From Cloistered to Complimentary: Going Global with Science Communication Creating Contagion

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From Cloistered to Complimentary Going Global
with Science Communication Creating Contagion

• Frank BurnetKaren Bultitude

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Science Communication Unit engagement projects

• Robot Thought
• Meet the Gene Machine
• Walking with Robots

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Robot Thought Partners

• Venues
• At-Bristol
• Life Science Centre
• Techniquest
• Techniquest_at_NEWI
• Thinktank Science Museum
• Science Museum, London
• W5
• Edinburgh Science Festival

• Robotics Labs
• University of Wales, Aberystwyth
• University of Edinburgh
• Open University
• UWE, Bristol

• Other
• Science Communication Unit
• Laura Grant (external evaluator)

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Flexible, Transferable Sustainable

• No requirement for specialist staging, e.g. sets,
  lights, etc
• All effects are deliverable through a laptop and
  a data projector
• No requirement for professional actors
• Adaptable to a range of audiences and venues

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Profile

• Target audience 5-11 year olds and their
  families
• Venue Science Centres and Festivals
• Delivered by Presenters/Explainers
• Issues What is and is not a robot? What do we
  want to use robots for? What is the state of
  current research?
• Activity A series of scenes each of which
  involves intense audience involvement developed
  in partnership with roboticists
• Funder Engineering and Physical Sciences
  Research Council

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Meet the Gene Machine

• Network Members
• At-Bristol
• Centre for Life, Newcastle
• Glasgow Science Centre
• Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester
• Science Oxford
• Techniquest, Cardiff
• Thinktank, Birmingham
• WhoWhatWhenWhereWhy, Belfast

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Profile

• Target audience 16-19 year olds
• Venue schools and colleges
• Delivered by presenters/explainers
• Issue social and personal impacts of genetic
  screening
• Activities
• - mini-drama followed by facilitated discussion
• training workshop for teachers
• Funder The Wellcome Trust

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Walking with Robots
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Barbara Webb
University of Edinburgh
Gurvinder Virk
University of Leeds
Noel Sharkey
University of Sheffield
Open University Robotics Outreach
Kerstin Dautenhahn
University of Hertfordshire
David Barnes
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Owen Hollands
University of Essex
Phil Husbands
Graphic Science Unit
University of Sussex
Quentin Cooper
Catherine Aldridge
Public Engagement Expert
At-Bristol
Melanie Quin
Alan Winfield
Public Engagement Expert
University of West of England
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SCU Dialogue projects

• Science Horizons
• http//www.sciencehorizons.org.uk/

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Profile

• Target audience adults
• Venue science centres and other community spaces
• Delivered by anybody
• Issue the implications of future science and
  technology
• Activities
• Discussion events that bring experts and the
  public together
• Group discussions held by anyone willing to call
  a meeting
• Funder Office of Science and Innovation

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Challenges of Multi-Centre Programmes
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Challenges of Multi-Centre Programmes

• high staff turnover
• attitudes towards training
• effective communication
• incentives for involving active researchers
• other commitments
• delegation
• contractual relations

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Further Information

• science.uwe.ac.uk/sciencecommunication
• science.communication_at_uwe.ac.uk