3. University Open Day Model
Key messages
Celebration--|-------Examination
Communication mode Audience targeted
One way..|........Two way Children/Families..|......Adults
Responsibility for programming Nature of venues
Scientists..|..........Non-scientists Public.......|..Scientific
Topics featured
Old Science....|....New Science
4. Arts Festival Model
Key messages
Celebration........|...Examination
Communication mode Audience targeted
One way......|....Two way Children/Families........|..Adults
Responsibility for Nature of venues
programming Public--|-------Academic
Experts .......|..Non-Experts
Topics featured
Old Science...|....New Science
5. Self Descriptions 2010
Seeks to combine
science and culture
WSF
something for everyone. Whether you have Giving you the
a PhD in astrophysics or haven’t done chance to explore,
science since school; if you’re a chocoholic, discover and enjoy
an electric car enthusiast, an avid reader; Manchester,UK
encourages people of all ages whether you have a burning issue to
and backgrounds to discover discuss, simply want to know more about
the world around you or are looking for an
the wonder of the world
entertaining evening out Cheltenham
around them Edinburgh
A multifaceted, multicultural event every ..a public showcase of science because scientists realized
the importance of explaining to everybody what is
spring, the Cambridge Science Festival [Mass] happening in laboratories and how research changes the
makes science accessible, interactive and fun! quality of life Russian Science Festival
Encourage the investigation The Science Festival aims to provide inspiration,
and enjoyment of science and stimulate discussion and demonstrate science’s
technology Wrexham incredible possibilities Gothenburg
to be the ultimate multi-cultural, multi-generational The Cambridge Science Festival [UK] is committed to
and multi-disciplinary celebration of science in the engaging the public with science, technology,
United States USAFST engineering, mathematics, medicine and more
Position of vertical line is an estimate of the balance between the two posibilities. So for example, University Open Days are , in my view, much more about celebrating the achievements of science and scientists and much less about evaluating the potential impactst of scientific discovery on society and are targeted principally at young people and their families; take place within science owned spaces; feature a mix of cutting edge and text book science; the programme is created by scientists and its focus is on telling and explaining.
In contrast, the ethos of Arts Festivals is more about examination than celebration and the main audience targeted is well educated adults. The venue is usually public; the mix of old and new science is similar to the University Open Day; the responsibility for programming is less in the hands of scientists and the communication mode is more about discussion and less about telling.
Headline self descriptions of a selection of high profile science festivals coded to indicate their approximate position on the University Open day ....... Arts Festival continuum
