Thinking a bit like an economist about why there is a suspicion of profit in science communication is interesting, I think it is closely related to why people are suspicious of companies running schools and hospitals. Our output is hopefully a public good, and in our case very intangible, probably even more so  than formal education and health. This means that it is very very hard to measure whether it has been done properly to the point that the measuring would probably cost more than the doing in most cases.

This means that to a large extent the only way of proceeding is to trust the practitioners to do a good job. In this kind of environment it would theoretically be very easy for an organisation that is motivated entirely by profit to produce an  output that as far as you can measure looks like good science communication but is actually cutting all the corners and just doing children's entertainment with a white coat. In which case I can see why there may be an instinctive distrust of the profit motive.

This is very annoying if you are attempting to do things properly commercially - not least because you are caught coming and going,  those who are cutting the corners can undercut you and get all the work, and everyone looks at you suspiciously.

The case of film is slightly different as at least there is a tangible thing you can look at and form an opinion of, and not employ that provider next time, so there is some kind of feedback. Interestingly the more tangible parts of the sector tend to work more commercially - films, writing, exhibit building, and to a lesser extent repeated shows, where as outreach is more often charitable or volunteer.

I don't know what we can do about the problem though...

   Dave

On 1 May 2014 22:55, Katie Smith <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hi all,

 

As someone about to expand my business more into the sci-comm world, and who has volunteered extensively in this area I would like to add one or two thoughts of my own and echo what some have said here.  

 

If we go back a few hundred years to the Enlightenment era, science was much more of a pastime (albeit largely a rich gentleman’s pastime) than it is today, and perhaps we as a society have lost sight of this a little. I certainly get the sense that many sci-comm projects focus almost exclusively on inspiring  more people to take scientific career paths and study science further. These are great aims, but that’s not all there is to science. After all, people go into science because it tugs on human curiosity, because, as humans, we want to know more, we enjoy finding things out, we want to help other people or the environment, or to improve our technology. 

 

The truth is though that if a person chooses not to take science at age 16, then it is very difficult for them to re-enter the science world.  Joining an astronomy club, booking a science party for their kids or visiting a science centre is as far as most will ever go and many will never do any of these things. Compare this to art (which, after all is just another way of exploring and interpreting this world) and a whole array of possibilities opens up, from willow weaving to mosaic courses to week-long oil painting courses to creative evening workshops, to art galleries and exhibitions and local art and craft fairs.

 

One of my voluntary projects has been to create the UK’s first Science Garden in Alvaston Park here in Derby.  I wanted people from all walks of life to be able to easily access and explore the world of science no matter what they were or what background they had. Art businesses have been key to making this a success.  One art business worked with an entire school to create a human sundial,  another transformed plain concrete spheres into beautiful planets and worked with young people to create the mathematical exhibit “How Big?”  Earlier this year the wonderful people at PirateTechnics create an enormous model of Ursa Major for our Star Field at our ever popular Stargazing Live event.  In previous years it has been sci-comm businesses we have used: Starchaser brought a real space rocket to the park, and Ian Russell brought his magnificent bubbles and exploding custard.

 

When doing projects like these, my job is to source businesses that will get the job done, and do it to a very high standard so that whatever I am doing will have the maximum impact and benefit.  In terms of events management, training providers and people delivering school activities,  I generally look to specialist businesses with good track records first.  It just makes sense as it allows me to run with my own ideas (I like to be creative with science communication) , rather that fit in with an organisation that has a particular agenda (although these have worked well too and we do try to join in with other organisations’ initiatives  - thank you Society of Biology for involving us in your successful world record attempt).

 

That’s from a project management/events perspective.  How about  a personal leisure perspective.  People willingly pay for willow weaving courses. Why should they feel differently about paying to willow weave a scale solar system (yes I did once source someone to do this for the BBC, but they decided to go for something else in the end!) People will pay to be taught how to paint an impressionist landscape, why should they think differently about an impressionist cosmic landscape workshop?  People will pay for an introduction to archery experience, should they think differently about an introduction to rocket design and launch experience?

 

I think it is a testament to the sci-comm world, that attitudes are changing so much. The rising popularity of science was even discussed by the commentators on the latest  F1 race.  No doubt other factors are involved too, but science is certainly enjoying something of a renaissance. 

 

I would like my sci-comm business to be judged and supported by my customers, but also I would like my business judged and supported by the sci-comm world. However, I also know that there will be some in the academic world who will frown on my mere BSc in Astrophysics, PGCE and years of experience as a presenter and teacher and wonder how on earth I have the gall to do science communication with anything less than a PhD, or even a Masters! They are entitled to their opinions, as am I. As are the two Asian girls who sought me out at last year’s International Women’s Day Derby event after they tried some science demos and heard me speak on a panel said “you’re so inspiring, we like science now”.  Who knows, perhaps they will one day do science degrees.  Those girls might even go on to encourage their friends. I may only be making a tiny difference, but at least I’m making one. If I can’t feel like I can get involved in science communication because I “only” have a BSc, how can young people feel confident to support each other in  the world of science before they even do their GCSEs?  I would welcome some sort of ratings system /quality certificate /award for sci-comm businesses, but it would have to be carefully thought out with perhaps an emphasis on content accuracy over qualification level. It’s a great idea but the implementation has the potential to open up a whole can of worms.

 

Overall though, criticising a sci comm business for making money is like criticising a riding school for charging for riding lessons or a gym charging for gym membership (“so many people would benefit if it were free!”)   We should all be on the same side here and celebrate that science is re-emerging as a pastime among the general population, just as our great academic institutions are propelling us through an age of unprecedented scientific discovery. We really are living in a terrifyingly fantastic point in time. 

 

Have fun, and don’t forget the slinky!

 

Katie

 

 

Sent from Windows Mail

 

From: Bruce Etherington
Sent: ‎Thursday‎, ‎1‎ ‎May‎ ‎2014 ‎08‎:‎30
To: [log in to unmask]

 

Hi Ben and all,

Thanks to the Wellcome Trust, I undertook a course a couple of years ago with the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) as part of Wellcome looking at how they could support grant holders to move from a grant model to a trading model for their business.

As far as SSE were concerned, a social enterprise is a business driven by a social or environmental purpose and that any profits are reinvested  towards achieving that purpose. Their definition of a social entrepreneur is broader as it is anyone working in an entrepreneurial manner for public or social benefit. These "may work in ethical businesses in the private sector, governmental or public bodies, or in the non-profit or community sectors" http://www.the-sse.org/what-is-social-enterprise-

There are some very big examples of organisations that are social enterprises including Welsh Water (this provides water and sewage services across mid and south Wales and has a turnover of £600M+) which is wholly owned by Glas Cymru, a company limited by guarantee, and any financial surpluses are retained within the company.  There is also the Canals and Rivers Trust which was formed by a movement of British Waterways from the public sector to the third sector. The trust looks after 2000 miles of waterways, has the UK's third largest collection of listed buildings and structures, 63 SSSIs and over 1,000 conservation areas.

I also think that, under this definition, universities are social enterprises.

The important thing about the broader definition of social enterprises is that is requires a cultural shift in accepting standard business aims like making surplus as a key behaviour, rather than trying to break even, in order to make sure that your organisation can achieve the aims that it has set out to achieve.

Bruce

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