Non-participation in public engagement with science

-research with four community groups in London

INDsigt Ved Emily Dawson, King’s College London

The negotiation of who should be engaged is a key tension between the educational, promotional and democratic aspects of public engagement with science (PES). The purpose of this research was to explore the PES experiences of people from four socio-economically disadvantaged, minority ethnic communities in London, who identified themselves as not taking part in PES, and how they managed to make meaning (or not) from these experiences through a year long ethnographic study. This presentation focuses on the visits of a Sierra Leonean group and an Asian group to the Horniman Museum, a Latin American group's visit to the Natural History Museum and a Somali group's visit to the Centre of the Cell. The study identified moments where participants were able to access the learning opportunities presented by the visits, but also identified moments of inaccessibility and frustration. Using the presentation as a starting point I would like to discuss both how inaccessiblity can be embedded in PES practice and how we might develop a better understanding of inclusive PES and informal science learning.

Please notice that this seminar will be held in English, and vary from regular INDsigt in location:

Venue: Geocenter, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 København K -  Auditorium C
Time: Tuesday 13 November 2012, kl. 14:15 – 16:00

Participation is free but registration will be appreciated: Send a mail to indsigt@ind.ku.dk no later than 12 november 2012.