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Registration Closes 19 January 2012 - University of Warwick Seminar Series held in London Missed the Previous Events in this Seminar Series or Can't Attend in Person? Find out about the archive access and webinar options here: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/news/scd/publicengagement/#Previous seminars Detailed Seminar and Workshop Programme for this Event Now Available: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/news/scd/publicengagement <http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/news/scd/publicengagement> Evaluating Impacts of Public Engagement and Non-Formal Learning 'Questions of Quality' Seminar and Workshop 27 January 2012 - 11am - 4.45pm (arrival from 10.30) Qualitative Methods of Evaluating Impacts: Focus Groups, Interviews and Ethnography Venue: Dana Centre, London (http://www.danacentre.org.uk/aboutus/location) Summary: Qualitative methods can reveal both rigorous and in-depth impact evaluation data. Such data can inform practice and thereby enhance impact. However, quality assurance and data analysis are paramount concerns. This seminar will discuss when different qualitative methods are most appropriate and how qualitative data can be validly and reliably collected and analysed, as well as the practical application of qualitative methods of impact evaluation. In this seminar, you will hear from both producers and users of qualitative impact evaluation results. We will also have a workshop component during the day for you to work through how different qualitative impact evaluation methods could be best used in your own practice. Speakers: Dr Helen Featherstone (Chair, Visitor Studies Group and Science Communication Unit, University of the West of England, At-Bristol Science Centre) Dr Richard Holliman (Senior Lecturer in Science Communication, The Open University) Jamie Copsey (Head, International Training Centre, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust - presenting by video) Dr Eric Jensen (University of Warwick) Ruth Murray (Visitor and Content Researcher, At-Bristol Science Centre) For further details, visit: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/news/scd/publicengagement <http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/news/scd/publicengagement> To register, visit: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/news/scd/publicengagement/register/ <http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/news/scd/publicengagement/register/> About the Warwick Seminar Series on 'Evaluating Impacts' This seminar series brings together leading researchers and practitioners to discuss evaluation of impacts in public engagement and non-formal learning. These seminars will address how museums, festivals, zoos, universities, science centres, galleries, schools and other organisations with an interest in engagement, learning or communication can use good quality evaluation evidence to understand and enhance their impacts. Both practical and conceptual issues will be considered, as each of the main evaluation research data collection and analytic tools are discussed in turn. Running from November 2011 to August 2012, this seminar series offers insights, skills development and networking opportunities for those who currently, or are planning in future to, conduct or commission evaluations of impacts. It will also be highly valuable to those who commission or use evaluation and research evidence to inform their practice. Moreover, these seminars will help anyone interested in public engagement, communication or learning to be a 'critical consumer' of research on impacts. For further information, please contact Dr Eric Jensen: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> The support of the University of Warwick, the British Science Association, the Dana Centre and the Wellcome Trust for this seminar series is gratefully acknowledged. About the Seminar Organiser Dr Eric Jensen <http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/staff/academicstaff/eric_jensen/> is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Warwick, Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London / University of Cambridge and Associate Education Fellow at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. He is an experienced evaluation researcher, with numerous peer-reviewed publications on public engagement published in top ranked journals such as Public Understanding of Science and books such as Investigating Science Communication in the Information Age (Oxford University Press). He recently had commentaries published in the journal Natureand the British Science Association publication People & Science and forthcoming in the journal Visitor Studies on the urgent need for substantial improvements in the quality and sophistication of evaluation of impacts in the field of public engagement, informal learning and science communication. Dr Jensen's previous research projects include evaluation studies of impacts conducted at ZSL London Zoo, Durrell Wildlife Park, the Cambridge Science Festival and Festival of Ideas and the Fitzwilliam Museum. Recent work with the Natural History Museum centred on developing an integrated evaluation and research framework that can ensure that rigorous long-term evaluation is integrated with the continual development of non-formal learning and public engagement practice. At the University of Warwick, Dr Jensen lectures on the practice of social research and quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research methods, as well as co-convening the MSc programme in Science, Media and Public Policy <http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/pg/prospect/programmes/smpp> . Dr Jensen's publications can be accessed at: http://warwick.academia.edu/EricJensen <http://warwick.academia.edu/EricJensen> --------------- Dr Eric Jensen, Fellow Higher Education Academy Assistant Professor of Sociology University of Warwick http://warwick.academia.edu/EricJensen Office: Ramphal Building (2.17) Office Tel.: 024 7652 8427 New comment on science communication evaluation in the journal Nature: http://warwick.academia.edu/EricJensen/Papers/402817/Evaluate_Impact_of_Communication New Master of Science in Science, Media and Public Policy at Warwick! http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/pg/prospect/programmes/smpp/ Visiting Senior Research Fellow Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London / University of Cambridge: http://www.zsl.org/science/ioz-staff-students/jensen,1424,AR.html Associate Education Research Fellow, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + GEM list: Contact the list owner for assistance at [log in to unmask] For information about joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a holiday) see the list website at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=GEM + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +