Dear All
On 22 Jan 2011, at 07:59, Frank Burnet wrote: (edited)
Science Festivals, which are now increasing in number sharply around the world, do tend to project a strong impression that they are fun outings for kids and their families designed principally to recruit more scientists rather than opportunity for adults to engage with science and scientists, and the same has been said of Science Centres. Given that these are two of the major ways in which the image of science is projected to citizens, including the gatekeepers of the cultural domain, It is not I think surprising that the cultural dimensions of science /engineering are overshadowed by its image as being principally interested in promoting itself to a specific audience for a particular purpose.
Does this not also feed the unfortunate misperception that science is something for kids, that sensible people 'grow out of'?
And doesn't a lot of the 'grownup' science engagement we see talk about scary things such as Climate Change, GM Crops and so on? So science may be perceived as being either infantile or frightening, and not something sensible people want to let into their lives.
Yet there are lots of non threatening and 'adult' approaches we could take to engaging gronwups with science. One possibility may be to focus on the history of science, and particularly the way that scientific and technical ideas have influenced 'general' history. People like history, and are generally comfortable with it, but much presentation of history lacks technical or scientific insight where this is relevant.
Maybe this is another way to bridge the cultural gap, if it exists, and to get some money from the Arts crowd. too?
Hope this helps
Richard Ellam
Richard Ellam
L M Interactive
Science Shows and Hands-On Stuff