Tag: participation

How to Make Neurons ROCK — Toolbox with 20 methods
Put your powerpoint presentations into the bin. How to get into the flow with your audience: from fish bowls, over line-ups to scientific standup comedies. An EUSJA session at PCST 2016 Istanbul packed a toolbox. A contribution to World Press Freedom Day on May 3.

The goal is dialogue (c) C. Gießler / Springer Verlag

EUSJA president emeritus Satu Lipponen, Finish health journalist, introduced the session with philosophy and a catchword: We need to come from I Mode to We Mode.

Marc Denis Weitze, German science communicator, laid out the roots. It all started with the „Deutsches Museum“, founded in Munich in the beginning of the 20th century. In a farsighted approach, the technical museum was to involve the public in questions of science in technology, in an explanatory, joyous manner.

PUSH OR DIALOGUE

Detrimental to this turned out PUSH, public understanding of science and humanities, practiced in the 1990’s. In some ways, it literally pushed the public to understand science.
The current state of the art is a balanced two way communication. Dialogue tries to close the gap between science and society, develop consensus and include the entire society. Everyone with a vested interest becomes a stakeholder.

Not PUSHing people to science (c) C. Gießler / Springer Verlag

Maren Schüpphaus, German facilitator of participative workshops, laid out her experience with the European GAMBA project. It consulted patients and lay people about treatment of arthritis with stem cells and especially explored the ethical aspects of the question. After an empowerment phase with hearings, the lay people fed back their newly won expertise and delivered recommendations. They took the role of experts and made the academic experts listen to them, to some extent with new insights for them.

THE ICEBREAKER: A LINE-UP

Participants of PCST workshop (c) W. Goede

Then the practice. As an ice breaker, Maren did a couple of sociometric line-ups with the participants. She asked them whether they knew the various methods to engage the public and whether they were applied in their respective countries. The line-up showed plenty of personal knowledge, but little application on the national level. Then the plenary broke up into small mumble groups to find out how the methods could be applied to scientific issues in their countries. Finally they reported the results. A colleague from Brazil, for example, saw a good chance to use interactive methods in the battle against Zika.

Joint Workshop of EUSJA, German Science Writers TELI, Network Public Spirit, organized by S. Lipponen, M. Schüpphaus, M.-D. Weitze, W. Goede, (c) Lipponen

Before this exercise, Wolfgang Chr. Goede, German and Colombian science journalist, had packed a toolbox of applicable methods to close the gap between science and the public. He presented them in the Pecha Kucha format, 20 slides in 20 seconds each, only pictures, without text, as an initial intent to make the neurons rock, without getting into lengthy explanations.
1. Pecha Kucha with the 20/20 ratio, 20 slides (without text) in 20 secs regular Power Point. Under „power point and evil“ millions of entries can be found in google why people resent the common overkill with information. Make it slim and easy, adhere to the KISS principle, keep it simple and short, some even say „stupid“ instead of simple, plainly speaking: no academic orgies, simplify your stuff, rigorously, please!https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PechaKucha
1. Inclusive and relaxing, get into the flow with your audience. Don’t try to be the guru and the guy that knows everything, utilize the audience’s experience and expertise, for example by means of Robert Jungk’s future workshops. It consists of three distinct phases: criticize, vision, then realize.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_workshop
1. Augusto Boal’s Legislative Theatre, also Theatre of the Oppressed. Citizens act out on political conflicts in the public and thus trigger reform legislation. Everyone can step in and take a role as an actor. Same can be applied to scientific issues and conflict. There is lots of conflict to be revealed and bridged, also in science and especially at the border of science and society. Boal’s method is very much related to the democratic pedagogy of his Brazilian fellow countryman Paulo Freire.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusto_Boal
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_of_the_Oppressed
1. Sociometric line-ups and constellations, similiar to family constellations after Bert Hellinger (or „politics in the room“ after Ruth Sander). Have your stakeholders (represented by anyone in the audience) move about the room, have them take a position, watch their distance and postures as related to specific questions and issues. This reveals where they are really at.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Constellations
  http://www.politik-im-raum.de/ruth-sander
1. The classic: Science in the Pub, explaining nerdy stuff in a relaxed and stimulating atmosphere with a stimulating drink, i.e. the impact of alcohol (and other stimulants) on the human brain.http://scienceinthepubadelaide.org.au
1. Apply the power of Storytelling to your presentations and interactive formats and give them a taste or better smell of the campfire; you may learn from one thousand and one nights, the art of allegories in the oriental world, apply them to science and technology and how we deal with them.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storytelling
1. Science Slam, also Expert Slam, developed from Poetry Slam. A competitive workout of students and scientists, presenting papers, even Einstein bashing is possible, but be aware: You may be knocked out by the audience. It evaluates you, thumbs up and also down. And never more than 8 minutes! Similiar are TED talks (Technology, Entertainment Design), the art and ability to present something in the most fascinating way, also with a ceiling, up to 18 minutes.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_slam, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TED_(conference)
1. Students’ Parliaments, Student Debates and Debating Societies come to terms with scientific and technological issues, as they relate for example to the environment. Speakers of pro and contra fractions try to win the support of their constituency. Note: Democracy and science are akin, many times go hand in hand.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Debating_Societies
  http://wiki.ubc.ca/Debate_(Teaching_and_Learning)
  
  Next generation solar power: artificial photosynthesis, algae generate energy (c) acatech
1. Like storytelling, Science Comics are a very useful tool. As applied in Germany by acatech, the drawings and art work demonstrate artificial photosynthesis and how algae can be used to produce energy. Also cartoons fulfill the needs, as an increasing number of books are published as cartoons.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weird_Science_(comics)
  http://www.sciencecartoonsplus.com/index.php
1. Inflated are Science Cafés. They are similiar to Science in the Pub, more broad-based, often with a mix of presentions, workshops, theatre, discussions. Traditionally, experts meet with lay people at separate tables for discussions in small groups To stand out with a unique profile, try to be inventive and provacative, enhance them, i.e. with a good title.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caf%C3%A9_Scientifique
1. World Café, very dynamical, participants move from table to table, where different aspects are being discussed, lots of humane chemistry ignites the process. The results are written on paper tablecoths. They document the process and results.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caf%C3%A9_Scientifique
1. Citizen Conferences or Consensus Conferences. A European project called GAMBA included patients and lay people to assess whether arthritis could be treated with stem cells and especially the ethics.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consensus_conferences
  http://gamba-project.eu/community/search/field?FIELD_HOMETOWN=Sciencedialogue+Dr.+Karin+Z%C3%B6ller%2C+Maren+Sch%C3%BCpphaus+und+Sven+Siebert+Gbr
1. Science Shop, a Dutch platform, which has been around for decades, involves citizens in everyday scientific questions, such as testing vegetables and food in experimental setups.http://www.livingknowledge.org/science-shops/about-science-shops/
1. Patient groups and self-help setups develop new therapies. 30 years anniversary of Munich’s Self-help Center reveals great potential in depression and anxiety and relieving the official health care system.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Support_group
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-help_groups_for_mental_health
  
  German Science Debate: Audience sets the agenda (c) Goede
1. Citizen Science: Citizens work like scientists, collect data, analyse them and draw conclusions. They enhance practical research. Units could be included to seminars and conferences.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_science
1. Science Debates with inverted panels. The audience sets the agenda. The Scientists respond. Jointly the conclusions are drawn. Include the public at the start, before the pipelines are laid. This format was invented by the German Science Writers TELI and beats the inflation of science debates.http://www.pcst-2014.org/pcst_proceedings/artigos/wolfgang_c_goede_workshop.pdf
1. Bar Camp, everyone gets a chance to make a presentation, modern communicaton technology is widely applied. Related is also the hackathon, composed of hack and marathon, often geared towards the development of new software. These formats are part of „unconferencing“, cutting down the offical conference overhead, as introduced by Open Space, its creator Harrison Owen and his philosophy: The most exciting and meaningful things happen during coffee breaks.https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcamp
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackathon
  http://www.openspaceworld.com/brief_history.htm
1. Stand up comedians,e. the group „Big Van Theory“. Comedy around central scientific questions like Big Bang, neuro enhancement, GM foods, nano medicine and others, with the involvement of the public and the audience. Very entertaining, lots of laughter. See also the TV series „Big Bang Theory“ with its hero, the nutty physicist Sheldon Cooper.http://en.fundaciontelefonica.com/education/stand-up-comedy-on-stem/
  Vulnerable neighborhoods: Empowerment with aerial surveys (c) C. Aguirre/Parque Explora
1. Science at the margin, for the marginalized. One of the frontrunners of this format is Claudia Aguirre, Exploration Park Medellín, Colombia. This museum was initial in converting a dangerous garbage dump into a park. In the process, staffers applied a lot of education and science to vulnerable populations and made them smart about taking care of their community. As a follow-up, marginalized neighborhoods in Medellin were taught to use balloons and cameras. With the pictures they put themselves on the city map.Claudia Augirre: Socially inclusive science communication. Science Centers. Which role can they play to participate in the social reconstruction of the cityhttp://jcom.sissa.it/sites/default/files/documents/JCOM_1302_2014_C04.pdf
  http://www.parqueexplora.org/mente/el-equipo/
1. Fish Bowls put participants, especially not the most outspoken, into the inner circle of the seminar to voice their opinion. This center maintains a constant mix of speakers. But: You may fill this bowl also with a punch, mix the presented methods, use them as ingredients for new recipes, cocktails and innovative platforms. Compose science festivals with them, insert speed dating, scientific gospel, cabaret, Why not Gioconda, which is to provide the basis for a sketch or a piece of drama, then get participants to complete it and perform it. Everything goes!https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishbowl_(conversation)
  www.gioconda.ifc.cnr.it
And please note that these interactive methods only flourish in open societies. Freedom of the mind and freedom of art and expression is the prerequisite of these methods. That’s why this toolbox, developed in April 2016 in Turkey, was posted right before the Word Press Freedom Day on May 3.

Wrap-up of session on PCST website -> http://www.pcst.co/papers/view/71 (go to foot –>> Download Paper).

Check also Maren Schuepphaus’ Report “Science Communication Rocking Neurons — but how”? —>>> PCST 2016-04-27 Neurons Schüpphaus – final [Kompatibilitätsmodus] medium

This PCST workshop was organized and realized by EUSJA, Network Public Spirit, German Science Writers TELI.
1 May, 2016
Is Science Journalism Dead–Or Does it Just Smell Funny? By Wolfgang C. Goede

ESOF 2012

While there is a lot of big-time research going on, which costs billions of Euros, our profession likes to act as „descendents of Prometheus, taking the fire from the scientific olympus and bring it down to the people“. This is a quote from Dorothy Nelkin’s book „Selling Science“.

For example, the dream of nuclear fusion has been pursued for 60 years, the scientific promise to harvest unbounded energy. But we are still very far away to put this vision into reality, whereas research on Low Energy Nuclear Reactions has been banned by the scientific establishment, without noticeable opposition.

Many science and technical journalists have always sided with the scientific, economic and political powers: with the car manufacturers, who could not imagine until recently that automobiles run on other than fossil fuels; they became NASA’s loudspeakers and ignored the lamentable state of the Space Shuttle, which eventually led to the shocking accident; and they believed in the tobacco industry, which did not get tired to repeat: Smoking does not harm your health, although the adverse effects had already been known in the 1950’s.

No lessons were learned from history after major research organisations in Nazi-Germany declared blatant racism as a scientific truth and the media just went along with this, not only in Germany. Political ideology applied to science and reinforced by science journalists caused famines in Soviet Russia and left millions dead.

Last century’s history teaches us that research is always about power, political and economic strings, the abyss of financing and money as well as the often well hidden self-interest and ambitions of researchers. Science in theory is about truth, but in reality about power. These are the stakes and major stakeholder, however one is missing.

When on July 4, 2012 CERN revealed its breakthrough, this was also a victory for Europe’s taxpayers and citizens who have largely financed the collider. But do they really understand what’s going on with the God particle, why research is necessary. Has anyone asked the principal stakeholder?

Citizens have not raised their voice so far, but perhaps German clergymen speak up for them. They are opposing the god particle, the term and probably also the research, because it demystifies God. They claim that another field of research deserves much more attention: climate change, waste of energy, the depletion of natural resources!

We will need a new planet by 2030, if we don’t improve our act and shape up, say these catholics and raise the question: Should some of the moneys used for basic research, fusion and particle physics not be invested into the sustainability of our earth? Which also would suggest that tax payers are consulted as to the priorities of research moneys.

Until 1789 Europe was ruled by the “Ancien Regime”. Does it survive in science and science journalism, as the Prometheus quote indicates? We have the power to change this. Rather than cheerleaders, science journalists should be critical investigators who flip the coin and look behind it. The German Association of Science Writers TELI wants to facilitate this mission and proposes a new platform for science journalists.

The “Sci Journs House of Debate” shall stimulate scientific debate in society and bridge the gap between researchers, politicians and citizens. It zeros in on major scientific issues of the 21. century and triggers them with provocative questions: Electricity as expensive as fuel? Food stamps for fish and meat? Prostheses and major surgery only until 60?

Science must become part of the mainstream society. This has succeeded once research results are being debated as passionately as soccer scores. Only this will provide the missing checks and balances which keep the other stakeholders of science under control.

This was a contribution to ESOF Dublin 2012, a panel discussion with the title above, moderated by Brian Trench, Irish Science & Technology Journalists Association ISTJA. On the panel were Elisabetta Tola, Formicablu – Italy, and Vesa Niinikangas, president of the World Federation of Science Journalists – Canada//Finland

21 July, 2012
Science is an onion with many layers of truth – by Wolfgang C. Goede

Science is supposed to be objective. However, it is driven by interests and therefore susceptible to manipulation and distortion. A result of this was the denial of climate change. The Union of Concerned Scientists now launches a campaign to restore the trust in science and make it part of the democratic process.

The truth always has many layers, in science sometimes a few more. That was the central message of Naomi Oreske’s book „Merchants of Doubt. How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming“. It reviews decades of activities of US scientists who discredited evidence that smoking cigarettes caused cancer and factory emissions led to global warming. Behind that were well-known scholars, practically acting on behalf of industrial interests. The nation listened to them, from the media to the White House.

The result was that effective environmental policies in both, the United States and worldwide, were delayed. Even now, saving energy such as driving less or insulating their homes remains for many US citizens a rather alien word.

The Union of Concerned Scientists UCS wants to change this. It counts 85’000 members, 150 staff members and is dedicated to scientific integrity. These days it launches a new campaign which promotes „Science and Democracy“. According to UCS program director Pallavi Phartiyal the activities are geared towards „the weight of evidence“ which means to point out to the public that science is based on facts.

Furthermore, science has a context, a body, so to speak, which is the society. We want to take everything, she says, „that comes under the broad umbrella of science, technology and innovation and really integrate it into the democratic process, into the governance and policy making process“.

This drive will mobilize the public, scientists and the media and emphasize the importance of science-based decisions in the policy process. This is the intellectual heritage of the enlightenment era, which the founders of the United States felt very much obliged to, stresses Ms. Phartiyal, thus also drawing a clear line between solid scientific thinking and creationists, who deny Darwin and believe in creation taught by the bible.

The UCS campaign shall be implemented with public forums. They will gather all over the United States the stakeholders of a region, policy makers, the public, representatives of the political parties, media, the business communities and churches. The purpose is to discuss topics and issues of common concern, provide scientific evidence and come to science-based decisions.

Scientific truth, even undistorted, is always like an onion with many layers. There has been abuse, of course, but it ususally gets detected. Even if scientific research manages to stay pure and does not get mixed up with selfish interests one question remains: Does the public go along with it?

The UCS initiative is an encouraging one which welcomes and includes citizens in the decision making process. In future, this will decide about sustainable research and whether it can be implemented – with the people, by the people, for the people, as Abraham Lincoln said. This is the most important layer, the ultimate truth.

Transparency and participation in research and science, technology and innovation, not only in the United States is opening a new chapter of democracy. Also Europe is heading into this direction. This EUSJA blog will periodically report on this increasingly important frontier and how we science journalists deal with it. Next week we’ll shift from Washington, D.C. to Brussels and take a close look at efforts undertaken by EU officials.

Pix©UCS

19 May, 2012