Participating in large-scale public campaigns
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Mobilising large-scale campaigns around topics such as biotechnology or biodiversity at science centres and museums can be like raising a family. The undertaking can lead to the joys of institutional transformation and growth, while forming valuable new relationships with scientific and community partners around important societal issues. But there is also stress: the science is constantly advancing, concepts are complex to translate, and some topics are controversial.
Organisers of four national, continental, and global-scale projects engaging publics about life science topics will share the challenges, points of transformation, and lessons learned from organising such campaigns, and then solicit new directions and suggestions for future work. How can a museum grow from such a huge effort? What’s essential to keep in mind to secure an institution’s reputation and future development? How can we keep up with the pace? Topics such as funding, content, institutional capacity, and professional development will be discussed.
Session speakers
The NSF-funded Building with Biology project connected educators with scientists and members of the public at a diverse cohort of 200 informal science education sites around the US. Visitors and scientists talked about the societal implications of this fast-emerging research, using materials co-created by educators and synbio researchers, with a goal of bidirectional learning. Impacts upon participating institutions, as well as on publics, scientists, and educators will be presented and considered.
Anna is part of the coordinating group of Let It Grow, a public engagement joint campaign by three of Europe’s largest scientific associations: BGCI Botanical Gardens Conservation International, EAZA European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, and Ecsite, the network of European Science Centres and Museums. It aims to raise people’s awareness of their local biodiversity and get them involved in its protection, and to help make our communities into havens for native species of animals and plants.
Director International Relations
For years, the science center community has discussed ways to improve its visibility within the larger realm of cultural activities. For too long we were happy to consider ourselves as unique institutions with a specific role that eventually will be noticed by potential partners. But things change and global issues start to dominate everyone’s agenda. We therefore responded to the call from UNESCO to join the international science day for peace and development and promote to our field the importance of education of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We will discuss what went well and what to expect next.
