I am fascinated by the discussion about GCSE Science and the points made recently by Francisco and Sarah with regard to 'humanising the scientific endeavour' with real people on TV and in films etc
.If I may dare to extend the discussion somewhat I was very interested in the opinion piece which appeared in yesterday's New York Times about Science Museums and Science Centres
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/arts/artsspecial/18SCIENCE.html?scp=14&sq=&st=nyt
I had my own thoughts about this and blogged about it last year
http://bit.ly/cDIPUa
I would certainly welcome others opinions!
Ian
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From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Francisco Diego [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 19 March 2010 12:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Science GCSE - a student's view
The internet is very efficient in providing references, facts,
information, almost instantly, after typing a few keywords. On the other
hand, a good TV documentary (or even better a good live lecture) can
appeal to emotions and feelings, inspiring and engaging in a unique way.
One thing is to read that the rings of saturn are made out of ice and
another one is to see a scientist standing on an iceberg, excited by the
feeling that he is holding in his hands a fragment that could be part of
saturn's rings. Even so, these programmes are only seen by a minority
(10%at the most) of TV viewers, as the Wellcome survey implies.
Aware of this, one of our greatest challenges as science communicators is
to keep finding ways of preserving and encouraging the ability to explore,
to think and to discover by using imagination and the powerful tools of
modern technology (against the danger of becoming its servants).
regards,
francisco
===============================================
On Fri, 19 Mar 2010, Sarah Purcell wrote:
> I hate to admit it in front of such an esteemed audience, but the one
> thing that got me interested in science, particularly in space, was
> the film Space Camp, when I was about 11 or 12 ;)
>
> On 19 March 2010 10:02, Bruce Etherington <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> I don't disagree that Wonders of the Solar System and the Natural History
>> Musem programmes are great examples of science on TV, but the latest
>> surevy from Wellcome on the Public Views of Medical Research reinforces tha
>> fact the young people tend to get their facts elsewhere than TV in general
>> and, I would add, than BBC2. It also highlights that younger people are more
>> likely to watch fictional than factual programmes.
>>
>> The full report is accessible at:
>>
>> http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/About-us/Publications/Reports/Public-
>> engagement/WTX058859.htm
>>
>> And I have taking my comments from Ch 2.
>>
>> Bruce
>>
>> On Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:20:24 +0000, Francisco Diego
>> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Dear Judith,
>>>
>>> How about the Wonders of the Solar System? In my view, one of the best
>>> science series, very inspirational, beautifully written and produced.
>>> Amazing locations, excellent presenter, spontaneous, full of enthusiasm
>>> and sense of humour, simple and effective analogies, experiments and
>>> demonstrations that any of us can and should reproduce. Shown at prime
>>> times on BBC 2 still on iPlayer if you missed the first two.
>>>
>>> regards
>>>
>>> francisco
>>>>
>>>>
>> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, 17 Mar 2010, Judith Bunting wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> Does anyone think that these days science on TV plays an inspirational role?
>>>
>>> Though I was already keen, my interest was pushed on leaps an bounds by
>> an
>>> Horizon programme: Key to the Unverse (~30 years ago). My own children,
>>> who are not stupid and have general science in the conversation around
>>> them at home, have both been utterly uninspired by their science education
>>> (state, though 'nice', schools) and won't watch a serious science
>>> documentary for more than five mins.
>>>
>>> Judith
>>>
>>>
>>> Judith Bunting
>>> 07914 835 073
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: Alom Shaha <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Sent: Tuesday, 16 March, 2010 21:13:02
>>> Subject: [PSCI-COM] Science GCSE - a student's view
>>>
>>> Michael West is a Year 11 student who wrote to me after reading an article
>>> I wrote about the Science Curriculum in The Timesÿÿ Eureka magazine
>>> (http://bit.ly/baz0G6). He has given me permission to reproduce the email
>>> here: http://bit.ly/cLmzkP
>>>
>>> I wonder how many other students feel the same way?
>>>
>>> Alom
>>> --
>>> www.alomshaha.com
>>> **********************************************************
--
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The Mind of the Universe lectures
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