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I'm a Scientist, Get me out of Here
Method(s) Used
Name of person who posted the project:Sophia Collins Unknown macro: {rate}
Location of project:United Kingdom
Date when the project started:2008
Date when the project ended/project ongoing:
Background to project:I'm a Scientist is designed to promote public dialogue with and about science.Over the past few years many people have realised that science communication is a two-way process and scientists need to engage in a dialogue with wider society. But you can't just say, 'Have a dialogue everyone!'. A necessary precondition is that citizens need access to a basic understanding of the scientific process (rather than science facts), and feel empowered to engage in that dialogue. Partly in response to this, the GCSE science curriculum and others have been updated to focus more on How Science Works, but changing the curriculum is not enough. Teachers still find that there are few resources to help them teach different ideas in a different way and that it's difficult to empower students. Teachers need help to develop students' ability to debate and discuss science issues and to understand how science works. Students also need confidence and encouragement to feel entitled to enter debates and feel their input is valid. I'm a Scientist is designed to address these issues. It is hoped that this can pave the way for citizen-led, active participation, not just equip people to respond to expert-led consultation processes. The event is based on I?m a Councillor, Get me out of Here! (www.bigvote.org.uk), a tried and tested youth engagement event for local councils which Gallomanor run for Local Democracy Week. Purpose of project:To give teenagers:-? Confidence in using their scientific skills to explore issues and make decisions. Particularly as they are empowered by asking the questions and allocating the prize money. To give scientists:- Project activities:I?m a Scientist is a science dialogue event where school students talk to real scientists online for two weeks. It?s in the form of an X Factor style competition between scientists, who compete for a prize of £500 to communicate their work.For two weeks students read about the scientists? work, ask them questions, and engage in live text chats with them. The students vote for the scientist they want to get the money. The scientists with the fewest votes are evicted until only one is left to be crowned the winner. The event is supported by carefully developed and tested resources which develop students? skills and deepen their understanding, while empowering them to make decisions themselves. Project results:In the pilot event 851 students in 27 schools asked 15 scientists 1,288 questions and over 27,000 lines of chat were exchanged.? 31% of students went on the site in their own time, at home, after using it in their science lessons. Students felt empowered and developed their skills and confidence at debating and discussing science issues. ?[I liked best] how it was totally up to us and not influenced by adults.? ?Well [I learnt] from all of it really as i learnt loads and feel much more confident to put my hand up and ask questions and know that ok sometimes i will get it wrong? ?[Usually] we just fill them full of facts but don?t give them a chance to explore that.? ?Now when i am explaining a topic they ask 'Why' a lot more and put their own point across.? Contact details:I'm a Scientist, Event Producer, Sophia Collinssophia@gallomanor.com, 01225 869413 www.imascientist.org.uk |
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