. Although a common science communication method, science shows receive little theoretical analysis. The performance will showcase the role of emotions and motivational states including surprise, interest, enjoyment, awe, curiosity and intrinsic motivation, based on the presenters PhD research. These psychological states will be illustrated via intriguing, entertaining and interactive demonstrations in a performance that fuses science show presenting with insights from emotion psychology relevant to science communication.

Recently, psychologists have broken down emotions into their component parts or ‘triggers’, termed appraisal theories of emotion. By dissecting emotions into the mental appraisals that lead to them, science communicators can fine-tune how they elicit them. The performance will discuss these appraisals and show how they can be manipulated, especially through the use of performance techniques, props and demonstrations – however links to other forms of science communication will also be made. Understanding relationships between emotions is also key for making them effective tools for science communicators. For example, how surprise leads to curiosity, or the tandem role of interest and enjoyment during play experiences or instances of psychological ‘flow’. These relationships will be brought to life vividly in the performance.

Science communicators and psychologists tackle common problems, however sharing between the disciplines is often limited. This performance addresses this shortcoming, while presenting ideas from contemporary emotion and motivation psychology that science communicators can use in their research and practice. However, in keeping with the format of the session, these fundamental ideas in communication will be very much performed.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Perfomance
Theme: Science
Area of interest: Investigating science communication practices

Communicating with the public during natural disasters in Europe

Author: Stefanie Wahl – Freie Universitaet Berlin, Germany

Co-authors:
Karolin Bauer – Freie Universitaet Berlin
Lars Gerhold – Freie Universitaet Berlin

During natural disasters such as floodings or storm events, emergency management agencies are required to inform the public about the ongoing situation (Beneito-Montagut et al., 2013). This is ideally based on a communication concept or strategy that fits public’s information needs and increases people’s participation during an event (Alexander, 2014). Besides television and radio, social media technologies can serve as an effective tool to share situation reports, but also to receive useful information from people in the affected area (Starbird et al., 2010; Vieweg et al., 2010). Nevertheless, it is yet not known what concepts are best suited to communicate situation reports to the public and vice versa (Beneito-Montagut et al., 2013).

In order to explore existing concepts, good practices as well as possible constraints for European emergency management agencies when exchanging situation reports with the public during disaster events, we thus ask:

  1. What concepts do European public authorities use for public communication of situation reports?
  2. How does the public participate in this communication?
  3. What challenges do arise, when providing and receiving situation reports to or from the public?

To answer these questions, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with crisis communications experts of emergency management agencies (e.g. ministries, fire brigades, police, security regions) in Austria (n = 4), France (n = 2), Denmark (n = 3), Italy (n = 4), the Netherlands (n = 4), Poland (n = 4) and the United Kingdom (n = 3) in 2017. Interviews were analyzed using an inductive-deductive coding scheme (Mayring, 2000).

By comparing different communication concepts, we will point out differences and similarities between all seven countries, e.g. how authorities handle respectively verify information about the situation they have received from the public. Based on our findings, we will discuss recommendations for public communication during natural disaster events.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Individual paper
Theme: Society
Area of interest: Investigating science communication practices

Tweeting uncertainty during Hurricane Irma

Author: Stefanie Wahl – Freie Universitaet Berlin, Germany

Co-authors:
Lars Gerhold – Freie Universitaet Berlin
Thomas Kox – Freie Universitaet Berlin

When managing natural disasters such as hurricanes, national hydro-meteorological services and/or emergency management agencies (referred to as EMAs) need to warn and inform the public about emerging or ongoing situations (Beneito-Montagut et al., 2013). Especially social-media technologies such as Twitter are effective tools to quickly share information about the actual situation (Alexander, 2014; Starbird et al., 2010). Nevertheless, EMAs deal with different kinds of uncertainties when communicating with the public, including aspects of non-knowledge or stochastic variability (NRC, 2006). Possible examples are hurricane pathways, flooded areas or public response actions. Addressing these different kinds of uncertain information during extreme weather situations contributes to disaster management efforts and strengthens EMA’s credibility (Hughes & Chauhan, 2015).

Therefore we ask in this paper how EMAs handle uncertain information in such situations as part of their risk and crisis communication strategies. Our analysis is based on a qualitative content analysis of EMA crisis communication in Florida during hurricane “Irma” using Twitter data. “Irma” was a category 5 hurricane which affected the Caribbean and Southern USA in 2017 – one of the most powerful hurricanes of recent years (NOAA, 2017).

Results show that EMAs address the issue of uncertainties in weather forecasts by giving process information, i.e. constantly updating and clarifying the ongoing situation. Accordingly, some tweets include separate timestamps or emphasize that the given information is preliminary. Additionally they use different visuals to represent uncertainty (e.g. infographics, maps, gifs), e.g. regarding hurricane pathways as well as potentially affected areas and populations. Still, addressing uncertainties remains challenging for some public authorities.

Based on our findings, we will discuss and develop recommendations to further improve crisis communication efforts of authorities in extreme weather events.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Visual talk
Theme: Science
Area of interest: Investigating science communication practices

The academic training of science journalist in Chile

Author: Teresa Vernal – Universidad Finis Terrae, Chile

Co-author:
Lorena Valderrama

El año 2012 Lorena Valderrama realizó una investigación que consistió, entre otras cosas, en una encuesta a 108 profesionales que desarrollaron el periodismo científico en Chile. Este estudio demostró resultados significativos, como la falta de capacitación en periodismo científico a nivel nacional y, por lo tanto, el bajo impacto de esta área en los medios.

Actualmente, la ciencia y la tecnología en Chile están cobrando impulso, y más aún, el gobierno a cargo (2016) ha propuesto la creación de un Ministerio de Ciencia en Tecnología para el país, pero es un largo camino. Por ejemplo, “Considerando las grandes oportunidades que la astronomía brinda a Chile, es necesario fortalecer una cultura que genere conciencia sobre la contribución que esta ciencia brinda a la formación profesional, la innovación tecnológica e incluso al astroturismo. En estos aspectos, muchas contribuciones y cambios pueden provenir de los medios, que tienen un papel importante en la ciencia “(Vernal, 2015).

Sin embargo, en Chile, solo 7 de 33 universidades imparten un curso relacionado con la comunicación científica o estudios CTS en sus carreras de periodismo. Solo 3 de estos serían electivos, 2 obligatorios y 2 opcionales de curso (Valderrama, 2014). Una cifra realmente baja teniendo en cuenta el aumento de estudiantes interesados “‹”‹en estudiar periodismo.

La investigación propuesta para esta conferencia, entonces, es una continuación de la primera etapa llevada a cabo en 2012 para comparar qué cambios, mejoras o estancamientos se han presentado en relación con la capacitación en periodismo científico chileno. Por otro lado, saber el trabajo que hacen después de tres años.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Individual paper
Theme: Science
Area of interest: Comparing science communication across cultures

Reconceptualizing science literacy – Is it feasible?

Author: Monae Verbeke – Free Choice Learning Lab, Hatfield Marine Science Center

Co-author:
John Falk

Supporting and sustaining the development of science literacy is the primary goal of all formal and informal STEM+C education institutions. Yet, what it means to be literate in science faces scrutiny due to its superficial applicability to an individual’s everyday life or individual interests. Science literacy has predominantly focused on the education of a person for the “good of the person” (a top-down approach), rather than the engagement of individuals in science topics as a useful exercise for both the individual as well as for the sciences themselves (a community approach). In this session, we will challenge the field to rethink how we measure scientific literacy, while sharing the development of a new tool designed to fully captures the breadth of current conceptualizations of the sciences, while facilitating the development of science as useful in an individual’s daily life. The Institute for Learning Innovation has embarked on this science communication project in order to create a community-lead measure of science literacy – particularly one that broadly and accurately captures the multi-dimensional, situated realities of how people cumulatively interact with science over a lifetime. Ultimately, we hope this tool will foster partnerships between science experts, K-12 school systems, and informal learning organizations, as well as help to bring about institutional change for better science engagement beginning at the formal education level and continuing throughout a lifetime.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Individual paper
Theme: Science
Area of interest: Investigating science communication practices

Communicating ‘astronomy for development’ – Approaches to communicate the relevance of science to society

Author: Ramasamy Venugopal – International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development, Cape Town, South Africa

Astronomy is one of the most appealing topics in Science. From time immemorial, humans have been pondering questions about the origin of the universe, life outside Earth etc. As the field has progressed, bigger and bigger investments have been necessary for further breakthroughs. These investments have become harder to justify, especially for developing countries who are pouring money into the field in order to attract students to STEM as well as generate exciting science. (As one observer put it, “a blackhole somewhere in space is not going to put food on my table”). Even the various spin-off technologies produced by Astronomy research are insufficient justification.

The Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) was setup in South Africa to mobilize the human and financial resources to use Astronomy as a tool to tackle the biggest challenges of the world. The OAD is working with experts from astronomy as well as a number of social science fields to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

This poster will describe some of the methods employed by the OAD when communicating this (fairly new) idea of using Astronomy for Development. As we have discovered, people find it rather difficult to connect Astronomy with development issues. It is frequently confused with the development of the field of Astronomy, especially when communicating with non-native English speakers. In describing our work, we have found it quite useful to first inspire the public with the grandeur of the universe and to connect with them emotionally. Even when the details are not clear to them, people are excited by the big idea and the possibilities. We use examples and stories of communities and people whose lives have been changed by the OAD. Through this visual talk, I also want to engage with the scicomm community on their experiences.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Visual talk
Theme: Stories
Area of interest: Applying science communication research to practice

Communicating ‘science for development’ – Getting scientists, communicators and policy makers on board

Author: Ramasamy Venugopal – International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development, Cape Town, South Africa

Our modern, technological world owes much to science research and investment. But in the recent past, science has alienated itself from the public and public support for science is dwindling in several countries. The relevance of pure science research is being increasingly questioned. Curiosity about the natural world is no longer an accepted justification for science investments.

Recently, a handful of organizations from various disciplines (Physics for Development, Data for development, Astronomy for Development) have taken the lead on using and shaping scientific knowledge and expertise to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Using science to directly impact on the world’s biggest challenges could both bolster the public view of science and scientists as well as bring science closer to the people.

Since 2011, our team at the Office of Astronomy for Development has been operating in the above-mentioned space, coordinating projects that use astronomy to benefit society. Anecdotally, we have encountered public appreciation but also confusion (Astronomy FOR development is frequently confused with development of the field of Astronomy). Communicating ‘Astronomy for development’ also requires a balance between messages on its applications, skills, research etc. All fields of science can contribute to the SDGs. Thus, science communicators and their respective fields stand to benefit from appropriating the science for development angle. Adopting such a narrative and making it mainstream, in turn, influences and will be influenced by policy makers and the scientists.

I would like to discuss the challenges, risks and rewards of pushing the idea of science for development. How does it influence policy, research and perceptions of science? Communicating science for development also requires an understanding of development and requires interactions and collaborations with associated fields such as economics, behavioural sciences, human rights, health etc. thus potentially broadening the scope of science communication.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Idea in progress
Theme: Society
Area of interest: Influencing policies through science communication

Does astronomy really inspire and change perspectives? – A randomized controlled study of an astronomy outreach program

Author: Ramasamy Venugopal – International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development, Cape Town, South Africa

Co-authors:
Kodai Fukushima – Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan

Astronomy and Space topics are perceived as holding universal fascination. It is widely considered that exposure to such topics inspires people, changes their perspective and leads to an uptake in science and STEM subjects. Stargazing parties, public astronomy talks and other astronomy/space events constitute some of the most common, public, scicomm events around the world. Astronomy communicators and astronomers frequently engage with children and the general public to teach, demonstrate, and talk about Astronomy. But very rarely is the impact of such communication evaluated rigorously and scientifically. There is a need for more rigorous evaluation methods which would reveal the successes and failures of current methods and tools of astronomy communication and whether they might lead to any inadvertent harm.

In this presentation, I will share our team’s implementation of a pilot Randomized Controlled Trial carried out in Cape Town, South Africa to test whether exposure to an astronomy intervention affects empathy and altruism in children (that is, whether astronomy induces a perspective of ‘One Global Humanity’, espoused by Carl Sagan and often quoted by astronomy communicators). The analysis of the data was carried out by an independent team based in USA. The pilot ‘s main objective was to demonstrate that it is possible to use such methods to evaluate the impact of science communication in an inexpensive manner. And encourage other projects funded by the office to carry out their own evaluations. We are also developing a Trial Handbook as a guide for others who can repeat this particular experiment.

Presentation type: Show, tell and talk
Theme: Science
Area of interest: Investigating science communication practices

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