Science communication practice as a catalyst for science and humanities
Author: Aya Tsuboi – The University of Tokyo, Kavli IPMU, Japan
Kavli Institute for the physics and mathematics of the universe (Kavli IPMU) hosts an Artists in Residence (AIR) program since 2015. Recently one of their artworks based on his resident was awarded the second prize at the Japan media art festival among over 4000 artworks. This program is characterized by the host’s nature – Kavli IPMU being an institution of basic science and around 100 of the world’s top-level scientists gather to reveal the mystery of the universe.
This talk will introduce an unique model that stands in-between a deficit and a dialogue model based on the AIR program, by illustrating three perspectives. Contrary to dominant science communication where the focus is primarily on applied science, it focuses on exploring communication of basic science such as physics or mathematics. Second, it attempts to work as a catalyst for science and humanities rather than dispatching one-way information from the science field. Lastly, it shows an unique attempt to disclose the model itself to the public from the early stage.
These three perspectives are explained in the context of the art exhibition hosted by Kavli IPMU that took place at a gallery in Central Tokyo in 2018 for 2 weeks, which featured the artworks of 3 artists who participated in the AIR program as well as a symposium, a workshop and seminars participated by 15 professionals from multiple fields such as science culture theory, aesthetics and analytic philosophy.
The talk will also introduce the result of the survey conducted among over 300 people who visited the exhibition by asking them to fill in the questionnaire at the venue. Some of the highlights include a diversity of audience the program managed to reach, and a high interest in Kavli IPMU, which result is compared against other surveys of conventional scientific public programs hosted by Kavli IPMU.
The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.
Presentation type: Visual presentation
Theme: Transformation