2012/11/25

University of Copenhagen reaches out to society:science communication examples••••

Jan Sølberg
Deputy Head of Department
Department of Science Education
University of Copenhagen

Enhedens

Night at the Observatory

I work here!

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Today’s talk•

A Danish historical perspective•

Examples from the University of Copenhagen•

Science Communication in a broader perspective

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Danish Science Communication in a historical perspective•

18th century: Anti-authoritan movement•

1970’s: Public Engagement and Participatory Designs•

1985+: Institutionalisation of Science Communication•2001: Return to Public Understanding of Science•

2003: The ”Third Leg”

•TodayN.F.S. Grundtvig, 1783 -1872,Danish pastor, author, poet, philosopher, historian, teacher, and politician

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Danish Science Communication in a historical perspective•

18th century: Anti-authoritan movement•

1970’s: Public Engagement and Participatory Designs•

1985+: Institutionalisation of Science Communication•

2001: Return to Public Understanding of Science•

2003: The ”Third Leg”

•TodayEnhedens

Public Engagement and Participatory Designs

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2012/11/25

Danish Science Communication in a historical perspective•

18th century: Anti-authoritan movement•

1970’s: Public Engagement and Participatory Designs•

1985+: Institutionalisation of Science Communication•

2001: Return to Public Understanding of Science•

2003: The ”Third Leg”

•

Today

Culture of debate andengagement rather than mere
dessimination of knowledge
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Parcipatory Consensus Conferences

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Censensus Conference format•

10-25 ”citizens” (not experts) are selected plus 1 facilitator•

First stage: Preparation and deliberation•

Second stage: Conference including experts•

Final stage: Recommendations

Enhedens

Danish Science Communication in a historical perspective•

18th century: Anti-authoritan movement•

1970’s: Public Engagement and Participatory Designs•

1985+: Institutionalisation of Science Communication•

2001: Return to Public Understanding of Science•

2003: The ”Third Leg”•

TodayEnhedens5

2012/11/25

Danish Science Communication in a historical perspective•

18th century: Anti-authoritan movement•

1970’s: Public Engagement and Participatory Designs•

1985+: Institutionalisation of Science Communication•

2001: Return to Public Understanding of Science•

2003: The ”Third Leg”

•

Today

“…give the Danish population anunderstanding of the importance of
this area for our future welfare,environment, health and growth”(Ministry of Science, Technology, andInnovation, 2004

Enhedens

Danish Science Communication in a historical perspective•

18th century: Anti-authoritan movement•

1970’s: Public Engagement and Participatory Designs•

1985+: Institutionalisation of Science Communication•

2001: Return to Public Understanding of Science•

2003: The ”Third Leg”

•Today!

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2012/11/25

Science Communication activities of theUniversity of Copenhagen•For potential students:••

Class visits•

Open house•

Internships”Research Sprouts”

For the public:
Museums
Parks and gardens”Day of Research”
Annual Science Festival

For schools:
Circus ”Naturally”
Eastersea Aqaurium”Day of Research”
Annual Science WeekSchool services

Other:
Education
International partnerships
Public-private partnerships
Maintaining collections”Night of Culture”
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Examples•For potential students:••

Class visits•

Open house•

Internships”Research Sprouts”

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2012/11/25”Research Sprouts”

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Examples

For the public:
Museums
Parks and gardens”Day of Research”
Annual Science Festival”Night of Culture”
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Natural History Museum(s)Enhedens•Exhibitions•Research•Maintaining collections•Education•National- and international collaboration

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Annual Science Week

2008

20092010

2011

Schools inDK32%

36%

34%

34%

High schools
in DK56%63%

62%

64%

Researchtalks

361

497

477

536

Classes inmass
experiment

1000

1000

1300

1300

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Mass experiments with up to 20.000 students

Girls taste better than boys!

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ExamplesOther:
Education
International partnerships
Public-private partnerships
Maintaining collections

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Education

From
Mulder et al.
2008
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International partnerships
•

E.g.:

•

Nordic Center for Earth Evolution (NordCEE)•Towards the European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy•

BCGI - Botanic Gardens Conservation International•

Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities•Synthesis of systematic resources•

Global Biodiversity Information•

Flora of Ethiopia•

Tree of Life•

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Public-Private partnerships

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ExamplesFor schools:
Circus ”Naturally”
Eastersea Aquarium”Day of Research”
Annual Science Week
School services

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Circus ”Naturally”

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School service

10.000+ Visitors from schools
6000+ visitors from high schools

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City Under Water

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Making social scientific issues visible

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Final thoughts and perspectives

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Challenges for the future(e.g. climate, power supply,food, health, environmental
issues, emerging technologies)

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