I have never heard of 101...and I'm a teacher and a science writer...how
about you think again?
Ruth
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ellie Chambers" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 10:06 AM
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Science for Beginners [and dinosaurs]
Hello all,
Just a thought on the name, considering your broad base of potential
visitors in terms of background and education, what about 'Oxford - Science
101'
I think most people know of the system used in America, Africa and Australia
where by all introductory courses are branded 101 in the numbering of each
university department. It's kind of snappy and avoids using phrases that can
sound patronising or too simple. You can of course have, physics 101,
biology 101 or even as specific as Saturn 101 etc as you need, and for
branding the '101' set of activities could be easily identified.
Just a thought....
Sounds a really interesting project. You have probably thought of it already
but, having worked at one of the labs in the oxford area a few years ago,
they used to do these kind of talks inter-departmentally to introduce each
other to the research going on, so might be a good source of speakers or
information.
Good luck
Ellie
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dominic McDonald
Sent: 02 December 2008 12:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PSCI-COM] Science for Beginners [and dinosaurs]
Hi all
Here at Science Oxford we are planning to start a strand of events in the
spring which is aimed at people with little or no scientific training, to
introduce them to basic scientific concepts. It's come out of evaluation
which suggests that we sometimes struggle to find the right level for our
audience, because some of the visitors to our events are (very smart) people
with little or no academic training in science, and some are professional
scientists (they are smart too, of course).
We'll be starting with Evolution (for Darwin Year) and then will go on to
tackle topics like The Universe, The Brain, The Earth and so on. So big
topics, and we would aim to give a very broad introduction to each in about
an hour and a half. We would maybe run 6 of these a year, so we won't run
out of subject matter in a hurry.
Has anybody done anything like this before? If so, who deliverede them? Did
you get an audience? Was it a success? It's similar in concept to an evening
class, but in Oxford there's not much scientific on offer except what's done
by the University's (very splendid) Continuing Education Dept, (the County
Council's evening classes do very little on science at all).
We're also trying to find a good title for the strand - maybe "The Basics
of..." or "An ABC of..." ? Any suggestions would be very welcome.
Cheers
Dom
[ps this is the kind of conversation that I think this list is generally
good at, i.e. sharing information rather than sharing opinions. Open
discussion on email lists like this can lead people to be wary of putting
their head above the parapet - opinions can be challenged in a way that
"facts" can't, and so people are less likely to say what they "think"
because they worry that they might find themselves branded an idiot. It's
much less scary to say what you "know"... it's a shame, but I don't think
there's anything you can do about it.]
Dom McDonald
Head of Public Engagement
Science Oxford
1-5 London Place
St Clements
Oxford OX4 1BD
tel: 01865 728953
fax: 01865 791854
www: scienceoxford.com
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