LibGuides: Science and Politics: Public Understanding & Engagement

Centers & Organizations

Sense About Science
This non-profit organization works to in partnership with scientific organizations, publishers and policy makers to help improve public conversations about science and evidence. The organization helps chase down pseudoscience and dodgy scientific reasoning, and offers a number of guides that try and help members of the public make sense of statistics, testing, climate change and other complicated scientific topics in the news.
United Kingdom National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement
The UK is a leader in the area of public engagement and science. This site gives a good background on what public engagement is, some suggestions on how to go about designing a program, and highlights new projects in the area of public engagement which might inspire you.
Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education
Informal science education supports people of all ages and walks of life in exploring science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This Center offers resources, guides, and other information about designing public engagement programs of this kind.

Why Public Engagement?

A short video-art film created in March 2010 by Imperial College students, exploring the contrasting views of scientists on society and the media over the past 60 years. Interesting overview of why it is important to enage the public in scientific research.

Examples of Public Engagement

Science On Tap
The Alan Alda Center for Communication Science at Stony Brook University has created a series of online videos called Science on Tap. The Premise? A scientist walks into a bar, sit down with a former producer of 60 Minutes, orders a beer, and talks about science to a live audience. The Mission? To demystify scientific topics during a free evening of enticing conversation over beer.
ETOPiA: Engineering Transdisciplinary Outreach Project in the Arts
This program at Northwestern University uses performing arts to inspire cross-disciplinary dialogue about the role of science and technology in society. Check the site for upcoming performances.
Science Cafes
Science cafes are informal talks that take place outside of lecture halls and science museums and foster an informal atmosphere where all participates feel encouraged to participate. ScienceCafes.org is a resource that has resources to help scientists plan their own science cafes and also find events in their area.
National Center for Technological Literacy, Museum of Science, Boston
The Museum of Science,Boston is a leader in developing educational programs and public engagement activities that foster public understanding of science. Includes descriptions of current and past programs -both in person and online.