Sea Floor Sea Floor Science Science Communicating Science to Public Communicating Science to Public Audiences Audiences Ocean Institute Ocean Institute November 2003 November 2003
Jan 24, 2016
Sea Floor ScienceSea Floor ScienceCommunicating Science to Public Communicating Science to Public
AudiencesAudiences
Ocean InstituteOcean Institute
November 2003November 2003
The ProblemThe Problem
Public and, in particular, Public and, in particular, students need access to today’s students need access to today’s sciencescience
Scientists need effective and Scientists need effective and efficient ways to meet broader efficient ways to meet broader outreach, O&E, PUR objectivesoutreach, O&E, PUR objectives
Solutions: Breaking Scientist Solutions: Breaking Scientist StereotypesStereotypes
don’t have timedon’t have time
don’t have the proper rewardsdon’t have the proper rewards
don’t have the moneydon’t have the money
don’t know howdon’t know how
subject matter is too complicatedsubject matter is too complicated
aren’t interestedaren’t interested
Sea Floor Science: Redefining Sea Floor Science: Redefining Exhibits and ProgramsExhibits and Programs
Middle School Middle School Program seeks 18 Program seeks 18 hours involving hours involving students in the students in the essence of research essence of research content, skills and content, skills and contextcontext
Exhibits that are Exhibits that are scaleable from 3 scaleable from 3 minutes to 18 hours, minutes to 18 hours, Providing a tiered Providing a tiered experienceexperience
Eight Distinct Eight Distinct TreatmentsTreatments
UnfacilitatedUnfacilitated
ExhibitExhibit
Self-Guided TourSelf-Guided Tour
On-site kitsOn-site kits
Take Home ScienceTake Home Science
FacilitatedFacilitated
Exhibit with Teaching LabExhibit with Teaching Lab
Explorations! Interactive TourExplorations! Interactive Tour
Interactive ForumInteractive Forum
Extended CourseExtended Course
It’s All about the ProcessIt’s All about the Process
SeductionSeduction
2.5 hour Translation Meeting2.5 hour Translation Meeting
Range of Opportunities Proposal Range of Opportunities Proposal developed by OIdeveloped by OI
Project Development by OIProject Development by OI
Iterative evaluation by Science Iterative evaluation by Science partnerspartners
Third-party evaluation of Third-party evaluation of effectivenesseffectiveness
The FutureThe Future
Informal Science Centers can serve Informal Science Centers can serve as effective vehicles for translating as effective vehicles for translating science and surrogates for direct science and surrogates for direct access to research labs and access to research labs and personnelpersonnel
Establishing our own identity
A premier ocean learning center engaging over 100,000 students each year in award-winning programs. On the weekends, it’s your turn to explore!
Primary messages are communicated through the site-wide collection of experiences.
Exhibits are intended to perform most effectively within the context of the whole OI experience.
Exhibits and the OI Experience
UnfacilitatedUnfacilitatedExhibitExhibitSelf-Guided ExplorationSelf-Guided ExplorationOn-site kitsOn-site kitsTake Home ScienceTake Home Science
FacilitatedFacilitatedExhibit with Teaching LabExhibit with Teaching LabInteractive TourInteractive TourInteractive ForumInteractive ForumExtended CourseExtended Course
The OI Experience: 8 treatments
Convertibility Requirements
Teaching stations must include solutions for:• Maximum flexibility of use• Storage of school/public program materials• Self-guided interactive experience• Deeper facilitated experience• Ability to get wet and dirty • Efficiency in adaptation to change• Must not feel like an “exhibit” during school programs• Must maintain essence of school program experience for the public
•
Computer with Internet access
•
“Now you see it—now you don’t” signage
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Built-in storage
•
Inexpensive signage
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Portability of components
•
“Lived in” (“worked in”) look & feel
Convertibility Approach
All stations include:
Updateability
Keys to updateability include:
• Inexpensive communication devices• Ongoing effective partnership with research partners• Exhibits play a supporting role for programs• Appropriate technology• “Rapid response” team
Accessibility to Research
• Use of real tools and technology• Based on specific projects• Focus on what we don’t know and how we know what we DO know• Person-to-person interaction• Focus on relevance• Encourage question generation• Provide opportunities to explore• Humanize the science