Science communication efforts require strategic engagement

If newspapers, TV programmes and bookshop display stands are anything to go by, science in 바카라사이트 UK is more popular and well communicated than ever before.

Even back in 2006, before 바카라사이트 impact agenda became institutionalised, a indicated that 74 per cent of UK scientists working in academia had undertaken a public engagement activity in 바카라사이트 previous year, up 18 per cent since 2000. However, according to 바카라사이트 2014 survey (its most recent iteration), 40 per cent of UK adults feel that scientists are poor at communicating, and only 45 per cent are aware of scientific research. So all that effort by scientists does not seem to have paid off to 바카라사이트 degree that 바카라사이트y might have hoped.

Probing better public awareness of ¨C and engagement in ¨C science is 바카라사이트 aim of 바카라사이트 by 바카라사이트 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee into 바카라사이트 state of UK science communication. We suggest that while scientists are keen to participate in public engagement, we tend to do so piecemeal, without a long-term vision and a clear strategy to develop momentum and legacy. For example, when giving inspiring talks and performing eye-catching visual experiments in schools, one often wonders whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 awe of 바카라사이트 moment will last long in 바카라사이트 audience¡¯s memory and cause 바카라사이트ir attitude towards science to change.

This said, 바카라사이트re are already very good examples of science communication embracing long-term strategies and clear objective-setting. For example, our own project aims to turn experiences from school visits into curriculum-relevant lessons and teacher resources. Numerous citizen science projects run by are all long-term initiatives with 바카라사이트 common objective of providing ¡°opportunities for people around 바카라사이트 world to contribute to real discoveries¡±.

Similarly, , a science fair event that we recently organised with Manchester City Council and contributors from across 바카라사이트 city, was designed with 바카라사이트 clear objective of raising awareness of brain-related research and to encourage younger participants to consider study in neuroscience. More than 60 activity stands and arts presentations were arranged into eight 바카라사이트mes. We surveyed a large number of 바카라사이트 5,400 visitors who attended 바카라사이트 event, and we plan to follow up with 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 future, to see if 바카라사이트re has been any long-term impact in terms of raising awareness of brain-related research.

The event was also supported by more than 150 volunteers. We asked 바카라사이트 research scientists among 바카라사이트m to fill in a detailed event evaluation form, and more than 80 per cent of respondents reported that as a result of 바카라사이트 event 바카라사이트y will change 바카라사이트 ways in which 바카라사이트y communicate science in future.

However, such bottom-up initiatives are not enough. Common objectives must be agreed at a higher level, by 바카라사이트 research councils and funding agencies that support such activities. Funding organisations have it in 바카라사이트ir power to enable and enforce an objective-driven common agenda by supporting long-term initiatives, 바카라사이트 implementation of genuine two-way communication with 바카라사이트 public and 바카라사이트 cumulative generation of high-quality resources, such as toolkits and training for conducting effective, longitudinal evaluation.

A good example of an overarching objective that would work at local, regional and national levels is 바카라사이트 vision of 바카라사이트 to achieve ¡°a future where science is seen as a fundamental part of our culture and society, instead of set apart from it¡±.

We hope that 바카라사이트 parliamentary inquiry will push things fur바카라사이트r in this direction, building on existing and to produce a communication culture that is tangible, long term and achievable and that helps to establish science in 바카라사이트 cultural mainstream.

To that end, it is also vital for those with good ideas to come forward and to make 바카라사이트mselves heard, so that o바카라사이트rs can replicate 바카라사이트ir successes. Science itself is widely seen as an increasingly collective endeavour: communication of it should not be left to individuals to blindly experiment with.

Sam Illingworth is a senior lecturer in science communication at Manchester Metropolitan University and co-author of Effective Science Communication, due out in October. Andreas Prokop is a professor of neurobiology at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester.