A global perspective on the role of funding agencies in public engagement with science
Research funding agencies have an important role to play in creating an enabling environment for broader communication and engagement with scientific research.
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Research funding agencies have an important role to play in creating an enabling environment for broader communication and engagement with scientific research.
The future of Mauna Kea – a mountain sacred to many native Hawai’ians – is now the site of a major demonstration / occupation in protest against the decision to allow the building of the Thirty Meter Telescope close to the summit.
CERN (European Laboratory for Particle Physics) Open Days traditionally take place every 5-6 years, attracting tens of thousands of visitors.
It is now 35 years since the Royal Society – the UK’s premier science organisation – published its report “The Public Understanding of Science”. 1985 in Britain was the middle of the “Thatcher years”, a time when science – particularly “blue skies” science – felt itself to be under attack. The Royal Society deemed that public ignorance of and indifference to science had to be addressed.
Our group has been working for a few year in innovative ways to communicate science concepts in all STEM fields using magic as a useful, enticing tool.
My PhD research compared the dominant science communication models (deficit, dialogue, participation) with case studies of practice. I found that the models proposed by scholars do not appear to take into account the extensive nature and mix of objectives for initiating or participating in science communication activities.
Public communication of Science is usually achieved within science-related events like Science Fairs, Festivals, Lectures, etc. However, there are other events not specifically science-oriented that may be used to reach a larger population.
The last two decades have seen calls by scholars for science communication to become participatory in nature, and to move away from linear (deficit and dialogue) engagement of publics.
The Science Communication profession has expanded worldwide with different theories and approaches being developed across continents.
Participatory science communication happens when scientists are one of the groups participating on a relatively equal basis with various publics, including policymakers, citizens, school children, farmers, technologists and industry.
Through a series of relevant examples collected within the action research H2020 project “SiSCode”(www.siscodeproject.eu) I will explore the points of contact and the points of divergence between science engagement activities, and emergent co-construction and participation practices.
Members of the public, in the role of jurors, are expected to listen, understand and make judgements in regards to the scientific (and non scientific) evidence presented during a court case and then come to conclusions, beyond reasonable doubt, in regards to the guilt or innocence of an accused person.
Have you ever noticed how you use your hands to explain science ideas? Science communicators naturally use gestures to accompany speech because when we think we draw upon body-based experiences. In other words, thinking is embodied.
esearch stories have the potential to enable real change in people, organisations and society. Many researchers aspire to create a powerful impact through their work. However, it can be a daunting task to tell an inspiring story.
Plant sciences have a key role to play as society seeks to address a growing suite of environmental and social challenges, from food security to mental health and conservation.
Health services research teams investigate how best to deliver healthcare and improve people’s wellbeing. This often complex, interdisciplinary research can be challenging to communicate to patients, healthcare workers and policy makers alike.