Not sure if the following information is helpful to you, but thought it might add to the discussion. As Science Year has recently been extended we are re-focusing our attention on adults, particularly parents, to investigate ways we might be able to engage them. We have just developed a range of new web-based resources for parents which allows them to dip in and out of science investigation as they like- not towards any kind of qualification or requiring a big time commitment but something to stimulate the mind, provide some enjoyment and share with their family or friends if they want to.
These include science pub quizzes, holiday activities to do with your family, recommended reading, a guide to the school science curriculum (so you can come to grips with what your children are being taught in school these days!) and a range of other resources...
Something we hope will be successful is our 'Science In The Office' programme- still in development, but which will show people how to 'do science' at their desks. This will use whatever's lying around- office stationery, basic kitchen provisions and the like, and is designed to be fun and surprising. We'll be looking for some adults to test it out shortly.
We recognise that there are issues with people getting interested in the first place. For people who don't want to study, or find the prospect of going 'back to school' or into study a bit daunting, perhaps an approach like this will help them explore science without it being a chore, or too intimidating.
BC
Bobby Cerini
Programme Manager
Science Year
11 Tufton Street
London SW1P 3QB
Tel: 0207 808 1895
Fax: 0207 233 4052
Email: [log in to unmask]
www.scienceyear.com
Science Year: Fast Forward to the Future!
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> ----------
> From: Martin Counihan
> Reply To: Science and Lifelong Learning
> Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 9:45 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Sci-3L
>
> To: Sci-3L group
>
> I haven't received any messages from this list for a long time, so I hope
> it is not moribund. I would like to ask a rather open-ended question about
> public outreach by methods other than credit-bearing courses.
>
> Those of you who have been in this business for some time will know that,
> until the early 1990's, university-provided lifelong learning in science
> (as in other subjects) took the form predominantly of non-credit-bearing
> short courses, but over recent years this kind of provision has almost
> disappeared from universities and has been replaced by credit-bearing
> courses leading, usually, to academic awards. However, in many respects
> the "accreditation" process has been less than successful, and many babies
> have been thrown out with their bathwater. In many universities, and
> certainly at Southampton, things have now reached a point where it is no
> longer realistic to regard credit-bearing courses as a suitable medium for
> wide public outreach and true lifelong learning in science. Also, I am
> well aware that the broader science communication community does not
> perceive credit-bearing university courses as playing a significant part in
> public engagement with science and technology. (By the way, are you aware
> of this: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/enscot/conf.htm ?)
>
> That being so, I am wondering if any members of this list have and>
> suggestions to make about new approaches to our task. Have you been
> developing new kinds of work which do NOT assume that members of the public
> will want to attend formal courses? If so, please mention them.
>
> Martin Counihan
> University of Southampton
>
>
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