Local Authorities and Communicators Engaged in Science: PLACES Impact Assessment Case Study of Prague

Regional aspects of science communication represent a potential asset and as such are quite suitable topic for further examination with respect to future social and economic development in Prague based on the city's main development strategies. Closer analysis of SCIP aspects at re- gional level can present a suitable complement for development of suitable measures and projects of the regional innovation and education policies. This study focuses on research questions related to regional dimension of science communication, its impacts and suitable tools. Document analysis and questionnaire distributed among selected experts were chosen as tools for elaboration of the study. Results suggest that regional dimension of science communication policy and initiatives is a relevant one in case of Prague. However, the attention given to this topic by national and regional authorities is unsatisfactory resulting in lack of co-ordination of activities of the respective stakeholders. Impacts of SCIP, as far as causality can be identified, lie in encouraging young people in their interest in science, increasing awareness of general public in science-related issues and explaining role of science in society and problems that science is facing. To maximise effects of science communication there is a space for national and regional authorities to play an integrating role. Given the concentration of SCIP actors, the City of Prague could aspire to develop its science communication policy in order to promote itself as a Central European centre of science

From Near to Far: Maria Short and the Places and Spaces of Science in Edinburgh from 1736 to 1850

A relatively unknown woman named Maria Theresa Short opened a popular observatory in 1835 in Ed inburgh - a time and place where men of science and property had long failed to make a viable space for astronomy. She exhibited scientific instruments to a general public, along with a great telescope and a walk-in camera obscura that projected live views of the city and continues to delight audiences to this day. To better understand Short's accomplishments, achieved as scientific and public life became increasingly closed to women, this study explores her largely untold story, and maps some of the places of science around it. Finding local contingencies, multiple sites and practices by diverse groups, it proposes that tensions within the connections between science and spectacle and the use of popularization to promote its professionalization produced gaps that even a marginal figure like Maria Short could inhabit and exploit

Brooking no excuses: university staff and students are encouraged to develop their engagement

Brooking no excuses: university staff and students are encouraged to develop their engagement This paper will explore the internal and external factors that have prompted the University of East Anglia's decision to give Public Engagement into a more central role within the Universities Corporate Plan. It will illustrate how the SEARCH Action Learning Programme facilitated the design, implementation and delivery of new Staff and Student Development Programmes that aim to provide the confidence, skills and mentorship that will encourage staff to develop their engagement activities. We will use a SWOT analysis to discuss the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the Public Engagement Practitioner. As part of this, we will explore how many of the issues we face as Science communicators with the public are similar to issues encountered by Communicators within the Arts and Humanities disciplines. Finally we will outline and detail our future plans, opportunities and vision that will enable us to move this agenda forward

How and why physicists and chemists use blogs

This study examined how and why chemists and physicists blog. Two qualitative methods were used: content analysis of blog and “about” pages and in-depth responsive interviews with chemists and physicists who maintain blogs. Analysis of the data yielded several cross-cutting themes that provide a window into how physicists and chemists use their blogs and what value they receive from maintaining a blog and participating in a blogging community. The article concludes with a discussion of implications for supporting scientists’ work

An Overview of Theoretical Researches on Science Communication and Popularization in China

This paper discusses the development of theoretical researches on Science Communication and Popularization (SCP) in China. The article claims that the research on SCP is continuously expanding. The theoretical research looks into interdisciplinary communication and integration, the disseminators and audiences, new media and modes of SCP. The paper concludes that theoretical research becomes further systematic adapting to social development and technological progress of China

Artefacts in the digital era

Conferência realizada na Universidade Aberta em Lisboa, de 16-17 de novembro de 2018.Artefacts of the digital culture and art are digital or computerbased in essence. They aim at enhancing meaningful experiences to the observer/user/enjoyer alone or in groups. In their most striking essence, these artefacts are not only objects to be passively appreciated, but bring virtual characteristics, eventually immersive, boosting interaction, leading the user/enjoyer to embark on a journey of aesthetic contemplation of a polysemic nature. A meaningful experience occurs when the subject classifies it as relevant and rewarding, embracing various kinds of experiences (aesthetic-contemplative, educational, playful, entertaining, historical, social, etc.).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Eternal Quest: The Story of the Great Naturalists. Alexander B. Adams. New York: G.P. Putnam\u27s Sons, 1969. 509 pp. $10.95.

Excerpt: Alexander Adams seems, if unconsciously, to be following in the footsteps of Donald Culross Peattie. Like Peattie, he wrote a volume on Audubon and then essayed a biographical survey of a number of important naturalists. Eternal Quest is the latter, and interestingly enough, it is the first book of its precise kind since Peattie\u27s Green Laurels (1936) to evoke the same emotion

Understanding the Connotation, Impact and Measurement Concerning Informatization of Science Popularization in China

Informatization is the new direction of the effort in the field of science popularization in China. It refers to the change not only in the technological approach and the channels of science popularization, but also to the idea and the model of science popularization. This paper shed light on the connotation concerning informatization of science popularization (ISP) in three dimensions. It illustrates that ISP produces profound impact on the science popularization practice, the individuals, and society. Regarding practice, ISP in China includes the digitalization period, networking period and intelligentializing period. ISP makes the practice more powerful and efficient. It is of importance for ISP to promote the construction of the knowledge society and create the atmosphere of scientific culture in society. Finally, the measurement framework of ISP is proposed, which aims at promoting the working process and achieving the ultimate goal through a monitoring method