Georgie is spot on in fingering the Bodmer report as the origin of much of what was originally known as Public Understanding of Science. There were then steps to get technology thrown in there, to include the application of science and to make the PUS label less icky. The U word fell into disrepute, with the feeling that it was somewhat condescending. "If only they understood me...."
Enter the E word, as in Public Engagement in Science and Technology (PEST), a term first cooked up by, I think, Laurence Smaje of the Wellcome Trust. Sadly, the acronym never caught on, even though it captures what some early proponents wanted to do, pester people into getting involved.
A quick wander through the history of COPUS might be informative. It got going as a triumvirate of the Royal Society, Royal Institution and British Association for the Advancement of Science, with the RS and BA making most of the running. Indeed, a fourth player, the Wellcome Trust, became, and remains, one of the bigger funders of PESTilence. The Science Museum was also an influential player in the early days of COPUS as, among other things, the original sponsors of the science books prize, an idea cooked up in COPUS.
Eventually the whole PEST thing became so widespread – even the government saw the point and started putting money into the area – that COPUS either became unnecessary or ineffectual, depending on your take, as a coordinator/instigator. Following a review by Dame Bridget Ogilvie, ex head of the WT, it imploded.
If they exist, it might be useful to review progress reports and stuff from COPUS, along with Bridget's report.
Sadly, as the link to the Bodmer report shows, much of this material predates the e-era and widespread dissemination of PDF files. I may have stuff buried in filing cabinets, but they are buried behind boxes of junk.
MK
PS There may be, probably are, people out there who disagree with my probably failing memory of those days.
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hayward, Georgina
Sent: 16 December 2014 14:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Public Engagement literature
Hi Tay,
I completed a Science Comms Masters and I found the Bodmer report from 1985 (https://royalsociety.org/~/media/Royal_Society_Content/policy/publications/1985/10700.pdf) a really useful introduction to the history of this field.
Hope that helps,
Georgie
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tay-Yibah Aziz
Sent: 16 December 2014 14:16
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PSCI-COM] Public Engagement literature
Hi Psci-Commers!
I'm a University of Leeds undergraduate currently undertaking a Year in Industry as part of my 4 - year Human Physiology degree.
I'm working as a Public Engagement Intern for the University and along with Charlotte Haigh, a Faculty of Biological Sciences (FBS) academic and Rose Bavage, Outreach Co-ordinator for FBS, we are co-ordinating a Science Slam to be run next year during the Festival of Science in March and this will form the content of my project and report I produce for the year. We're working with Lewis Hou and Sam Illingworth - two SciComm experts who you may have seen on here - to deliver training to our entrants.
The introduction of the report is being structured as a literature review and I would e grateful if any of you could point me in the right direction towards some useful Public Engagement literature. My review will cover:
* Where did PE come from/what did it used to be called?
* Why do we do it?
* What are the different types?
* How do we do it? (Historically, for example, it used to be science fairs/shows/exhibitions/talk, but we are moving away from that now - why?
* What are the challenges of measuring public engagement impact? How are we beginning to overcome this?
My biggest challenge at the moment is finding this literature and so I would be extremely grateful if any of you could help.
Best wishes,
Tay
Tay-Yibah Aziz
STEM Public Engagement Intern
University of Leeds 18 Blenheim Terrace
M: +44 (0) 788 034 2432 | E: [log in to unmask] STEM@Leeds
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