Science and Society collaborations

Presentations

Where science meets society: the role of communication
Professor Cees van Woerkum, Head of Communication Strategies Group, Wageningen University
November 2011

Abstract: I like to sketch the (amazing) developments in the field of communication in the last 20 year, mainly caused by internet, which has heavily affected the relationship between science and society in many ways. From this I will analyse the way scientists respond to these changes, drawing upon ungoing research in my department as well as on my experiences in the field of food, environmental issues and biotechnology. I can also present some results on how researchers in a university setting (Antwerp, Belgium) relate to their responsibility to interact with society, and which factors are involved here.

Organisations

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council – as a member of the BBSRC family of Institutes, IFR has close links with and collaborates when appropriate with BBSRC External Relations Unit attending regular joint meetings with the other Institute Communications teams to discuss strategy, policy and collaborative working on issues of national importance.

British Science Association  - The British Science Association exists to advance the public understanding, accessibility and accountability of the sciences and engineering in the UK.

Regional Beacon of Public Engagement CUE East – proponents and supporters of the regional bid to host a Beacon of Public Engagement, IFR is now an active partner and helped trial the SOUL Evaluation Toolkit at events, received funding for events and proposed a successful nomination for their annual PE Awards.

Science Outreach in Norfolk (SOIN)   – Norfolk is endowed with a range of active partners in science outreach and communication and in an attempt to harness and publicise this, increase collaboration and avoid duplication of effort SOIN was established in 2009. The first Science in Norwich Day was held at The Forum during National Science and Engineering Week in 2010 and it is envisaged that this will become and annual event.

The Forum – the UKs most used and visited Library is in the heart of Norwich City centre and offers a unique venue for a wide range of public engagement activities either working closely with them as part of their events programme, or using the venue for stand alone events organised independently. The Forum has an unequalled visitor demographic and commitment to community engagement in its broadest sense and is host to the community aspect of the CUE East Beacon of Public Engagement. IFR has collaborated on projects such as Earth From the Air incorporating Food Waste exhibition and the Art of Decay, LunchBox; and use the venue for our Showcase of Young Science and Science in Norwich Day. In an attempt to reach new and younger audiences the Forum allowed us to use a series of their Comedy Nights to obtain data from a notoriously hard to reach audience (20-40s) and we used beer mat jokes as a way of introducing food science issues to them. This later led to a joint project with the IoP.

The Saw Trust – IFR scientists and students are active participants in SAW projects and worked with local schools on a range of projects including emulsions, Salmonella, food molecules, interfaces and immune regulation.

Teacher Scientist Network – as members of the Steering Committee and active partners IFR scientists contribute to TSN and have provided a school kit based on Taste and Flavour and participated in A Scientist in Every School in Norfolk in 2010.  

Garden Science Trust- The Garden Science Trust helps people develop their skills and potential through gardening and science. We work mainly with people with learning difficulties and other barriers to education and training. IFR supported their Superfoods Explained project funded by the Wellcome Trust.

Institute of Physics – following the successful adoption of the Tallest Jelly Competition into the IoPs Activity Pack for STEM clubs, we worked with the IoP to develop and deliver a local sandwich bag and beer mat campaign.

Events

National Science and Engineering Week – IFR participates each year in NSEW with school based activities and with JIC presents a Showcase of Young Science for 6th Formers and the public where the audience votes for the research project they think should get continued funding. In 2010 with TSN IFR scientists took part in A Scientist in Every School in Norfolk.

Annual British Science festival   – participation in the Festival of Science is a priority whether independently or in association with others as active members of the Agriculture and Food Sector. As co-hosts of the Norwich Festival in 2006 IFR dedicated a web site actively presenting its research to a lay audience as well as hosting 4 Open Days and a wide range of other events in the City and Schools Programmes.

Norwich Science Café @ Inspire Discover Centre  – the Norwich Science Café is hosted by the Inspire Discovery Centre and IFR contributes to the annual programme during the Norfolk Food Festival and has included Is Chocolate Really Good For your Health, Confused About Bioitcs and Food Allergy: Myth and Reality.

Science Communication Conference – regular attendance by at least one or more of the team to keep up to date with and contribute to national projects, debates and discussions such as Science For All.

The Big Bang Fair – working with the producers of the event in 2010, an IFR scientist has helped to develop a competition for the 2011 event. IFR has also provided judges for the CREST Awards programme.

Norfolk Food Festival – as a member of the Steering Committee since 2006, IFR has endeavoured to incorporate science elements into the Festival programme including The Tallest Jelly competition, a Food Film Festival for adults and children, Where’s The F in Food Show, Taste and Flavour and Science Cafés. IFR is also co-host of the Great Norfolk Food Debate and provides speakers, panellists and input into the programme.

Social Scientist Projects

RELU Managing Food Chain Risks – in 2007 IFR communications and scientists in collaboration with the Central Science Laboratory, the University of Surrey, Leeds University Business School, and Manchester Business School facilitated the organisation and delivery of a series of focus discussion groups as part of a case study to understand the way that food risks are considered and communicated using chicken consumption as an example.

VOICE – The VOICE project, ran from 2003 to 2007and involved IFR Risk and Consumer Scientists, aided by IFR Communications. The project investigated how healthier food choices could be promoted in village shops .

You Decide Science Funding – in collaboration with the Consumer Science group, IFR Communications used a public engagement event to determine if a public audience would want to have a role in science funding decisions and were given the opportunity to vote for the project they would wish to see funded.