sruk seminar 8 july 2017
TRANSCRIPT
Public engagement – what’s wrong and
what’s next
SRUK 8 July 2017
Katherine Mathieson
September 2015
About us
Our vision…
The British Science Association is a charity that wants to see science at
the heart of culture and society.
Through our work in education, public engagement and thought
leadership, we inspire people to get involved in all areas of science -
whether it be natural, social, technological, or otherwise.
Society’s biggest issues cannot be solved by science alone…
By unlocking the potential of a more diverse group of people, we increase
our ability to tackle some of the world’s most intractable challenges and
shape our future for the better.
September 2015
Audiences and reach
• Each year, our national programmes reach over a million people of all
ages across all areas of the UK;
Our national programmes
Branches
AberdeenCaithnessEdinburghGlasgowMoray and HighlandsTayside and FifeNorth WalesSwanseaCardiffBelfastHullLeedsLiverpoolManchesterNewcastleNorth West SciBarsPrestonSheffieldBirmingham
DerbyshireLeicesterNottinghamNorwichCambridgeBristol and BathCornwallCheltenhamBrighton and HoveLondonLewesOxfordPortsmouth & IoWReading
https://www.britishscienceassociation.org/the-branches
British Science Week • UK-wide campaign to celebrate and showcase the
fun, breadth and ubiquity of science in our culture and
society;
• Thousands of schools, workplaces, and
communities - in every corner of the country - come
alive with science, technology, engineering & maths;
• An important calendar moment for many - from
local voluntary organisations to large cultural
institutions, it may be the only time in the year that
they focus on science content for their audiences;
• It offers a fun, informal and low risk participation
opportunity for underrepresented audiences who
might not usually be engaged in STEM;
• Over 2,500 events across the UK, almost 1million
participants reached;
• Activity packs and marketing materials have a reach
of over 100,000.
Highlights film from British Science Week 2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mx4-3hRllA
• It moves around the UK, hosted by leading STEM universities and extending into the host city and local communities;
• It celebrates the latest developments in science, engineering and technology;
• Allows people to engage in open discussion about issues that affect our culture and society;
• Hands-on events, debates, talks and performances;
• Aimed at young adults (16+) and adults, over 15,000 people attend;
• Press Centre generates national media coverage of scientific research and announcements. SWANSEA 2016
BRIGHTON 2017
HULL 2018
British Science Festival
Highlights film from 2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJoGYKB3RjQ
Europe’s longest-established public science event connecting the public with
scientists, technologists, social scientists, artists and innovators.
CREST Awards• The CREST Awards programme is the BSA’s flagship
education scheme for 5-to-19-year-olds;
• Rather than presenting science as just a collection of
facts and equations, CREST recognises and rewards
young peoples’ own investigations. It gives students
an opportunity to complete a STEM project that takes
into account real world context;
• Enquiry-based learning not only allows students to get
hands-on with science, but also helps to inspire a wide
range of students at all levels;
• >50% CREST Awardees are girls;
• CREST reaches around 45,000 students each year
(across primary and secondary). In total, since the
programme’s inception three decades ago, over 400,000
students have participated.
Independent research shows CREST boosts grades
and increases likelihood of students continuing in STEM: http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/crestsilver-report
The Huxley Summit
• New, high profile thought leadership
event, providing a platform for business
leaders, policy makers and scientists
to debate key scientific and social
challenges facing the UK in 21st century;
• 2017 Summit takes place on 29 November,
on the theme of public acceptance of
innovation and new technologies
Watch the 2016 Huxley
Summit highlights film:https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=Pt9_2lo6G3c&list=PLW
xZBtZEMeZDbFeSUp-
fLTaivHcUu9R73&index=15
Future Debates
Highlights of our flagship Future Debate
on robotics & autonomous systems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BulX5OuwfrA
And our topic animation on genomics and
genome data privacy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7fCW1ed_5E
• Series of events around one theme (recent themes have included genome
data privacy, and robotics & autonomous systems);
• Approx. 20 local events – with speakers including local politicians, scientists and
technologists, campaigning groups, journalists; an audience of between 60 – 180
attend each event;
• Followed by one flagship event, to reflect on regional discussion and bring a
national policy perspective; drinks reception for stakeholders and VIPs;
• Local and national communications campaign, plus topic animation to introduce
the theme, spark discussion and drive footfall to local and national events.
Public engagement
What does the public think?
https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/migrations/en-uk/files/Assets/Docs/Polls/ipsos-mori-veracity-index-2016-charts.pdf
What does the public think?
• Three-quarters of the public (76%) think scientific research makes a direct
contribution to economic growth in the UK
• The public think it is important for them to know about science and want to hear
more from scientists, government and regulators
• Nine-in-ten (91%) agree that young people’s interest in science is essential for our
future prosperity
• The public continue to support government funding of science. Eight-in-ten (79%)
agree that, even if it brings no immediate benefits, scientific research which
advances knowledge should be funded by the Government. Two-thirds (65%) also
disagree that this funding should be cut because the money can be better spent
elsewhere
• 81% of people agree that “science will make people’s lives easier” and over half
(55%) think that the benefits of science outweigh any harmful effects
• Half (51%) think the science they learnt at school has been useful in their everyday
lives, while a very encouraging three-quarters (76%) think this of the maths they
learnt at school.
Public Attitudes to Science survey 2014
https://www.britishscienceassociation.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=276d302a
-5fe8-4fc9-a9a3-26abfab35222
What does the public
think?
https://wellcome.ac.uk/sites/default/files/informal-science-wellcome-apr16.pdf
What do scientists think the public thinks
about science?
http://www.rsc.org/globalassets/04-campaigning-outreach/campaigning/public-attitudes-to-chemistry/public-attitudes-to-chemistry-infographic.pdf
Policy context
Policy context
Policy context
https://www.rsb.org.uk/get-involved/grants/public-engagement-grants
The issues
The issues
September 2015
The science stereotype
September 2015
Science is a cultural endeavour
Community Grants programme
• In 2016, over 16,000 people were
engaged and, of those, 76% were
first time participants. The top
three reasons for respondents’
attending were personal interest
(28%), wanting to learn something
new (25%), and being brought by
someone else (20%) of respondents.
• 95% rated the event they attended
positively, with the most popular
words used to describe events being
‘interesting’, ‘fun’ and ‘informative’.
Science as
culture
Science as
culture
Next steps
