Hello
thanks for everyone's thoughts and comments so far. At the moment there are two main questions coming out of the comments and discussions: what could professionalisation look like, and who would it be relevant for given the diversity of practice in our sector?
When we looked at other sectors the following list of 9 items emerged as factors that make a profession. In response to questions about looking at the creative sector, items 10-13 came through as well. I think we have some of these already, but I'm not sure
we have them all. And certainly some might not be possible. I'd love to hear which are a priority for you, are there any that raise concerns?
1: There is an agreed body of knowledge that those entering the sector should know
2: Good practice is agreed upon
3: Values or principles are agreed up
4: Senior accreditation often includes elements of demonstrating leadership
5: Training courses are run by an accrediting body OR by others who secure endorsement from the accrediting body
6: Accreditation processes involve evidence (eg a portfolio) and support from someone more senior within the sector
7: Individuals commit to keeping up to date with current best practice and knowledge
8: An accrediting body exists which oversees and/or delivers all of the above
9: There is often an expense associated (this could be incorporated into eg tuition or membership fees, or can be a separate fee)
10: Lobbying or advocacy work for the sector
11: Research of interest to the sector
12: Opportunities to raise profile, showcase work, exhibit, perform
13: Sector essentials eg insurance
As for who this could be for. As MK rightly pointed out - many of us operate in sectors with existing codes of practice, professional development etc and it would seem wasteful to add another layer of admin. Are there people in our sector who DON'T have
that support? I've sketched a diagram to illustrate some thoughts which is available on the blog. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
http://scoppes.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/who-could-professionalisation-be-for.html
Thanks again for joining in the conversation - do keep your thoughts coming and if you can spare the time, come along to one of the (free) workshops.
http://scoppes.blogspot.co.uk/p/events.html
Best wishes
Helen
I've been in one form or other of science communication for nearly 20 years... I guess compared with doctors or teachers that's a new profession, but it doesn't feel that new to me!
In my opinion the sector is too diverse to merit any formal professionalisation. Really, the sciencey bit of what we do is a specialism of existing professions/trades eg journalism, PR, project management etc.
The problem with professionalisation is that it typically involves regulation, codes, insurance and training curriculum. I can't see all that working across our eclectic community.
Perhaps something like a Chartered Science Communicator might work for a sub group of us who "present" science (in whatever format) to others. But you only have to look at the current crop of MSc courses in the field to see that scicomms is a much broader discipline - the Manchester Metropolitan MSc includes medical communications which is a world apart from science festivals or journalism (albeit with many skills in common).
Back in the days of PUS and the height of the deficit model, perhaps there might have been enough common purpose, but now...?
Edwin
Hi all,
Interesting stuff! I'm just entering this field of work and intend to pursue it as a career and since I started, it's felt very much professionalised already. I've completed a 5 month internship at Southampton in Public Engagement with Research and I've just started a 6 month internship with Medecins Sans Frontieres in Science Communication whilst I apply for a master's at Edinburgh in Science Communication and Public Engagement. So... To all extents and purposes, I feel like it's very much professionalised (albeit a bit new... And therefore very exciting!) with a clear path and lots of options to getting into it. Of course this is only my view as a newbie.
Best wishes,Ellie**********************************************************************
On 10 Feb 2017 16:55, "Helen Featherstone" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
******************************Hello
We want to have a chat about professionalisation
Is now the time to develop science communication as a "profession"?
What benefits would this bring to the sci-com / PE communities?
What are the risks?
What would need to change in the sector?
Who would manage it?
For those of us who have been in this game for a while, you'll know that the question of professionalisation crops up periodically. Well, I'm raising it again! I'm running a small scoping project to explore professionalisation for this sector. While the focus of the project is in the South West of England, I wanted folk here to know so they can join in the conversation and I'm sure a few folk on PSCI-Com are based in this area.
Join in the conversation if you are a science communicator, someone who does public engagement, volunteers in this area, are a scientist who does communication/PE, employer of science communicators, trains PE peeps / science communicators... or if you've been through a similar process in another sector.
There are several ways to get involved aside from chatting here. Email me (on [log in to unmask]
com) to arrange a telephone conversation, make comments on our blog, or come to one of the workshops in March and April.
A bit of background and context: we're being funded by the National Forum (a group of key sci-com / PE funders https://www.
publicengagement.ac.uk/work- ) to explore this idea. They are looking for recommendations and ideas so this isn't an idle discussion - I'd like to think we've got a real opportunity to make the changes we want to happen, if we want to make any.with-us/current-projects/ national-forum-public- engagement-stem
Looking forward to thinking this through with everyone - and do please spread the word.
Best wishes
Helen
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