2018 PCST Conference – Dunedin, New Zealand – Page 22

Visual science literacy – Indicators, data and results

2018 PCST Conference – Dunedin, New Zealand Saracino B

Author: Barbara Saracino – University of Naples Federico II, Italy

Co-authors:
Massimiano Bucchi – Università di Trento

Since its very beginning, modern science has put images at the center of its communicative processes: drawings, diagrams, schemes and later photographs, satellite images, film. In the age of digital communication, specialists and publics live constantly immersed in a visually dense environment, particularly when it comes to science and technology content. Do we have the competence to decipher all these images, often complex and elaborate? If the so-called “science literacy” has become a standard dimension of public understanding of science at the international level, much less studied so far is visual science literacy. We tested empirical indicators of visual science literacy in the context of four surveys (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) of public perception in Italy on a representative sample of the population. The results show that respondents fare generally better in recognizing images related to science than in responding to textual questions. Images could offer relevant opportunities for greater public engagement with scientific results.

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

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

April 7, 2018

Thinking science – Initiatives of public communication for the scientific culture in Brazil

2018 PCST Conference – Dunedin, New Zealand Santos A

Author: Adriana Santos – Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil

Co-authors:
Daniela Avila Malagolli – Federal University of Uberlândia
Adriana Cristina Omena dos Santos – Federal University of Uberlandia – University of Ottawa

The poster discusses the public policies of the popularization of science and the interrelationship between academic production and its dissemination. It studies, therefore, the public communication of the science (PCS) like one of the characteristics of creation and consolidation of the scientific culture of the countries. It considers that the ideal model of PCS goes beyond the process of scientific dissemination and seeks an interaction of the public with the process of knowledge construction since. The study used a descriptive research and documentary survey about events of great insertion and visibility that happen in Brazil: the Pint of Science and the National Salon of Scientific Divulgation, both with a proposal to approach the science of the population and to discuss the impacts of the science in the society. The pint of Science is an international event that aims to provide interesting, fun and relevant discussions on the latest scientific research in an accessible format for the public. It was first organized in 2013 in England and spread to different countries. It happened for the first time in Brazil in Brazil in 2015 through the University of São Paulo. The second edition took place in 2016 and in 2017 the Pint of Science took place in 100 cities involving 11 countries. In Brazil, it was present in 22 cities in more than 10 Brazilian states and involved several teaching and research. The National Salon is a Brazilian initiative whose main objective is to promote scientific dissemination, national culture and integration among students, teachers, researchers and the community in general. The activities carried out to seek to approximate the production of academic knowledge of the Brazilian social reality. It has been organized in 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2017. It involves different sectors and institutions of Society in the organization.

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

Presentation type: Visual talk
Theme: Science
Area of interest: Influencing policies through science communication

April 7, 2018

Uses of public communication in the scientific culture of Brazil and Canada – A comparative study between The Federal University of Uberlandia and The University of Ottawa

2018 PCST Conference – Dunedin, New Zealand Santos A

Author: Adriana Santos – Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil,

Co-authors:
Mirna Tonus – Universidade Federal de Uberlândia

The article has a proposal is to conduct a comparative study of scientific culture in Brazil and Canada, observing the uses of Science, Public Communication, and technology transference (innovation) at the University of Ottawa and Federal University of Uberlandia, aiming at approaching the interrelation between academic production and its media popularization to make science popular. Such proposal is based on the conception that universities and research institutes develop a significant quantity of scientific production, but no data shows if these productions overcome the universities borders, particularly through media and diverse actions of popular science. The problematic that supports the proposal is the fact that the institutions must have their communicational proposal in conformity with the public interest and also with the guidelines of Public Communication. In addition, it is specifically important for popular science and technology transference to be focused on science popularization. The study considers that the concept of Public Communication of Science (PCS) is little discussed among researchers and professionals in the field of communication. It understands that PCS must go beyond the process of scientific dissemination and be understood as an area of communication focused on the wide dissemination of science, technology, innovation and scientific knowledge in order to popularize knowledge and bring science closer to the citizen. The initial results indicate that the efforts of most institutions are limited to the simple use of specialized / scientific journalism as an unique feature to promote access and enable the right to information on science and technology.

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

April 7, 2018

Science communication filmmaking and multimedia workshop

2018 PCST Conference – Dunedin, New Zealand Finkler W

Author: Wiebke Finkler – University of Otago, New Zealand

This is a practical and hands-on workshop for science communicators wanting to engage in multimedia outreach and learn how to create engaging content for public communication, with a particular focus on video production and storytelling. While the workshop focuses on science communication filmmaking the principles can be applied to photography, podcasts/vodcasts and wider online and social media content.

The workshop (aimed at beginners) covers 1. elements of effective science communication content, 2. introduces filmmaking (including storytelling and narrative development, basic camera and editing techniques), and 3. involves hands-on exercises for participants to practice with own devices (note: bring your own tablet, phone or camera). Please note that examples will be demonstrated using Apple devices such as iPad and iPhones.

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

Presentation type: Workshop
Theme: Science
Area of interest: Teaching science communication

March 7, 2018

Natural and social scientists relate differently with the public and take roles in different kinds of media stories. Evidence from surveys in Brazil and Germany

2018 PCST Conference – Dunedin, New Zealand Peters H

Author: Hans Peter Peters – Free University Berlin, Germany

Co-author:
Luisa Massarani – Brazilian Institute of PCST, Brazil

Scientists are important actors in the public communication of science. Many studies have focused on them because the authors assumed that the quality of PCST depended on scientists’ contributions but diagnosed obstacles such as “scientific barriers” (Dunwoody & Ryan 1985), a “lure of the media” (Weingart 2012) or a “deficit model” view of the public. Recently, specific characteristics in the science-media interfaces of individual research communities have received interest. However, most of these studies focused on a single research community such as climate scientists; studies applying a straight comparative approach remain rare.

In our paper we compare the relationship of scientists with the public in two broad areas of scholarship – natural and social sciences. We are interested whether natural and social scientists conceptualize their relationship with the public differently and whether they are approached by journalists in different ways. We conducted online surveys of academic researchers in Brazil (n=956) and Germany (n=1,509), using samples that comprised natural and social scientists.

While there are some striking differences between Brazilian and German researchers in general, the pattern of differences between natural and social scientists is similar. In both countries, social scientists consider scholarly communication less separated from public communication than natural scientists. They also interact more frequently with journalists and enjoy more freedom from organizational interference with their media contacts than natural scientists. Social scientists tend to be approached by journalists as “experts” in stories dealing with social problems while natural scientists are more often contacted for stories about research.

The study suggests that natural and social scientists face different challenges in PCST. The social contextualization of scientific knowledge may be a key problem of natural scientists; maintaining their identity as researcher and demonstrating the scientific basis of their expert comments on social issues may be a typical challenge for social scientists.

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

March 7, 2018

PERFORM

2018 PCST Conference – Dunedin, New Zealand Vizzini C

Author: Casimiro Vizzini – Participatory Engagement with Scientific and Technological Research through Performance, UNESCO, France

Co-authors:
Marga Gual Soler – AAAS
Isabel Ruiz Mallén – Open Univarsity of Catalonia

PERFORM aims to investigate the effects of the use of innovative science education methods based on performing arts in fostering young peoples’ motivations and engagement with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in secondary schools in France, Spain and the United Kingdom. PERFORM takes action to overcome the remaining distance between young people and science and break the outdated unidirectional model of scientific knowledge transfer. The project explores a creative, participatory educational process through the use of scenic arts with secondary school students, their teachers and early career researchers, who get actively involved in experiencing science in a completely new way. We work with multi-disciplinary cohorts of researchers in a reflective process, exploring the history of scientific ethics and philosophy, responsible research and innovation, communication and engagement skills. Researchers are taken on a journey from theory to practice, engaging them in continuous reflection on their experience in the context of their lives as scientists. PERFORM analyses how such human-centred, science-arts educational approach contributes to foster young people’s motivations towards science learning (especially girls) and strengthen the transversal competences they will need for STEM careers and jobs. PERFORM works through UNESCO to translate the research results into policy briefs to Member States for widespread policy adoption beyond the three pilot countries. www.perform-research.eu

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

Presentation type: Idea in progress
Theme: Science
Area of interest: Investigating science communication practices

March 7, 2018

Short and swift – Equipping policy-makers with regional science

2018 PCST Conference – Dunedin, New Zealand Straza T

Author: Tiffany Straza – United Nations Environment Programme, Kenya, Samoa

Co-authors:
Tommy Moore – Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
Sefanaia Nawadra – UN Environment
Nanette Woonton – Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)

In small countries and particularly in developing regions, national staff have broad areas of responsibility and limited time or training to incorporate scientific findings. Science advisory councils are a rarity and a luxury. Competition for the attention of policy-makers places great demands on the perceived quality of sources, type of information, and mode of presentation.

We present the case of assistance provided during the Pacific regional preparations for the first United Nations Ocean Conference, which set the global agenda for Sustainable Development Goal 14. Fourteen island countries, 7 territories and 5 metropolitan countries with presence in the region required relevant, recent information — about a young scientific field in a data-poor region with a strong cultural identity with the ocean. Communication practices had to take into account the sensitive balance between perceptions of science and traditional/indigenous knowledge, with the rate of change of populations and environmental conditions often outpacing the creation and transmission of knowledge.

Stories formed integral components of policy briefings to both engage policy-makers and meet their negotiation needs, with these stories incorporating and relying upon recent data. We discuss the particular type and nature of communication required by policy-makers in Pacific Small Island Developing States, to encourage greater inclusion of scientific findings in the development agenda and to facilitate a more powerful, joint regional position.

Communicators seeking to engage national governments face the challenge of creating access and trust. Intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) have direct relationships with policy-makers and existing relationships with regional governance and technical agencies. We describe the mechanisms of building and maintaining these institutional connections, demands on the ownership of text provided, and successful methods to generate future engagement with the policy audience and with the scientific subjects.

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

March 7, 2018

Visual science literacy – Indicators, data and results

Thinking science – Initiatives of public communication for the scientific culture in Brazil

Uses of public communication in the scientific culture of Brazil and Canada – A comparative study between The Federal University of Uberlandia and The University of Ottawa

Science communication filmmaking and multimedia workshop

Natural and social scientists relate differently with the public and take roles in different kinds of media stories. Evidence from surveys in Brazil and Germany

PERFORM

Short and swift – Equipping policy-makers with regional science

Contact

Connect

Join

Discuss

Partners