As ever, this email list is just fantastic - such a gold mine of advice and info. Thanks very much to everyone who has responded on and off list, I am really grateful for your (super quick!) input.

Best wishes,
Lindsay





 





On Mon, Jan 18, 2016 at 2:08 PM, Simon Watt <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hi folks.
I run a comedy night (adults only) about conservation, biodiversity etc 
Uglyanimalsoc.com
Feel free to email or call me. Hope I can help
Simon


Sent from my iPhone

On 18 Jan 2016, at 13:52, "Rick Hall" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hi Lindsay
what Dom and Mhairi said

adults and kids are not that different in that they like to discover rather than be led to a predefined outcome.

The 2014/15 ArtScience Prize theme was Bio-diversity
here is the link

http://www.artscienceprize.org/uk/theme

and if you would like further thoughts do let me know..

good luck

Rick

On 18 January 2016 at 13:11, Mhairi Stewart <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hi Lindsay,

What Dom said. 

I’d also add that, in my experience at least, most adults love doing pretty much exactly the same activities as kids. The only difference is they tend to need a bit more encouragement to take part as they are so used to ‘standing back and letting the kids enjoy the activity’. Once over the ‘enthusiasm barrier’ however most adults are good to run with any activity.

Only caveat is that of course, as Dom pointed out, context is everything.

Cheers,
Mhairi

From: "psci-com: on public engagement with science" <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Dominic McDonald <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: "psci-com: on public engagement with science" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, 18 January 2016 at 12:57
To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Advice on teaching adults about biodiversity - activities

Hi Lindsay

 

Interesting question! I have one for you: what’s the context in which these adults will be taking part? Are they coming to the session as self-motivated learners (eg an evening class) or are they there to do something else entirely which they would say has no learning aspect (eg parental duty while their kids play football).

 

The answer to these will strongly determine how “teachable” they are, and so how formally you approach the activity. But in the end the basic rules of engagement still apply: start where they are, and help them to move themselves (gently, step by step) to where you might want them to be.

 

Contact me off list if you want to talk through anything more specific…

 

Dom

 

 

From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lindsay Walker
Sent: 18 January 2016 12:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PSCI-COM] Advice on teaching adults about biodiversity - activities

 

Hi all,

 

I am currently pulling together some resources for biodiversity workshops and I would be really grateful for some advice.

 

The workshops are to highlight the importance of biodiversity and the biological processes in forest ecology. There is one workshop for children, which I am comfortable with writing, and a second for adults. I am struggling a little with creating a workshop aimed at adults, and I was hoping this list would be able to help me.

 

The adults have an education to secondary school level, have knowledge of the different plants and animals in the forest, but less knowledge on the 'big picture' biodiversity/climate change themes. Ideally, the workshop will contain fun activities - it is here I am struggling with knowing how to aim fun activities to adults rather than children....

 

I would be most grateful if you would suggest any ideas/applicable resources to give me a starter point on creating activities for adults that teach biodiversity/forest/climate change concepts. Feel free to contact me on or off list.

 

Thank you all in advance for your help, I really appreciate it.

 

Best wishes,

Lindsay

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--
Rick Hall FRSA
Founder and Associate, Ignite!
0780 103 4732

Ignite!'s Community Curiosity Labs bring science to local communities
to show the relevance of curiosity
https://vimeo.com/144347698

11 East Circus Street
Nottingham  NG1 5AF

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