Communicating scientific uncertainty
Uncertainty is an inherent part of the scientific process. For our audiences, however, uncertainty and science often do not mix, as evidenced by the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. Science engagement organisations can play a role in empowering visitors to assess uncertainties and avoid the pitfalls of relativism, loss of trust, and dogmatic scientism. Uncertainty can also be an invitation to engage in alternative future making and to use science as a tool to explore, understand, and participate in an ever-changing society. We will begin with presentations of projects addressing uncertainty and the role it plays in science and how our museums and science centres currently communicate uncertainty. Join this workshop of speaker input followed by group work, where you will engage with a case study to discuss uncertainty and develop ways we can communicate uncertainty to our audiences.
This session is sponsored by ATELIER BRÜCKNER as a part of the 21st century skills conference track.
Facilitator
Head of Science Communication Lab
Session speakers
Catherine will share her experience as a trainer. As part of a thematic cycle on critical thinking, the School for Science Facilitation analysed the types of uncertainties linked to science and questioned the associated mediation practices. She will share these insights from this cycle.
Lorenz will share insights on how to communicate nanoscience to various audiences inside and outside the museum. Nanoscience offers a wide range of different topics to communicate, from space elevators to everyday products. They all contain various uncertainties that could/should be addressed. However, this also strongly depends on the format: addressing uncertainties in an exhibition is different than in lectures, while face-to-face communication again follows other rules.
Riina Linna will address the idea of uncertainty as a source of creativity. Experimenting and making mistakes is a vital part of the innovation process and developing something new, uncertainty should not be feared. Uncertainty can be shown as a motivational force that excites us to be curious and creative. Science and technology can be used as examples when talking about resilience and ever changing science and to help the youth to understand the uncertainties we face in our daily life.
Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Tim van Wessel will show, together with Krista Leusink. that paleontology is the ideal science to explain the process of science. In paleontology you see how to reconstruct the past through reasoning with evidence, imagination, creativity and collaboration. Does T. rex have feathers? What does Triceratops have a neck shield for? There is uncertainty among scientists about this and points of view on this matter have changed over time. By having visitors study examples of paleontological discussions, they learn to reason and explain their arguments to others.
Content developer and educator
Krista Leusink will show, together with Tim van Wessel, that paleontology is the ideal science to explain the process of science. In paleontology you see how to reconstruct the past through reasoning with evidence, imagination, creativity and collaboration. Does T. rex have feathers? What does Triceratops have a neck shield for? There is uncertainty among scientists about this and points of view on this matter have changed over time. By having visitors study examples of paleontological discussions, they learn to reason and explain their arguments to others.
