Filter by section: Practice Insight

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64 publications found

Nov 06, 2024 Practice Insight

Talking genetic technologies and conservation: purposeful games as a tool to level the epistemic playing field

by Vicki Macknight, Marie McEntee and Fabien Medvecky

In New Zealand, the use of genetic technologies for environmental and conservation purposes is a highly contested issue yet genetic technologies, including RNAi and gene drives may offer technological advances for protecting New Zealand's vulnerable biodiversity. This context makes discussions on the use of gene technology for environmental purposes both challenging and necessary. Such discussions can be difficult, not simply because they are often contested, but also because people find the topic complicated, the language alien and overly scientific. This research, which sits at the intersection of science and publics, is part of a large national dialogue which aimed to better understand the public's thoughts and feelings around the use of genetic technologies for environmental or conservation purposes. To assist people to feel comfortable at the beginning of the dialogue sessions, we designed purposeful games before engaging in a facilitated conversation. These games are based on heritage games that most people are familiar with but altered to address several issues relevant to genetic technologies in an environmental context. This article provides an insight into how to design and use purposeful games to foster epistemic confidence in non-scientists. It acts as a helpful guide for others working in contested spaces where there is a need to effectively facilitate engagement of non-scientists in important science-society discussions.

Volume 23 • Issue 08 • 2024

Oct 21, 2024 Practice Insight

Strategic planning and evaluation for effective public engagement

by Xinnan Du, Karen Peterman, John Besley and Allison Black-Maier

Assessing the impact of public engagement with science (PES) programs has been a long-standing challenge due to the lack of explicit, audience-specific goals and a related lack of evaluation against goal-relevant outcomes. In this practice insight, we present the strategic planning and evaluation process for PES at KIPAC, detailing the steps of setting and assessing long-term behavioral goals, short-term objectives, and tactics. We provide examples to demonstrate the implementation of the strategic plan, and make recommendations for practitioners at the individual, program, and institutional levels to strategize, conduct, and sustain their PES efforts with intention.

Volume 23 • Issue 07 • 2024 • Special Issue: Communicating Discovery Science

Oct 21, 2024 Practice Insight

Enhancing public engagement and science communication through participatory astronomy: insights from the Surabaya Astronomy Club's star party model

by Muchammad Toyib, Gebrina Ayu Pramesti and Nuri Herachwati

This practice insight examines the Surabaya Astronomy Club (SAC) and its innovative approach to science communication and public engagement in Indonesia. Through organized star parties and community outreach, SAC leverages astronomy to foster public interest and enhance scientific literacy. The club's activities are deeply influenced by Indonesia's cultural and social context, emphasizing communal participation and integrating scientific phenomena with traditional and religious practices. Despite its successes, SAC faces challenges such as limited resources and the need for more systematic evaluation. Recommendations for improvement include expanding resource acquisition, adopting robust evaluation methodologies, enhancing inclusivity, and maintaining high-quality engagement. By partnering with governmental bodies and community organizations, SAC bridges the gap between scientific knowledge and public policy, demonstrating astronomy's relevance to societal issues and fostering a more informed and engaged public.

Volume 23 • Issue 07 • 2024 • Special Issue: Communicating Discovery Science

Oct 21, 2024 Practice Insight

Communicating the gravitational-wave discoveries of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration

by Hannah Middleton, Christopher P. L. Berry, Nicolas Arnaud, David Blair, Jacqueline Bondell, Alice Bonino, Nicolas Bonne, Debarati Chatterjee, Sylvain Chaty, Storm Colloms, Lynn Cominsky, Livia Conti, Isabel Cordero-Carrión, Robert Coyne, Zoheyr Doctor, Andreas Freise, Aaron Geller, Anna C. Green, Jen Gupta, Daniel E. Holz, William Katzman, Jyoti Kaur, David Keitel, Joey Shapiro Key, Nutsinee Kijbunchoo, Carl Knox, Coleman Krawczyk, Ryan N. Lang, Shane L. Larson, Susanne Milde, Vincenzo Napolano, Chris North, Sascha Rieger, Giada Rossi, Hisaaki Shinkai, Aurore Simonnet and Andrew Spencer

The LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) Collaboration has made breakthrough discoveries in gravitational-wave astronomy, a new field that provides a different means of observing our Universe. Gravitational-wave discoveries are possible thanks to the work of thousands of people from across the globe working together. In this article, we discuss the range of engagement activities used to communicate LVK gravitational-wave discoveries and the stories of the people behind the science, using the activities surrounding the release of the third Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog as a case study.

Volume 23 • Issue 07 • 2024 • Special Issue: Communicating Discovery Science

Oct 21, 2024 Practice Insight

Public perceptions of ocean science as insight into discovery science

by Shu-Min Janet Tsai, T.Y. Branch and Shawn Rowe

This article examines the complex relationship between humans and the ocean, focusing on public perceptions and the role of discovery in ocean science. For this, we use the term ‘discovery’ in two ways: publics ‘discovering’ ocean science and ‘discovery’ as the epistemic foundation of ocean science. Through textual analysis, we show how scientific discovery is intertwined with exploration in national-level ocean literacy policy documents. We then denote a practical and methodological distinction between discovery and basic science in ocean science. To link this back to ocean literacy, we employ Free-Choice Learning examples situated in the U.S. and Taiwan that adopt Personal Meaning Mapping to highlight how adolescents ‘discover’ the ocean and recognize the prevalence of discovery in ocean science. We conclude that although discovery is essential to ocean science, it is inseparable from a legacy of harm (i.e., exploitation, colonialism, and environmental degradation) which makes it — and other discovery sciences — an ongoing challenge to communicate.

Volume 23 • Issue 07 • 2024 • Special Issue: Communicating Discovery Science

Oct 21, 2024 Practice Insight

The Hopes and Fears Lab: enabling dialogue on discovery science

by Richard Milne, Catherine Galloway, Mariam Rashid, Daniela Boraschi, Claudette Burch and Anna Middleton

In this Practice Insight, we consider challenges associated with dialogue-based public engagement with discovery science, related to a focus on application, the need for short-term policy impact, and the lack of conceptual attention to dialogue. We consider potential responses to these through our initial evaluation of The Hopes and Fears Lab engagement project. We suggest the potential value of foregrounding emotional connections with science for both researchers and members of the public, and the need for as much attention to be paid to the preparatory work and settings for dialogue as to the dialogue itself.

Volume 23 • Issue 07 • 2024 • Special Issue: Communicating Discovery Science

Oct 07, 2024 Practice Insight

Understanding methodological innovation in participatory research: insights from participatory EU-funded projects

by Ana Barbosa Mendes, Charlotte Bruns, Dana Mahr and Simone Driessen

In this practice insight, we explore the intersection between creativity and sustainability in methodological development within participatory research with all its inherent complexities and tensions. We reflect on the challenges of identifying methodological innovation in participatory methods, emphasizing the gradual and cumulative nature of this process. We highlight the crucial role of reflexivity in methodological development and examine the socio-political, epistemic and institutional contexts that influence participatory research trajectories. By analysing the tension between methodological innovation and conservatism, this practice insight sheds light on the complex dynamics within participatory projects and calls for a nuanced understanding of methodological development.

Volume 23 • Issue 06 • 2024

Sep 25, 2024 Practice Insight

Communicating the uncertainties associated with genetic biocontrol approaches: insights from communicators, science journalists and scientists in Africa

by Willy Kiprotich Tonui, Dorington Ogoyi, Caroline Thuo, Cyrus Tareh, Cecilia Lubanga Alukhaba, Arouna Ouedraogo, Akoudjin Massouroudini, Amelie Wamba Ndongmo Regine, Agbonma Gloria Ogbaki, Gerald Andae, Gilbert Rotich, Andrew Kipkoech and Rosalia Omungo

Genetic biocontrol approaches, such as gene drive technology is rapidly gaining interest from scientists and public health professionals due to their potential to overcome many challenges of current malaria control tools and strategies. This is particularly the case in Africa where the burden of malaria is most significant. Uncertainty exists about whether these approaches will work, how effective they might be, who is controlling them, and potential unintended consequences for human health and the environment. Therefore, efforts to enhance the understanding of genetic engineering and biotechnology are needed, to ensure that accurate information about this technology is disseminated in the media by science communicators including the journalists and scientists. In this practice insight, we review the outcomes from workshops and courses hosted by the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium aimed at equipping communicators and journalists with skilful techniques to proficiently articulate the uncertainties associated with genetic biocontrol interventions to the African public. we discuss the gaps and provide insight on how communicators can address some of the basic challenges of developing effective communication and decision-making for genetic biocontrol approaches in Africa.

Volume 23 • Issue 06 • 2024

Sep 09, 2024 Practice Insight

Creating resonance with arts-based approaches to sustainability science communication

by Marianne Achiam, Sabrina Vitting-Seerup, Louise Whiteley and Sofie Louise Dam

Mainstream science communication has struggled to drive sustainability changes. We experimented with arts-based methods in a workshop series that sought to co-create new methods and formats for sustainability science communication with communicators, artists, scientists, and policy-makers. Here, we describe how we used Hartmut Rosa’s notion of resonance to interrogate our experiences, prompted by the workshops and the artwork produced in them. We show how the elements of resonance: affection, emotion, transformation and uncontrollability, fundamentally reshaped the workshops in constructive ways that we could not have predicted. We conclude by drawing out three insights for science communication practice.

Volume 23 • Issue 06 • 2024

Aug 26, 2024 Practice Insight

A deaf-centred art-science approach to community engagement with sign language technologies

by Shaun O'Boyle, Elizabeth Mathews, Caro Brosens, Rehana Omardeen, Davy Van Landuyt, Alvean Jones and Lianne Quigley

Sign Language Machine Translation (SLMT) is an emerging technology that will primarily impact deaf and hard of hearing communities. Historically, these technologies have been developed by hearing scientists, without input from deaf researchers or community representatives. SignON was a three-year project exploring the application of SLMT, and using a co-creation approach which was led by the European Union of the Deaf. Here we describe an art-science method to engage deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing audiences with SLMT through theatre and performance. We also reflect on the insights, perspectives, and feedback shared by audience members.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024