Convenor: Matteo Merzagora (ICS - Sissa, Trieste);
Discussant: Andrea Bandelli

Examples of new formats of activities and exhibit have been presented by:
Andrea Bandelli, Frank Burnet, Orna Cohen, Edel Fletcher, Francesco Lescai, Guglielmo Maglio, Laurence Mueller, Joerg Neumann, Paola Rodari.


The idea

Dialogue and participation increasingly defines the way science centres interact with their publics. One of the key actors in this evolution from “interactive” to “participatory” are explainers (facilitators/pilots/guides...). Indeed, they are in a daily, direct, bi-directional contact with the public. Are science centres seizing the opportunity of investing on explainers, to become a reference point for citizens and scientists in a science-in-society perspective? The session will focus on relevant experiences in which explainers become active agents of dialogue with the public, tackling controversial issues and setting the scene for a participatory culture.

The method

1.    Frank Burnet presented a bit of the “gene machine” drama, as an example of how to spark a discussion

2.    Three key questions were presented, asking the audience to suggest answers/stimuli following the presentations (see step 3):
a.    What is the key factor that promotes dialogue?
b.    What is the key factor that makes the activity suitable for treating controversial issues?
c.    What is the key factor that makes the activity applicable in other science centres/contexts?
A dialogue event was operationally defined as “Activities intended to spark active participation and multidirectional interactions, and discussions among visitors, about socially relevant scientific topics”

3.    Nine presenters showed and discussed simultaneously new formats of activities, while participants moved freely from one speaker to the other:
•    Frank Burnet (Faculty of Applied Sciences, UWE, UK), Using drama and role play to trigger discussion
•    Orna Cohen (Orna & Co Exhibition Design – Paris) Scene of silence. An exhibition on non verbal communication
•    Francesco Lescai (Delegate to Foreign Affairs, Association of the Italian Biotechnologists) Biopop: turning communication into participation
•    Guglielmo Maglio (Nanodialogue project, Fondazione IDIS, Naples) Human interfaces as a tool for dialogue in museums
•    Laurence Muller (Exhibitions and Cultural engineering department) Impro theatre techniques to deal with science and society issues
•    Edel Fletcher (At-Bristol, Brisol, UK) Genome Game – At- Bristol
•    Joerg Naumann (Head of science and education unit, Stiftung Deutsches Hygiene-Museum) Deadly Medicine at Deutsches Hygenie Museum
•    Paola Rodari (DOTIK project leader, SISSA Medialab) DOTIK Training explainers for dialogue
•    Andrea Bandelli (Independent advisor in science communication) DeCiDe

4.    All participants provided (writing on post-its) their suggestions/input for the discussions following the three key questions: see further down what was suggested by the audience!

5.    Andrea Bandelli led a discussion starting from those inputs.

Post-it answers from the audience

What is (in the activities presented) the key factor that promotes dialogue?
-    Open atmosphere
-    Listening
-    Sparking interest or questions
-    A problem must be really felt by public
-    Do you believe in the greenhouse effect?
-    Relevance
-    Playing with picture: a good idea to stimulate expression
-    A surprise? + challenging environment – deaf exhibition
-    Capturing the imagination
-    Making relevant conversation
-    Story telling (Pass)
-    A scale of agreeing or disagreeing (At-Bristol)
-    Personalization (visitor identifies himself with the case being debated) (Pass- genetics)
-    A non-intimidation environment for debate (IDIS)
-    Being non-threatening
-    The non-verbal approach was a great example of hot to “democratize” the audience where everyone engages on an equal level
-    Guide is exaggeratedly provocative while “in role” (IDIS)
-    Extreme opinions; black-white
-    Catching someone’s eyes
 
What is the key factor that makes the activity suitable for treating controversial issues?
-    Open atmosphere
-    What became the dialogue with the public when scientists disagree among themselves?
-    Genome-game: “icebreaker” in dialogue with teenagers
-    Establishing a “contact” about how ideas will be accepted
-    Atmosphere that encourage risk taking
-    Controversy: a good method to create motivation in the public
-    Getting the language right for the age-group
-    Everybody in same (unusual) situation
-    Choosing a good-suitable medium + activities
-    The discussion or exchange is positive and the activities profiled are great but what happens when the debate gets “out of control” ie evolution/intelligent design debate?
-    Challenge assumptions without offending or being derogatory
-    Participation
-    Know your audience and adapt appropriately

What is the key factor that makes the activity applicable in other science centres context?
-    Understanding the issues of the day
-    Portable downloadable content
-    Audience outcomes determine use within exhibitions
-    There is no blue-print… it is down to knowing the local audience
-    How to train staff?
-    Skilfulness of moderators, high level of understanding the problems, issues
-    Scene of silence: Focus on one sense – Discussion of all senses. Ex senses of animals ct humans
-    Flexibility to suit different audiences + abilities + levels of knowledge
-    Experience – Finding out what works more
-    Pass genetics – You feel concerned
-    Training in appropriate body language

Using drama and role play to trigger discussion
Frank Burnet

The Science Communication Unit in Bristol is working with science centres across the UK to disseminate events designed to draw specific audiences into discussion of the social implications of specific technologies. These events are delivered by explainers and presenters and use drama and role play to trigger discussion. They are simple to stage and use the minimum of theatre paraphernalia. The project is proving contagious and adaptable for use in a wide range of contexts.

 Scenes of Silence. An exhibition on non verbal communication
Orna Cohen

Scenes of Silence makes you speechless – but only concerning speaking with one’s voice. During the visit people don’t say or hear a single word. But that doesn’t mean they can’t exchange with each other: the visitors enter a world of silence guided by deaf persons.

A reversion of roles is created: hearing people discover their repertoire of nonverbal expression. Deaf people support them and become ambassadors of a world without sound which is no way poorer – just different.

Biopop: turning communication into participation
Francesco Lescai

What would happen if young scientists ceased to meet the public with the intent of educating and, instead, challenge themselves and their choices, letting available to listen to lay people and to their opinions?

This question is the starting point of the BIOPOP project, which turns communication into participation, increasing the transparency of the processes that will shape the future of science, and involving directly the next generation of scientists in the engagement with society.

Human interface as a tool for dialogue in museum
Guglielmo Maglio

Sometimes to create moments of dialogue and debate in science centres turns out to be challenging. Having visitors react emotively on facts, experiments and exhibits require a well trained “human interface” able to stimulate inner feelings and opinions. This process is even harder when different stimula attract and distract the visitors as in science centres. Nevertheless, in some ways it is possible to create controversies between visitors, and that’s what we did to take out visitors’ opinions.

Impro theatre techniques to deal with science and society issues with 15 to 18-year-olds
Laurence Muller

We have chosen to take advantage of the teenagers' natural potential to back stands in order to let them get into the complexity of ethics in the genetic engineering field. Impro theatre techniques combined with an active discovery of contents can be fantastic tools to let them take an active part in the debate.

Genome Games - At-Bristol
Rachel Murray

Come and play! 'Genome Games' uses familiar board game formats to introduce students to a variety of genetics related issues. These games can be used as a stimulus to encourage students to think about the ethical and social consequences of the rapidly moving field of human genetics and the possible impacts on medicine, healthcare and individuals rights.

Deadly Medicine at Deutsches Hygenie Museum
Joerg Naumann

The Deadly Medicine exhibition (developed at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.) presents the genocide of European Jews within the context of the Nazis' "euthanasia" crimes. For this complex and difficult topic a special training of the explainers was important: training in content (history and science) as well as to react in a good manner to offences and false theses. A specific training was devised. In this programme, explainers become more and more moderators or facilitators.

Dotik – Training explainers for dialogue
Paola Rodari

Today, explainers (animators, pilots, etc.) in science centres are not only asked to provide information to the visitors, but also to engage the public in discussions about controversial issues in science, and to promote a participatory attitude. Is there a specific training to help explainers facilitate dialogue and participation? Which additional skills do explainers need? The example of the Dotik project training school, which involved 60 European explainers in 2006, will be presented.

DeCiDe
Andrea Bandelli

DeCiDe is a simple and affordable tool to conduct deliberative debates in museums, schools, pubs and even at home. No speakers or experts are needed, as the participants use a kit of cards which contain all the necessary facts and information. DeCiDe helps people to absorb information and to make it meaningful. The DeCiDe kits are available on a range of contemporary and controversial science topics.